Yes! There is Good News! September 23, 2017

In the previous several articles we have considered the statement that Peter made to the crowd gathered during the Feast of Pentecost: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” We have said that this short statement contains several concepts and have now made our way to the phrase: “for the forgiveness of sins.”

First, I must say that we cannot draw close to God while in a sinful state. In the book of Isaiah 59:1-2 we read this: “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Throughout the entirety of the bible, there are many scriptures that I would categorize as “scary,” and this is one of them! My sins have caused a separation from my God: the one who has given me life itself, the one who provides for me in every way, the one who protects me in my every step of this life and the one who loves me more that I could ever grasp. Yes, we all need our sins forgiven.

I am sure that some of you reading this have followed Peter’s admonition and have repented, been baptized into Christ Jesus and have had your sins forgiven. Yet we live in a fallen world and we sin. John in his first letter says this, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). It has been rightly claimed “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.” And so the good news is that we can and must repent of our sins and so be forgiven. And the great news is that we may then fellowship with our Father and His Son.

But some of you have not followed Peter’s admonition. I wish you would. A life of fellowship with our heavenly Father and His Son cannot compare with anything in this life. The reality of this is found in that final statement of Peter, “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Notice I used the word “reality.” This is not some “pie in the sky” dream we are looking at but the reality of the promise of our God.

God willing we will close up this series of articles by considering the “gift of the Holy Spirit”. And so, the good news just keeps on coming!!

Until next time, rejoice in the “good news” of Jesus Christ.