I’ve Got Some Good News & I’ve Got Some Bad News

Ephesians 1:18-2:5 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he (Father God) has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (the Devil), the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Going through this great epistle of Ephesians by the Apostle Paul, wonderful foundational truths come clear; truths that the world system contrary to God does not know or understand, and that our hearts need to be enlightened to daily, as a reminder in a culture of contradictory humanistic ideas. A world that claims tolerance, community and peace, but is either ignorant of or rejects God and is indifferent or hostile to their Maker. And this Creator God has a hope to which He has called us, knowledge of His glorious inheritance to His children and of His incomparable great power for us; power immeasurably more than, beyond and above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given forever and always. And with this supreme power, God the Father placed all things under the authority of God the Son (Christ Jesus– God incarnate) and appointed Lord over everything for the body of Believers – the church, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. What “good news” this is! But there can not be “good news” if there isn’t some “bad news”. And this is what the world is missing and not seeing.

When we hear someone say: “I have some good news and some bad news”, we reply: “Give me the bad news first”. Here is the truth: As for you (and me and everyone), you were (Spiritually) dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live; gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. We were by nature objects of wrath. All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In willful disobedience to the sovereign rule and authority, power and dominion of Almighty God, we have crossed the line, fell into Satan’s trap and missed the mark set by God by putting ourselves before Him, and our desires before His. And in doing so, broken relationship with Maker and placed ourselves in the position of paying the price for it. Strange how we want to break the rules and then not want to pay the penalty for breaking them. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) … Spiritual Dead … the death of the Spirit (as I explained in “The Three-fold Nature of Mankind”). In John 14:23-24 Jesus said to him, `If a person loves me, he will obey me. My Father also will love him. And we will come to him and will live with him. The person who does not love me does not obey me. The word which you hear is not my word. It is my Father's word. He is the one who sent me. Who do we really, truly love and obey? The bad news is that in our love of ourselves and the lawless world, which led to our willful disobedience and violation of God’s rule and authority, our Spirit was dead. We were by nature objects of wrath.

But there is “good news”! Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Though we were spiritually dead in sin and hell bound for it, loving Father God, in pure mercy and grace for us, sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the price and penalty for our sins, forgave us, saved us and gave us eternal life, regenerating our Spirit, giving us a new heart bent towards God and against sin, restored our relationship with our Creator, changed our destiny from Hell to Heaven, through the Savior as a free gift – not earned, not purchase, and not deserved by us. We have nothing to give to pay what Jesus paid. God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. We have something to praise the Lord about everyday and all day long, because the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23-24). Something to shout about!

Glory to God and peace on Earth, through Christ! Mercy & grace, Brian