Good News, Not Good Advice

This month has been a great reminder of the partnerships we have with missionaries internationally and locally. While it is encouraging to hear the testimonies of God’s faithfulness, would the Holy Spirit spur us into action. As followers of Christ, we are all called to be missionaries of God’s kingdom. Yet I find that there is hesitation when it comes to sharing the Gospel. Often I hear people say that they don’t feel like they know enough. While the importance of the Bible can not be overstated, as the foundation and source of our understanding of God, our perspective of Scripture is also important.

Welsh theologian & medical doctor, Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones makes a clear distinction that the Gospel is good news and not good advice. He uses the example of a king during a war campaign. If the king wins, he will send messengers to announce what has happened, the victory achieved. If he has lost a battle, he will send over military counsels with strategic advice on what to do next. Thanks be to our Lord that on the cross, Jesus declared “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Gospel is good news because we declare what God has accomplished, whereas other religions and faiths will detail the good advice and instruction to obtain “salvation”/“paradise”. I believe when we stop thinking that the Bible is a book of “must do’s”, and start to see its a book about what Jesus has done for us, we can have the right perspective in reading God’s word. We will not believe effective evangelism depends on our human persuasion. We trust that the Holy Spirit that is in work in us, is also working in the hearts of those we share the gospel with.

As we conclude our final week of Missions Month, would these missionary testimonies embolden our hearts. And would we be empowered to be messengers of Jesus’ victory over sin and death!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16a