GOOD NEWS... is this really our message to the WORLD?

[willieH]

willieH: Hi everyone!  :boyheart: &  :girlheart:

I don't often generate threads... however it is time we discussed this subject...

I believe it is time we discussed the CONTENT and DEFINITION of the term which entitles our "message" to the WORLD that we claim to be:

GOOD NEWS


What is "GOOD NEWS", EXACTLY? 

You tell me how you see it...  :declare:

Then I shall tell you how I see it...  :declare:

...willieH  :HeartThrob:

[Beloved Servant]

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION

JESUS DEFEATED DEATH!
JESUS DEFEATED HELL!
JESUS DEFEATED SATAN!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION

[natcat86]

For me the Good New is that before the creation of the universe God knew me! He loves me, so much that he sent His Son to die on the cross so that I wouldn't remain seperated from him by sin and death but that I can be his child. A legitimate child!

The Good News is there is no bad news, Jesus said it is finished, the price was paid once and for all.

I wouldn't feel I had just recieved good news if I thought I was saved but my children, husband, the jews who died in the holocaust, Gandi, they will all be cut off from the love of God for eternity. Thats not Good News!

It isnt Good News only if you are one of the lucky few that God draws to Himself but bad news for the rest of your loved ones. Its just 100% good news, no ifs ands or buts!

:bgdance:

[Taffy]

Starts here Bill

2Cr 5:18   And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  

2Cr 5:19   To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,   not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  

2Cr 5:20   Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  


2Cr 5:21   For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  

[onlytruth]

Good news is....don't sweat it ,you are received by a Loving GOD ,don't be trying to accomplish anything in your own strength ,for God graciously will give it to you.And the death thing ...that's been looked after, my firstborn took care of that !
blessings :icon_king:

[fullarmor2]

     The good news of Jesus Christ,  savior of the World!    We simply declare that in different ways.  We have nothing to do with who does or doesn't receive the good news. Thats God's business .
  We are just "sowers of the seed " of the good news.    God alone causes it to grow according to God's timing for each hearer of the good news.    When a hearer does receive the good news by God's grace and working,  it will produce faith , hope, and love in the person. 

[Zeek]

LOVE

[Zeek]

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLYKa9E1xzao%26feature%3Drelated&h=789bd2130a6bbff250e2ff3ecae490da

[peacemaker]

 :hihat: Good News

Also known as The Good News, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

peacemaker

[noname]

if we live in the love Jesus has shown us, we'll live forever...and we'll have peace

[willieH]

willieH: Hi Everyone...  :cloud9:

Nice replies...  :HeartThrob:  But I was more looking at the MESSAGE that is delivered on the WHOLE...

What I am getting at is -- what is the TOTAL Gospel message, as disclosed by us as INDIVIDUALS... What is YOUR total message?  Does it have aspects such as these? ---->

The Salvation Army teaches that their message is the GOSPEL of LOVE... but also teaches that LOVE will send most of its "BELOVED" to HELL...  :mshock:

The SDA church teaches that their message is the GOSPEL of LOVE, and that there is  FREEDOM in CHRIST, but also teaches that LOVE will ANNHILATE most of its "BELOVED"...  :mshock:

The CATHOLIC church teaches that their message is the GOSPEL of LOVE, but mixes in that message that LOVE shall TORMENT "some" in HELL and "some" must burn in "PERGATORY" for a "time" (undetermined)...

It has been my observation, that the CATHOLIC "version" of the "Gospel" is the message that most closely resembles a large part of the believers of UR...  

But is this a message which is "PEACEFUL"?  The GOSPEL is named a message of PEACE -- Rom 10:15

It is a message which "casts OUT FEAR"?  LOVE in its PERFECTION -- Casts OUT FEAR -- 1 John 4:18

If we are making the claim that we are bearing TRUTH, ...then how may we insert as part of our information, a message which notes INCOMPLETION?

Nat's answer in this thread, IMO -- is the most COMPLETE, of those offered so far...

...willieH  :HeartThrob:

[willieH]

willieH: Hi Nat... :hithere:

I completely agree with this:

For me the Good New is that before the creation of the universe God knew me! He loves me, so much that he sent His Son to die on the cross so that I wouldn't remain seperated from him by sin and death but that I can be his child. A legitimate child!

The Good News is there is no bad news, Jesus said it is finished, the price was paid once and for all.

I wouldn't feel I had just recieved good news if I thought I was saved but my children, husband, the jews who died in the holocaust, Gandi, they will all be cut off from the love of God for eternity. Thats not Good News!

