The Gospel That Good News Mission Abides By

1. Jesus Christ

The main character in the Bible is Jesus Christ. The main idea of the Bible is the gospel of grace, which manifests thanks for the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross. Through this sacrifice we have received righteousness and forgiveness of our sins and become the children of the holy God, able to enter His eternal kingdom. The Old Testament testifies of Jesus Christ who will come in the future; the New Testament testifies of Jesus Christ who has come—as written in the Old Testament—to wash all of our sins and be resurrected. Every account of important events in the Bible clearly demonstrates the cross of Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 explains the meaning of Jesus: “He shall save His people from their sins.” In His name, the ultimate reason that Jesus came to the world is manifested.

“And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” (1 John 3:5)

The definite goal of Jesus’ coming is to save us from sin, which would lead us to destruction.

2. Salvation

Salvation comes when a person who is in a situation from which he cannot free himself is saved solely by the hands of a savior. Jesus came as a Savior to save us from sins. If we can be freed from sins by our works, then we do not need salvation or a savior. But God clearly proclaims in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” because none of us can be freed from sin by our own efforts, and no one can live without Jesus Christ. Because salvation is solely up to a savior, there is no need for the efforts of those who are saved. In other words, salvation is accomplished only by the savior’s work, so it is an absolute grace. This is illustrated in Luke 10 by the parable of the man attacked by a robber; in Matthew 28 by the thief crucified on the cross; in John 8 by the woman caught in adultery; and in John 5 by the man sick for 38 years. The condition of the hearts of these people shows that they can do nothing alone, so they seek the sheer grace and mercy of God. To them, Jesus, the Savior came and granted His grade of salvation.

3. Sin

The Bible explains that we humans became sinners, not because our individuals have sinned since our births, but because we were born in Adam, the first man who had listened to Satan and was deceived.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” (Romans 5:12)

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” (Romans 5:19)

As all mankind came from Adam and belonged to him, our destiny was within him, and our disobedience was inside his. When Adam and Eve sinned, there were only two humans on earth. But because they were one body, Adam’s sin became the sin of all mankind. As Adam betrayed the word of God, so did mankind. As Adam left God, we left Him, too. Accordingly, Adam’s death applies to us.

“For as in Adam all die…” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

4. Repentance

Repentance does not mean merely correcting of wrongdoing. This is why true repentance resulting in salvation is emphasized. We were born inside Adam, who left God, and we became the slaves of Satan. Because we are “dead in trespasses and sins,” (Ephesians 2:1) we should realize our spiritual conditions and turn from our wicked ways. If we know that we are already sentenced to death due to our sins, we will seek the life and mercy that God can grant us, instead of depending on our works or efforts.

Those whose hearts have not come to an end still rely on their own works and efforts, trying to exalt their righteousness. But those who have found themselves in death by the word of God realize that their works and efforts are useless, and see that they need to rely on only God’s unconditional grace and mercy. This is the beginning of repentance. In Hebrews, repentance is metanoia, the change of heart. In other words, true repentance is changing to the humble heart of Jesus Chris—who did nothing by himself—from the arrogant and wicked heart that misled Satan to believe that he could do anything alone.

5. Law

When we do not realize our wickedness, we do not come before God. This is why God sent us the law. Today many of us misunderstand the law and think that faithfully keeping it makes a spiritual life; we try to become righteous by the works of the law. But it is important to know why God gave us the law. The Apostle Paul clearly proclaimed in Romans 3:20 and 3:28 that we cannot be justified by keeping the law and the Ten Commandments. If so, then, why did God give us a law that we cannot obey? Because we humans abandoned God and became totally corrupt without goodness, we cannot become righteous by our good works. This is why we need only the grace of God. But people cannot know their true selves on their own. This is why the law becomes the mirror to show ourselves, and it also becomes the schoolmaster to lead us to Jesus Christ.

6. Gospel

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith…” (Romans 1:17)

After Martin Luther received the righteousness of God in this verse, he conducted a religious reformation. All religions, without the gospel, agree to exalt human righteousness. But the true gospel of God denies human righteousness.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood…” (Romans 5:8-9)

Only through Jesus Christ, were we freed from all sins and curses, and became righteous, gaining everlasting life. Whoever believes this by faith opens the door of Heaven. This is the gospel of grace that the Apostle Paul had preached.

7. Eternal Sin Offering

God witnessed the gospel in various images throughout the Old Testament.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these days spoken unto us by his son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

One example demonstrated in Leviticus is the “sin offering.” The lambs without any blemishes were killed to wash human sins in the Old Testament symbolize Jesus Christ, who would die on the cross for the sins of the world. That is to say, Jesus Christ accepted the sins of the world as a sin offering and was crucified. After He said, “It is finished.” He died. Because of the blood that He shed on the cross, we were reconciled and united with God. After Jesus’ death, God promised us, as written in Hebrews 10:17-18, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”