GOOD NEWS

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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One of the things that surprised me most when I began my studies of the languages of the Bible and of the early church relates to the lack of imagination used by those who translated these languages into English. 

Case in point, in the modern church we use the word, “evangelism” to describe the process of telling other people in our lives about the truths contained in the message of the Christian Bible. When someone tells another person about Jesus Christ or helps them understand something more about the nature of God’s forgives and mercy toward us we say that such a person is an “evangelist”.

This is where the lack of imagination comes into play. “Evangelism” is derived from the Latin words evangelismus, which is itself based on the Greek term euangelion. Essentially, the Greek form of the word has just been massaged by English speakers into a form of the exact same word. This annoys me. 

If you are going to translate an idea from one language to another (Greek to English) then you should try and use language that fits with the original action or image. In this case, the Greek term carries the meaning of “good news” or “glad tidings”, and yet in English it conveys the very narrow idea of preaching a particular kind of message. 

Get to the point Ryan! I hear you.  

The Gospel message is simply a message of good news. When we hear someone speak of the “Gospel” in the New Testament, they are speaking of the “euangelion” or the best news anyone has ever told. And this good news is not something that is reserved for special preachers and speakers to share, it is for all believers in Christ to share with whomever God places in our path. 

We are all givers of the good news. 

Example

In the passage that follows, we find an example of this good news. Listen to the message of the Gospel as it is given here:

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

(Titus 3:3-8 NIV11) 

What Good News Did You Hear?

Look back over this message from the Apostle Paul to his compatriot and fellow minister, Titus. In this message, Paul reminds Titus what it means to be a recipient and a giver of good news. 

Let’s think about it this way. Look back over the passage and look for examples of what we were like without the gift of Jesus Christ:

Before the good news of Jesus we were:

·  Foolish in our thinking

·  Disobedient in our willingness to submit to God’s will

·  Deceived by the lies of the world

·  Slaves to our flesh, to our shallow and selfish thinking

·  Living with malice toward others

·  Being envious of others, coveting their success

·  Receiving hatred from our enemies

·  Hating those who stray outside of our desires

In verse 4 we hear the turning point. 

What did Jesus Christ do for us?

·  Motivated by kindness and love, the Savior came into our lives

·  He made us whole in every way (saved us) because of his mercy

·  He washed us clean (sins are gone)

·  He gave us new life through the Holy Spirit

·  We have been made “right” with God through the cross

·  We are now children of God – Heirs with Christ

·  We have been given the eternal life of Jesus Christ

Preach It

That is what the good news of Jesus Christ is all about. 

And it is this news that we need to devote ourselves to daily. 

·  We need to preach the good news to ourselves everyday so that we do not believe the lies of the world and fall into the trap of Satan to somehow believe that we are not included in the gifts of grace because we are not able to live this life in perfection. 

·  Go back through this message today… Be an evangelist to yourself. 

·  The good news of Jesus Christ is the only news that will last for eternity!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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