THE GOOD NEWS
THE PERFECT START
God created us in his image. We belong to him as his own, and he values each one of us.
When God made the world we had the privilege of a loving relationship with him and the honour of caring for his perfect and beautiful world.
We lived in love, joy and peace.
So, what happened?
WE BROKE THE RELATIONSHIP
Our ancestors questioned God’s integrity, rejected his rule and broke the perfect relationship.
They brought corruption, evil and death into God’s perfect world.
We have followed the same path of betrayal.
We ignore or reject God and show little gratitude for the good things he has given us.
Instead of loyalty, we live for ourselves and worship gods of wealth, pleasure, glory and security.
We abuse his world and treat others badly. We lie, steal, blaspheme, envy, lust and hate.
So our world is suffering. Where does this leave us?
DEATH AND HELL
God is our source of life and everything that is good. So being cut off from God, means death and Hell.
Disloyalty and betrayal of the God and King of the universe is treason and means death and exclusion from his kingdom.
Devaluation and rejection in a significant relationship brings anger and wrath. So, we have also brought God’s wrath on ourselves.
A just ruler cannot turn a blind eye to wrongdoing and injustice, or he compromises himself and his rule. So, at some point, our offences must be dealt with. This leaves us in a state of fear, shame and guilt before an offended God, facing death and Hell.
Can we restore the relationship?
UNABLE TO RECONCILE
People often try to restore a relationship with God by doing good or doing penance. But can this work?
Would a betrayed spouse accept their partner back because they did some helpful jobs around the house or repeatedly hurt themselves? To think their favour can be bought with a few good deeds or self-inflicted pain devalues the spouse even more.
The truth is, there is nothing we can do to remove our offense and restore the relationship and we cannot go back in time and undo the damage we have done.
Does this mean there is no hope?
GOD'S COSTLY FORGIVENESS
Because of his love for us, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to create a way of restoring the relationship.
When a spouse takes back an unfaithful partner, they have to absorb the rejection, devaluing, dishonour, abuse and abandonment. It is like they have to swallow their own death to restore the relationship. It is a high price to pay.
We have devalued, disowned, dishonoured and abandoned God.
Jesus became a man to pay the price of the broken relationship. As Creator of this world, he is our rightful king. He took responsibility for us before God – a bit like a head of state. He was killed by corrupt men.
He took on himself the death we deserved and absorbed the cost of the broken relationship. He satisfied God’s justice, honour and wrath. As God, his death was of unlimited value.
What does this mean for us?
RELATIONSHIP RESTORED
Death was not the end for Jesus. God raised him to life again as the world’s King and Saviour.
If we will agree to let him direct our lives and pay the price for our wrongs, he will make us completely right with God and God will adopt us as his children.
One day Jesus will come and judge this world and create a perfect world built on his kingship. Those who reject Jesus will remain cut off from God. Those committed to Jesus will enjoy love, joy and peace, knowing him in his everlasting kingdom.
By God’s grace, will you enter Jesus’ Kingdom?
You can pray:
Dear God,
With your help, I commit myself to turn from rejecting you, to being loyal in loving, honouring and serving you as my true God. Thankyou for fully paying the price of my offence. Please help me to find my deepest joy and peace in knowing and trusting you as my King and Saviour. Amen
Hear are some reflections from our members on questions you might be asking
FIND OUT MORE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Up for an open, thoughtful, meaningful and stimulating discussion around four of the big questions of life? Then Food for Thought is for you.
Come along for dinner followed by a facilitated informal discussion over four evenings.
1. What’s your idea of God?
2. How do you face Suffering?
3. Where do you find Meaning?
4. What happens in the Afterlife?
CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED
What’s the best news you’ve ever heard? Was it surprising? Did it change the way you think? Or was it something you wanted to be true but didn’t dare hope?
Christianity Explored meets over six nights and will give you the time and space to think about the big questions of life and to explore the life of the person at the heart of the Christian faith – Jesus Christ.
READ THE BIBLE WITH SOMEONE
Prefer to read and dive into the Bible one on one? We're happy to meet up with you and read through a biography of Jesus, often called the Gospels. You can share points of view and raise questions as you go.
Let us know if this is something you'd like to do, or if you have any questions.