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
Imagine a situation where you so desperately need blood to ensure your physical survival. You have been diagnosed with a low red blood cell count in your body and the only way for survival is to get a blood transfusion real fast. To your dismay, you found out that the blood bank in the hospital is empty. But lo and behold, there are some Good Samaritans who volunteer to donate blood you desperately need. I bet this becomes good news for you in an otherwise desperately helpless situation.
Now, this hypothetical situation may or may not be happening to you. But the point is, every good news comes with a backstory behind it, i.e. the bad news. In the case above, people who volunteer to donate blood to you becomes a good news, for without which, your chance to survive is minimal. That applies to every good news you receive. For a good news to be truly a good news, you must realise and understand the bad news.
That is certainly true for the gospel as well. Scripture announces that the gospel is a good news. The message that centres around the person and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of those who believe in Him, is truly a good news. In fact, it’s the good news. But in order for it to be truly a good news, we must understand the backstory of it– i.e. the bad news.
The Bad News
The bad news is that we have rebelled against a holy God by sinning against him. Scripture declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). In our rebellion and sin, Scripture further declares that we are his enemies (Rom. 5:10), under the righteous wrath and judgement of this holy God. In our rebellion, our deserved destiny is God’s eternal condemnation, and we are unable to save ourselves. In our natural state, we are helpless. That is the bad news.
It is precisely because the bad news is so bad, that the gospel is indeed a good news. We who had rebelled against a holy and righteous God and deserve eternal condemnation, are now being brought into the state of reconciliation with the same God through the person and the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. He took our punishment that we deserve on the cross, died the death that we deserve, and now is risen to be the King who rules forever. If we would repent and trust in him, the promise of eternal life is ours, for free! We who were once enemies of God in our rebellion, are now adopted into his family to enjoy him forever.
A Half-Gospel
That is why understanding the bad news is essential for the gospel. In fact, it is part of the overall message of the gospel. It irks me when Christians–even some pastors–try to downplay or even leave out the bad news entirely only to focus on the good news. “We don’t want to make people feel bad about themselves,” they say. “Telling people that they have sinned is so judgemental,” they justify. “Telling people that they are under God’s condemnation alienates people,” they rationalise. When we do this, we are leaving out an essential message of the gospel. We are not preaching the full gospel. And a half-gospel is not a gospel at all! Without the bad news, the gospel is only a news (and an irrelevant news at that)–but it is not a good news.
The gospel is glorious simply because of the reality of the bad news that befalls us. Only when we understand the bad news, are we able to see and appreciate how the gospel is truly the good news for sinful humanity.
