"The tragedy of our day is that we have reduced our understanding of the Gospel to merely a message of justification by faith. The Gospel is surely not less than sinners being given peace with God, but it is about far more than just personal forgiveness.

The Gospel is the Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:23). The problem with modern evangelicalism in the West is that many would not be able to tell you why the Reign of God on earth is Good News.

When Jesus announced that the time was fulfilled and that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, the call was to repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). The King had come, and heaven had invaded earth when the Second Person of the Trinity entered his own fallen creation.

The question remains: Why is the Kingdom Good News?

Because God is doing more than just taking sinners to heaven with him one day.

The Messiah's rule entails the reconciliation, renewal, and restoration of all things to God in Christ Jesus. It is about the salvation of the entire fallen cosmos, not just the salvation of individual sinners (Colossians 1:15-20).

God's means of accomplishing this mission is the Church, his blood bought, Spirit empowered people.

They are called out and sent forth into the world with His message and authority to bring all things into subjection to Christ.

This world is not a throwaway. God is zealous to right every wrong and overturn the effects of sin's curse as far as they are found.

Eternal life is not only a future prospect but a present reality. We are new creatures in Christ, and God is partnering with us to advance His Kingdom in every area of life until the world is subdued by his power.

Jesus is Lord. The nations and the ends of the earth are his inheritance. God will redeem his people, and he will establish justice in the earth.

That's Good News worth proclaiming." --Jeff Durbin #faith #bible #christian