GOOD NEWS FROM THE BIBLE
INTRODUCTION:
1.
In today's society, it seems like
everywhere we turn we are introduced to some type of bad news.
a. Before
we go to bed at night, many of us watch the evening news; and usually the first
thing we hear about is bad news.
b. When
we wake up in the morning, many of us read the newspaper; and normally, the
first thing we read about is bad news.
c. When
we come home from work, and ask our spouse about their day, frequently, the
first thing they talk about is the problems they encountered while at work;
more bad news.
2.
With so much bad news in the world,…
a. Its
no wonder so many people have a gloomy outlook on life.
b. Its
no wonder so many people have a negative attitude towards others.
c. Its
no wonder so many people live their lives with no joy or hope.
FOLKS, THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO SHARE
WITH YOU - NOT SOME MORE BAD NEWS- BUT SOME GOOD NEWS THAT WE FIND IN THE
BIBLE.
THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH GOOD NEWS THAT WE
NEED TO HEAR AND MEDITATE ON!
I.
THE FIRST PIECE OF GOOD NEWS THAT WE FIND
IN THE BIBLE IS THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE
SALVATION.
1. Before
Jesus took His last breath on the cross, mankind was sinking in sin. In fact (Eph. 2:1)
teaches that mankind was dead in their sins.
2. But
listen to the good news of what God did for us!
3. Brethren,
we will never hear any better news than this.
4. Jesus
Christ died on the cross and rose again, and through His sacrifice, we can have
our sins washed away and be free from the bondage of sin, so that one-day we
can live in heaven.
ILLUSTRATION:
In his book "Written in
Blood," Robert Coleman tells the story of a little boy whose sister needed
a blood transfusion. The doctor had
explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years
earlier. Her only chance for recovery
was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare
blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.
The doctor asked the little boy “Would
you give your blood to your sister Mary?”
Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled, “Sure, for my sister.”
Soon the two children were wheeled into
the hospital room--Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met,
Johnny grinned.
As the nurse inserted the needle into
his arm, Johnny’s smile faded. He
watched the blood flow through the tube.
With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the
silence. “Doctor, when do I die?”
Only then did the doctor realize why
Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he’d agreed to donate his
blood. He’d thought giving his blood to
his sister meant giving up his life. In
that brief moment, he’d made his great decision.
5. Johnny,
fortunately, didn’t have to die to save his sister. Each of us, however, has a condition more serious than Mary’s,
and it required Jesus to give not just his blood, but his life.
6. Oh
what a precious, and loving Savior we have in Jesus. He voluntarily gave his life for us so that we may have a new
life and a new relationship with God.
***Sing “Redeemed p. 436***
II.
THE SECOND PIECE OF GOOD NEWS THAT WE FIND
IN THE BIBLE IS THAT IF WE ARE LIVING OUR LIVES FOR JESUS, WE CAN HAVE
ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION.
1. A
Bible teacher once asked his class, most of whom were professing Christians,
“Can you be sure that you are saved?”
2. Here
are some of the answers he received:
a. “No,
there is no way you can know for sure if you are saved.”
b. “I
hope so.”
c. “I
won’t know till I get to heaven--if I do get there. I wouldn’t presume to say I know for sure.”
3. I'm
sure that if I asked you the same question some of you may have some of the
same answers that these students had.
4. But
what does the Bible say about assurance of salvation?
5. The
Bible clearly teaches that we can know (eidete; perfect tense; here and now
present certainty) that we have eternal life.
We can know that we are in a saved relationship with God.
6. How
do you know if you are saved?
a. If
you have given your life to Jesus Christ by (a) Believing in Him (b) repenting
of your sins (c) confessing Him to others (d) being baptized for the remission
of your sins; and If you are living a faithful and Godly life; and walking in
the light, then you can have assurance of your salvation! Isn’t that Great News! What a great burden that has been lifted off
our shoulders.
ILLUSTRATION:
C. H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying that
he was so sure of his salvation that he could grab on to a cornstalk and swing
out over the fires of hell, look into the face of the devil, and sing, “Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine!”
7. Brethren,
our salvation is not dependent upon hope, it is dependent upon what God has
promised in the Bible.
III.
THE THIRD PIECE OF GOOD NEWS THAT WE FIND
IN THE BIBLE IS THAT ONE-DAY JESUS IS COMING BACK TO TAKE US TO HEAVEN.
1. Read
(John 14:1-4).
2. From
this passage, we notice that Jesus is preparing a place for us and He is coming
back to take us with Him.
ILLUSTRATION:
Several years ago, I heard a story about
a father who one morning told his son that he was going to California to find a
job, and once he found a job and made some money, he was going to come back and
get his family and take them back with him.
However, the tragedy of this story is
that the father did not keep his promise; for he never came back for his
family. Year after year, the boy hoped
and prayed that his father would return but he never did. He abandoned his family.
3. My
friends, Jesus is not going to break His promise to us. He is not going to abandon us. He is not going to leave us. For the Bible says that one day, Jesus is
coming back to get us.
CONCLUSION:
1. In
closing, every day we should fill our souls with good news -- especially good
news from the Bible.
2. Today,
we have seen three pieces of good news:
a. Jesus
Christ died on the cross so that we may receive salvation.
b. If
we are living our lives for the Lord, we have assurance of our salvation.
c. One
day, Jesus is coming back to take us to heaven.
3. I
hope and pray that this lesson has blessed you as much as it has blessed
me. If you would like to receive these
wonderful blessings, please come now as we stand and sing.