It isnt Good News only if you are one of the lucky few that God draws to Himself but bad news for the rest of your loved ones. Its just 100% good news, no ifs ands or buts!

:bgdance:

Well said dear sister... well said!  :thumbsup:

:goodpost: :iagree:

I will post my LONG version of what Nat just said in my next post...  :happygrin:

...willieH  :HeartThrob:

[jfraysse]

If by "Good News" you mean, "The Gospel", I don't think it's that easy to define using only Biblical references.  In Mark and Matthew, very early in the books, we read, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel." Mark 1:14-15.  This occurrence of "gospel preaching" by Jesus was long before Paul started preaching "His Gospel" or as he sometimes referred to it: "My Gospel".  But when Jesus uses the term "Gospel" what was He talking about?

None of the first four books of the NT define salvation as the primary message of the gospel taught by Jesus.  So it appears that the Original Gospel could not have been about "Salvation" or its availability or even Jesus as a sacrifice since we are clearly told that no one, including the disciples, thought that Jesus was going to die for anything or anyone.

Note the phrase, "the gospel of the kingdom of God" which Jesus said was NEAR at hand.  Today's Turn or Burn "gospel" seems quite different indeed from what Jesus taught in His Earthly Ministry.  To me, Jesus appears to have come to CORRECT the Religion of the Jews and, in a sense, to fulfill it.  If our Father ever required blood sacrifice to appease his wrath and Jesus WAS his solution, then the ONLY Good News would be that God has reconciled His Creation to Himself by virtue of His unwavering Love for it through the life and teachings of Jesus.

Bottomline, the Message must be:  God Loves you and HAS (passed tense) Redeemed You – Like it or Not!

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, from the examples provided by Jesus, appears to be one of good conscious toward our Heavenly Father, our fellow man and one of ministry to those in need.  Folks who follow in Jesus' footsteps after this manner are living, breathing personifications of "The Good News"!

In His Love, John :HeartThrob:

[willieH]

willieH: Hi everyone!  :boyheart: &  :girlheart:

What is "GOOD NEWS", EXACTLY?

The reason I have generated this talk, is on behalf of the MANY believers in CHRIST which are IMPRISONED by the FEARS of HELL, ANNHILATION, of the UNPARDONABLE SIN, etc... to such extremes that  have caused MENTAL BREAKDOWNS, and inserted in them ANXIETIES which instead of bringing PEACE, ...completely remove REST from their lives!!!   

Not to mention Christianity's (in general) presentation to the WORLD --- which carelessly notes (via HELL, ANNHILATION, PURGATORY, etc.)  -- by painting the picture of an Insatiably VENGENT and ANGRY, God!

Such DISTORTION (of this ANGRY GOD), has become the LEADING reason that MANY in the WORLD reject belief in  CHRIST...   :mshock:

We must (or at the least, should) ask ourselves:

What should be the CONTENT of the message entitled in Scripture, the "GOSPEL" --- which is called "GOOD NEWS"?   :JCThink: 

And ultimately, ...HOW does the CONTENT we conclude to be in the message, align with the description of LOVE, as found in 1 Cor 13 and in the definitions of EUAGGLIZO and EUAGGELION?  :Chinscratch:

Here is how I see it...

Is it not IMPERITIVE that we be as EXACT (as is possible), for we are bringing this message to the WORLD that God SO [eternally] LOVES?   And is it not imperitive that we, within our imperfect observations, "get as close to the "perfection" that GOD intends for the GOSPEL to be presented, as we can?  I think it IS... :nod:

EXAMPLE:

If a leader (such as is the President of the USA) is proposing an order to fire upon an enemy... and just (in general) orders his forces (which include such as Nuclear Weapons) to open fire on that enemy, without considering the need for SPECIFICS, ...is not he/she a failure as a LEADER, for he/she has not thought though the specific details of the RESULTS and/or CONSEQUENCES of his/her order, upon the WORLD?

Shall we be as careless?  Shall we just take the instruction of our leader JESUS CHRIST, by taking just "ANY VERSION" of His Message (the GOSPEL), to the WORLD He died for, and that His Father "SO [eternally] LOVES"?  Or is it EXTREMELY  important, that we CAREFULLY EXAMINE our message before speaking It?

Should we not "BACK UP" to the beginning, where God noted SENDING CHRIST, and FOUND our message upon the REASON for SENDING Him?  Shall we carelessly eliminate the purety of the REASON for the mission, and delete it as the BASIS for our "message"?

