For Sunday, July 2, 2023:
Romans 1:2 NLT: “God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.”
As a Christmas hymn, we sing, “Come thou long expected Jesus.” In the Jewish scriptures, there’s clue after clue detailing the arrival of a Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every prophesy about the Messiah’s arrival. Everyone should have been expecting him.
“Good News” means “Gospel,” what happened after Jesus’ arrival, God’s plan for mankind’s rescue. I’ve always thought that the New Testament should be thought of as a continuation of the Old Testament, and that Jesus’ arrival should be Judaism-the-next-chapter, not a completely separate religion. But instead of honoring their own prophesies, the obstinate Pharisees refused to budge on the Son-of-God issue. And new Christians weren’t about to abandon their miracle-working leader who promised forgiveness and eternal salvation.
So we find ourselves here today, totally loyal to Jesus our Savior and yet separated from his ancestors. We’ll shout the Good News whenever and wherever possible, telling all nations of forgiveness only through faith in Jesus who went ahead to prepare a place in the hereafter for believers.
Everyone needs to hear the Good News. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus in the City Fellowship
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