Very Good News: Rediscovering the Depth of God's Salvation

In a world filled with chaos, pain, and uncertainty, it's easy to lose sight of the incredible hope we have in Jesus Christ. Many of us, even those who have walked with God for years, can find ourselves with a limited perspective on just how amazing and good our Creator truly is. We may have reduced the gospel to a simple "get out of jail free" card for eternity, forgetting the vast richness of what Jesus offers us both now and forever.

The truth is, our current understanding of God's goodness and the breadth of His gospel often pales in comparison to reality. We serve a God who is incomprehensibly good, strategic, and thoughtful in executing His plan for humanity. While salvation - being forgiven of our sins and justified before God - is absolutely central to the gospel, it's not the whole story.

God wants to do more than simply declare us holy; He wants to make us holy. He desires to set our feet on solid ground and give us a purpose that we cannot find anywhere else. Through this, our lives become useful, bringing Him glory and allowing us and those around us to experience the joy that comes from brushing shoulders with the kingdom of heaven.

To truly grasp the depth of what Jesus offers, we need to understand five key aspects of His work in our lives:

1. Jesus Saves
2. Jesus Sustains
3. Jesus Sanctifies
4. Jesus Satisfies
5. Jesus Sends

Let's focus on the foundational truth: Jesus saves.

Before we can fully appreciate the solution, we must first recognize the problem. From the beginning, humans were created in God's image, designed to reflect and display His glory. Our deepest joys and greatest purpose can only be found in knowing and honoring the one true God. However, sin entered the world, creating a chasm between us and our Creator.

This separation manifests in various ways: guilt, fear, evil, and ultimately, death. We find ourselves trapped in a prison of our own making, often equating freedom with what the Bible would call captivity. As Romans 6:16 reminds us, "Don't you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey." 

Whatever we offer ourselves to becomes our master, whether it's addiction, worry, debt, anger, comparison, or the pursuit of approval.

But here's where the very good news comes in. Despite our human tragedy of sin, God still loved us and was determined to save us. 1 Corinthians 15:3 tells us, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." God entered human history as a man, Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life and then took on the punishment we deserved for our sins.

In a beautiful exchange, described in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." On the cross, Jesus absorbed an eternity of punishment meant for us, reconciling us back to God when we were His enemies.

This salvation results in three primary outcomes:

1. Nearness to God: We are no longer alienated but have a personal relationship with our Creator.

2. Freedom from sin: While we may still be aware of sin's presence, it no longer has ultimate authority over us.

3. Harmony with others: We have a divine brotherhood and sisterhood that transcends earthly conflicts.

The phrase "Jesus saves" means He saves us completely. Everything about us begins to change and become new. We are saved not just for a future in heaven, but for right now, today, so that we can have hope and purpose in our daily lives.

For those who feel too far gone or too broken for God's forgiveness, remember that salvation is a free gift that comes from Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it is "by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." No matter your past, God can forgive you if you repent and put your faith in Christ.

Even for believers who may feel trapped, lost, or indifferent, there is hope. As the Psalmist wrote, we can pray, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psalm 51:12). Jesus saved you knowing exactly where you'd be today, and He still chose to go to the cross for you.

For those struggling with pain in relationships or hurt from past church experiences, remember that the power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you. While we may not always understand the how or when, we can trust that God can work miracles in our lives and relationships as we continue to trust Him.

This gospel - this very good news - is bigger and better than we could ever imagine. It starts with the reality that anyone and everyone who responds "yes" to Jesus can be forgiven and saved. God has been reaching out to us for far longer than we realize, and if we've already taken His hand, it only gets better as we learn to trust Him more deeply.

As we reflect on these truths, let's challenge ourselves to take a step towards Jesus today. He's already taken the ultimate step towards us; all we need to do is respond. Whether it's saying "yes" to Him for the first time, recommitting our lives to Him, or simply asking Him to renew the joy of our salvation, His kindness is leading us to that place of repentance and renewed relationship.

In a world that often feels like it's spinning out of control, we have an anchor in Jesus Christ. His salvation is not just a ticket to heaven, but a complete transformation of our lives here and now. May we never lose sight of how good this news truly is, and may it compel us to live lives that reflect the glory of the God who saved us.