You might be asking yourselves, ..."where is willieH going with this"?

Well... If we do not take the DEFINITION of LOVE (as plainly noted in 1 Cor 13), and note that GOD ...IS...  that "definition"...  As well as the emergent motive of LOVE -- as we relate it to the WORLD -- being to protect and rescue the WORLD [He so LOVES] (which has become completely immersed in varying EVIL)

If we believe in LOVE, and its PURE IMPARTIALITY, ...then how can we in good conscience, distort the content of the MESSAGE of LOVE -- 1 John 4:18 -- by inserting FEARFUL elements within it, and thereby bring forth a DISTORTED version of it which contains OTHER than is DEFINED in the term and entity, that LOVE, by the WORD is noted?

Of which, said definition, reveals to us, Who and What -- GOD ...IS?

Is it OUR EXPERIENCE with LOVE in our lives, that LOVE -- "bullies" its endeared and precious objects?
   
Is it OUR EXPERIENCE with LOVE in our lives, that LOVE -- "torments" its endeared and precious objects?

Is it OUR EXPERIENCE with LOVE in our lives, that LOVE -- "holds one" unequally above the other"?

Or is it FACTUAL and REASONABLE... that LOVE [God] finds EACH of its objects, AS IMPORTANT and NEEDED as the other -- UNCONDITIONALLY? 


...willieH  :HeartThrob:

[willieH]

willieH: Hi John... :hithere:

If by "Good News" you mean, "The Gospel", I don't think it's that easy to define using only Biblical references.  In Mark and Matthew, very early in the books, we read, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel." Mark 1:14-15.  This occurrence of "gospel preaching" by Jesus was long before Paul started preaching "His Gospel" or as he sometimes referred to it: "My Gospel".  But when Jesus uses the term "Gospel" what was He talking about?

None of the first four book of the NT define salvation as the primary message of the gospel taught by Jesus.  So it appears that the Original Gospel could not have been about "Salvation" or its availability or even Jesus as a sacrifice since we are clearly told that no one, including the disciples, thought that Jesus was going to die for anything nor anyone.

Note the phrase, "the gospel of the kingdom of God" which Jesus said was NEAR at hand.  Today's Turn or Burn "gospel" seems quite different indeed from what Jesus taught in His Earthly Ministry.  To me, Jesus appears to have come to CORRECT the Religion of the Jews and, in a sense, to fulfill it.  If our Father ever required blood sacrifice to appease his wrath and Jesus WAS his solution, then the ONLY Good News would be that God has reconciled His Creation to Himself by virtue of His unwavering Love for it through the life and teachings of Jesus.

Bottomline, the Message must be:  God Loves you and HAS (passed tense) Redeemed You – Like it or Not!

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, from the examples provided by Jesus, appears to be one of good conscious toward our Heavenly Father, our fellow man and one of ministry to those in need.  Folks who follow in Jesus' footsteps after this manner are living, breathing personifications of "The Good News"!

In His Love, John :HeartThrob:

:happygrin:  Nicely said brother... No intermixing of FEARFUL elements is necessary to convey the message of GOD (the Gospel) born and emergent from  LOVE...  :love4:

...willieH  :cloud9:

[jfraysse]

willieH: ... No intermixing of FEARFUL elements is necessary to convey the message of GOD (the Gospel) born and emergent from  LOVE...  :love4:...willieH  :cloud9:

So True Willie!  The FEAR part will get you some "converts", I suppose, but for the WRONG reasons, methinks! :thumbdown: :sigh:

[natcat86]

Thanks Willie, you made my day!  :HeartThrob:

[lomarah]

Hey again willieH. I know what you are saying here. I do not believe that God "torments" anyone. I have a sincere question though: why are we told to fear God again and again in the Bible, and then are also told that there is no fear in love and that perfect love casts out fear? Are these not contradictory teachings? If anyone could shed some light that would be great...

[jabcat]

My thoughts...there is some indication that (at least many times) fear may be better translated as respect - perhaps as in awe, reverence, etc.

Also, I believe the deeper we are in His love (including our understanding of His good purposes for us and of the ages - His intention that none will be lost, all will be restored, renewed, all tears wiped away, all nations blessed, etc.) that as we move into that level of love, there will be less and less fear, more comfort, hope, joy, etc.  There may be a place one can reach in relationship with Him that there is actually NO FEAR of anything...I'm not there yet, but I believe that place does exist.

