The Gospel Is Good News by Jeffrey Conte

Our gospel is good news about salvation. Often, a person who is asked, “Are you saved?” will reply, “Saved from what?” That is just the right question to begin the explanation of our very apocalyptic message. If we don’t understand judgment, neither can we understand salvation. The good news is relief from the bad news. And the bad news is, there is a righteous judgment on its way to earth even as we speak. It is righteous because it is right for God to judge mankind for all the evil we have done, contrary to His will, from the beginning of sin until now. He has told the world of this terrible fate for thousands of years. This passage from the book of Revelation tells us what that bullet looks like, aimed directly at mankind:

“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” – Revelation 6:14-17 KJV.

This is the picture of what we must be saved from. It is the wrath that falls on those who do not obey the command of God to repent and believe the good news of Jesus. Because He took your sins on Himself, you are forgiven for your own sins and are safe from the coming judgment. You must now walk in that faith, live it out by demonstration of love and follow Him. Then you can rejoice in your relationship with Him.

Something wonderful will then “fall on you,” not a judgment but a gift from heaven, the Holy Spirit will come to live in you, that is, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” This commitment to obey Jesus is not a one-time thing that “punches your ticket.” It’s not a “get out of jail free card.” No, but it’s so much richer than anything the world can offer. You are “a new creature.” Your very nature has changed from being like Adam to being like Jesus. Now inside you is a “river of living water” that bubbles up in you, bringing everlasting life. If you stay in Jesus, that is, “abide in Him,” He is like a vine that provides life to its branches. You will bear fruit that pleases the Father God, and His love and grace will be like glory on you. Others will see or sense you have something spiritually special. You will glow with His love, and His spiritual gifts will flow out of you. Sinners will hear and see God inside you and will want to know what you have. God will speak by His Spirit to and through you. The Holy Spirit will fall on you, and the evidence will pour out of your innermost being. You will pray in unknown languages, you will heal the sick, you will cast out evil spirits, you will prophesy the words of God, and you will love one another and forgive your enemies. You may be persecuted – even to death, but you will not deny Christ. 

And when the sinners begin to wail and call for the rocks to fall on them, you will have the Holy Spirit fall and take you to ever be with the Lord. At His judgment seat, you will not hear Him say, “Away with you, worker of iniquity, to the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” No, you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and you will enter into the joy of our Lord. That is just a small peek at what we are saved from. There is so much more in His word. Let’s read it from this perspective of the apocalyptic gospel, and its message will become more real and effective in our lives. Amen! Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Jeffrey Conte came to know Jesus during the Jesus movement. He enjoys both writing and playing music as his hobby. He is married to Joy Conte, and they have four children. Jeffrey is a Research Scientist and loves reading, especially about music and physics, but most of all, he loves Jesus.