by Allyn Smith

Created on: June 09, 2009   Last Updated: April 11, 2011

The word gospel comes from the Greek word that means ‘good news’. The gospels of Jesus Christ are good news to all humanity, whether or not humanity perceives them to be so. In proclaiming his birth, the angel said in Luke 2:10 “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” That is good news.

In the gospels we learn that this is not the only life we will experience. We are shown that there is another eternal life after this. Eternal means our bodies and souls will be changed into a state that will never cease to exist. We are shown by Jesus’ answer to the thief on the cross that this new life will be physical, not spirit or ghostly without form, when He tells him that he will be eating with Him that evening. Jesus also walked among His people for forty days after He was resurrected. His body was changed into its eternal form and it could be seen and touched. Physically He appeared just like any other human being. What better news in a mortal world of unending tribulation, where the enemy ‘death’ awaits us all, can there be?

The gospels tell of a coming kingdom where Jesus will rule, in perfect peace and happiness, a world returned to the beauty and glory it once possessed in the Garden. This is good news.

The good news that there is an eternity of unspeakable joy awaiting us is proof that we are, and will be, loved. Love is good news and it is especially noted throughout the gospels. John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world.” The beatitudes and parables tell us there are blessing rewards waiting for us mortals just because we are forced to be mortal. In Matthew 5 the Lord Jesus tells us to love and do good to those who hate and persecute us so that we would be like our Heavenly Father who loves and does good to both the just and the unjust. How could our Father tell us to love our enemies if He himself does not?  We are exhorted to be perfect even as Our Father in Heaven is perfect.  Luke 6 tells us this perfection is moral perfection.  God is merciful to everyone, loves everyone, will do good to everyone forever.  That is Good News!

Our Heavenly Father could not merely tell all of His children He loves them and expect them to fully understand it. He had to physically prove it in a way that no other living being could do. He created a world that needed a savoir then He himself saved it. The Apostle Paul explains this love when he wrote-

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