My  :2c:, James.

[willieH]

willieH: Hello lomarah...  :cloud9:

Hey again willieH. I know what you are saying here. I do not believe that God "torments" anyone. I have a sincere question though: why are we told to fear God again and again in the Bible, and then are also told that there is no fear in love and that perfect love casts out fear? Are these not contradictory teachings? If anyone could shed some light that would be great...

"FEAR" that holds TORMENT and RESTS WITHIN IT, is cast out by LOVE... So anything which is THREATENING is REPULSIVELY disposed by LOVE.

"FEAR" that holds REVERANCE and RESPECT is DESIRED by LOVE... SO ANYTHING that bears RESPECT, regard, consideration, courtesy, honor, attention, esteem, etc... is SOUGHT and GARNERED by LOVE.

When GOD is DISRESPECTED, then one REAPS what one SOWS... when we SOW of the FLESH (which is EVIL) we reap of the FLESH... For the FLESH profiteth NOTHING -- John 6:63 -- and shall BURN in the LOF which is NOW... (wood, hay, stubble)

When we RESPECT GOD and thereby, sow to the SPIRIT, those actions ABIDE FOREVER, for they are found IN CHRIST -- 1 Cor 3:11-15 (gold, silver, precious stones) -- DONE BY HIM, though us...

I.E. the SEVERITY of GOD, the TERRIBLE portion -- is seen manifest concerning MEN, as is evidenced first by the great FLOOD, and now in other natural traumas affecting us COLLECTIVELY... such as Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes, etc...  

That SEVERITY is seen in INDIVIDUAL portions, such as Cancer, Heart disease, Diabetes, Arthritis, etc...

This is all intended... for EVIL must be revealed in its FULLNESS, in order to contain the FULLNESS of God's KNOWLEDGE of it...

The borders of GOOD extensively FOREVER, dwarf that which is EVIL... and SUFFERING is part of the process of PERFECTION -- Heb 2:10

SUFFERING cannot occur unless EVIL is enacted to bring it forth...  :dontknow:

Our "GOOD NEWS" to the World, must NOT contain any portion of EVIL such as FEAR OR TORMENT.   If it DOES... then the NEWS is no longer GOOD... it is a mixture of both.

...willieH  :HeartThrob:

[peacemaker]

Synonyms of suffering are: agony, torment, torture, pain, distress, or to stomach such as
these; taking a stand, bearing all things and abiding with endurance in the love of Christ.

"He bore the sins of many, yet continually gives his love to All."

Indeed, it is not syncretism or the blending of both; good and evil.

[sparrow]

My thoughts...there is some indication that (at least many times) fear may be better translated as respect - perhaps as in awe, reverence, etc.

Also, I believe the deeper we are in His love (including our understanding of His good purposes for us and of the ages - His intention that none will be lost, all will be restored, renewed, all tears wiped away, all nations blessed, etc.) that as we move into that level of love, there will be less and less fear, more comfort, hope, joy, etc.  There may be a place one can reach in relationship with Him that there is actually NO FEAR of anything...I'm not there yet, but I believe that place does exist.My  :2c:, James.

Yes... I believe it does exist. I think I may have had glimpses. Perfect peace combined with a gleeful anticipation type feeling of just.... I don't know, this is kind of a weird way to explain it but "on the edge of all things"  :laughing7:. Just a supreme feeling of not one shred of fear. It's just completely gobbled up by perfect peace and almost a laughter type joy. It's like... think of what it would be like if all of a sudden all humans instantly turned into 7 year old children. Everyone. Everywhere. And we're all looking around at each other, knowing where we all just came from (being adults) and now we're all just kids and we're all happy and laughing our heads off at our new circumstances we have just found ourselves in.

Kind of like that.  :laughing7:
Yes. My imagination roams...
can't help it.

Peace.

Sometimes I think... at times I can get just impatient. Just wanting everyone to stop fussing, stop debating, stop being fearful, stop discussing this doctrine or that doctrine, and just SHUT UP already and LOVE EACH OTHER and see EVERY single other person on this planet as your BROTHER or SISTER. Sometimes, the weight of it wears on me. Sometimes the weight of it.... just kind of wears me down and makes me tap me foot... come ON everyone. It's right in front of us. Just LOVE. Why can't we JUST... love. ? It's not so hard is it?
No more fear, anger, strife.
We're all part of the same family.
I can't wait until it finally just clicks with all of us.
And we all finally GET IT.
Father loves us.
We ought to love each other.
No matter where we each are on our own path.

