Good News - No Matter Who You Are or What You Have Done

As I was working on a project last night, my mind kept returning to the simple idea that there really is good news available to every person – no matter who you are or what you have done! If you have done really bad things, there is good news. Or, if you are really suffering, there is good news. Let me explain!

Good News If You Have Done Bad Things

Jesus provided the best news for those who have done really bad things. In other words, if you have committed any sin – even the absolutely worst sins – then Jesus provides you good news. Here is what He says:

Jesus answered and said to him, … “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:10-18).

Here, Jesus talks to Nicodemus. Nicodemus prided himself in his knowledge of the Bible. Yet, Jesus told him that he missed a key element in it. That is, God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world.

Fellow Sinner, this is GREAT NEWS! No matter who you are or what you have done, let those words sink in to your heart for a moment. God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world. The world INCLUDES you. Jesus did not come to condemn you.

Instead, back to what Jesus said, “But that the world through Him might be saved.” Again, the world here INCLUDES you. Rather than being condemned for eternity (and now) for your sin, Jesus offers you forgiveness of your sins. Whatever you have done or whoever you are, forgiveness is available for you right now by God through Jesus. GREAT NEWS!

The way you receive forgiveness from Jesus is by praying to God. Tell God that you recognize that you are a sinner and guilty of your sin. However, you understand that Jesus came to earth, lived perfectly, died unjustly, and took upon Himself the punishment for your sin. Since He did, God can not forgive you. Jesus became your substitute. He bore God’s wrath for sin and faced death so that you do not have to bear God’s wrath and face eternal death in Hell. Therefore, call upon God to forgive you and tell Him that you will be happy to follow Him as your God.

What about if you have committed some very ugly sins and you have already asked God to forgive you before you committed those sins? Great question. There’s forgiveness for you as well. When God forgives you of your sin at salvation, He declares you eternally, judiciously innocent of your sin even though you are still a sinner. He adopts you as His child. Further, He promises to give you an inheritance with Him forever in heaven. As His child, He treats you as Jesus. Even when you sin – including the ugliest of sins – God sees you through Christ. Since God is satisfied with Christ, He is also satisfied with all those who are in Christ or saved. You are safe in Jesus. Your sin cannot make God angry at you. You grieve His heart when you sin, but that does not make God angry at you. All God’s anger for your sin was poured out on Jesus Christ at the cross (Col 3:1-4; 1 John 1:9-2:2; Rom 8:31-39; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:3-12).

Strive to live for Jesus, but do so as a forgiven person whom God loves and for whom God cares (1 Pet 1:13-21).

Good News If You Are Really Suffering

Jesus also provides good news if you are really suffering as well. Listen to Jesus as He describes His care and concern for the world.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Suffering friend, I hope you hear the good news for you from Jesus as well. He invites you to COME TO HIM IN YOUR SUFFERING. He wants to hear your prayer. Jesus desires to help you, comfort you, and give you rest in your soul.

Notice how Jesus describes Himself. He explains that He is gentle and lowly in heart. Isn’t this so true? Jesus came, lived, sacrificially died, and became your substitutionary atonement so that you could enjoy eternity with Him. He did those things because He loves you and wanted to ultimately bring God glory. He does not treat you as you deserve. Instead, He is gentle and humble. When He could put your sin your face, He does not. When He could turn His back on you, He does not. Instead, He invites you close.

He promises you rest in your soul even in the midst of deep suffering, sorrow, and upheaval. How does He do this? He provides His presence to you, His promises through His Word, and hope for the future. As we learn from Him, which is what He asks us to do, we receive rest in our souls.

What about your burdens? Does suffering mean that Jesus is mad at you, does not like you, or has something against you? Absolutely not. As Jesus said, you have burdens because in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33). All people do. Burdens, suffering, and life’s hardships are not a sign of God’s pleasure or displeasure. As Jesus said, we all have a burden. As followers of Jesus, our burden is lighter than doing it on our own; however, there is still a burden. The reason it is lighter flows back to Jesus’ rest He provides to you when you come to Him. The more you know Him, the better it becomes.