The Gospel is good news. It is because of its truth and hope of salvation. The goodness is seen in changed hearts which change lives for the better. The sad fact is most of the world does not really know God, and that’s because they don’t know His Word.
The Gospel is good because of a good God (Acts 14:17). God is good to the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). He teaches a doctrine of loving your enemy (Matt. 5:44) which is the exact opposite of what is practiced throughout the world. Closely connected is the charge to love your neighbors (Matt. 7:12; 22:39). Jesus taught these fundamentals as the foundation for Christianity. God is so good that He gives time through His longsuffering nature for all to come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9). Want a measure of His longsuffering? Stop, look, and listen around you. To those who take His name in vain He gives time to live and enjoy His creation desiring that they have time and opportunity to repent. His nature is good as seen in all truth emanating from Him (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18). He is God who does not lie, and is alive (Rom. 9:26) to manage His creation and care for you. David Lipscomb noted: “no higher favor can be conferred on mortals than to be sons of the living God.” The personal existence of a good God is remarkable to consider.
It should stand to reason that a good God would provide a good book by which to guide and live (II Tim. 3:16-17). A book that is complete with all the essentials one needs to get from earth to Heaven. John was told to write what he saw in a book (Rev. 1:11). God inspired men like John to write His words down in a book known as the Bible. The writers were not writing their private interpretation, but writing the words that God gave them to write. These words are wonderful words (Acts 2:11) promising abundant life (John 10:10). That’s good news for all mankind.
The result of the message given by God is pure religion (James 1:27). There are many religions in the world, but only one is pure. This term religion is hardly used in scripture, but the one place it is found answers what kind—pure religion. In defining what kind, the context teaches helping the helpless, caring for others (Rom. 12:20). The pure religion produces those who are on fire, “zealous” of good works (Titus 2:14). A product of good religion is a clean conscience (I Pet. 3:21). God gives mankind good doctrine (I Tim. 4:6).
God’s word will make good men and good women. Men like Barnabus (Acts 11:24), and good women like Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), who worship God, are the result of His good Gospel. The best people in this world are Christians who will be noted for their good work (II Cor. 9:8). God is so good that no matter the size or amount of good work, the Christian can know that his/her labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58). Have you chosen the “good part” like Mary did (Luke 10:42)? The goodness of God is seen in His Word and in us if we will receive it and live it.