Things I was upset about earlier today, for instance...
Y'know what? I just DON'T CARE anymore.
I'm just TIRED.
just want to love and be loved and keep that river of love freely moving, so others can join in.

peace.
sorry for rambling.

[lomarah]

My thoughts...there is some indication that (at least many times) fear may be better translated as respect - perhaps as in awe, reverence, etc.

Also, I believe the deeper we are in His love (including our understanding of His good purposes for us and of the ages - His intention that none will be lost, all will be restored, renewed, all tears wiped away, all nations blessed, etc.) that as we move into that level of love, there will be less and less fear, more comfort, hope, joy, etc.  There may be a place one can reach in relationship with Him that there is actually NO FEAR of anything...I'm not there yet, but I believe that place does exist.My  :2c:, James.

Yes... I believe it does exist. I think I may have had glimpses. Perfect peace combined with a gleeful anticipation type feeling of just.... I don't know, this is kind of a weird way to explain it but "on the edge of all things"  :laughing7:. Just a supreme feeling of not one shred of fear. It's just completely gobbled up by perfect peace and almost a laughter type joy. It's like... think of what it would be like if all of a sudden all humans instantly turned into 7 year old children. Everyone. Everywhere. And we're all looking around at each other, knowing where we all just came from (being adults) and now we're all just kids and we're all happy and laughing our heads off at our new circumstances we have just found ourselves in.

Kind of like that.  :laughing7:
Yes. My imagination roams...
can't help it.

Peace.

Sometimes I think... at times I can get just impatient. Just wanting everyone to stop fussing, stop debating, stop being fearful, stop discussing this doctrine or that doctrine, and just SHUT UP already and LOVE EACH OTHER and see EVERY single other person on this planet as your BROTHER or SISTER. Sometimes, the weight of it wears on me. Sometimes the weight of it.... just kind of wears me down and makes me tap me foot... come ON everyone. It's right in front of us. Just LOVE. Why can't we JUST... love. ? It's not so hard is it?
No more fear, anger, strife.
We're all part of the same family.
I can't wait until it finally just clicks with all of us.
And we all finally GET IT.
Father loves us.
We ought to love each other.
No matter where we each are on our own path.

Things I was upset about earlier today, for instance...
Y'know what? I just DON'T CARE anymore.
I'm just TIRED.
just want to love and be loved and keep that river of love freely moving, so others can join in.

peace.
sorry for rambling.

Oh oh oh sparrow  :HeartThrob: I know exactly what you mean! I feel the same way! I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait for that glorious day! When Love reigns in every heart.  :cloud9: When we all really know that we are our brother's keeper. Ohhhh I get excited just thinking about it!  :grouppray:
:dsunny:

[HartleyDamboiseII]

A well message, the thing that brings the well message is the messenger, When I was flagging all summer I saw a UPS trucks go by and I would say "my last vic. is a Black Angle" Meaning that the driver is a diliverer of news/messages. ( Angle-The Bible meaning) Not mans meaning.

[willieH]

willieH: Hi James... :hithere:

My thoughts...there is some indication that (at least many times) fear may be better translated as respect - perhaps as in awe, reverence, etc.

SPOT-ON observation brother...  :HeartThrob:

Also, I believe the deeper we are in His love (including our understanding of His good purposes for us and of the ages - His intention that none will be lost, all will be restored, renewed, all tears wiped away, all nations blessed, etc.) that as we move into that level of love, there will be less and less fear, more comfort, hope, joy, etc.  There may be a place one can reach in relationship with Him that there is actually NO FEAR of anything...I'm not there yet, but I believe that place does exist.

It does exist James... and each journey is stepping toward it.  It takes a LIFETIME to travel the journey... Walk patiently brother, and you shall SURELY get there...  :friendstu:

The "patience" of the saints IS the JOURNEY... For we must EACH step upon --  EACH MOMENT -- that GOD has ordained, to be within our "DUE TIME" -- 1 Tim 2:6

FEAR must grow to GOD's FULL KNOWLEDGE of it... before this is all done. 

So, we -- as believers...  must not give FEAR a place within either OUR MESSAGE to the WORLD, or within OUR LIVES within that WORLD... which is the POINT of this discussion!  :boogie:

Once FEAR has run its COMPLETE COURSE in ALL...  Then LOVE shall have "CAST it OUT" (of ALL) FOREVER!

For LOVE contains NO FEAR! -- 1 John 4:18

...willieH  :HeartThrob: