The fires in Los Angeles (or so) have reminded me ... of the gospel. Well, indirectly. Paul introduces the gospel as "the power of God for salvation" and a revelation of the righteousness of God (Rom 1:16-17). The gospel ... good news ... as a revelation of God's righteousness begins with some very, very bad news. We're all sinners, under God's wrath (Rom 1:18) ... without excuse (Rom 1:20). This diatribe against Man continues through another chapter and into the 3rd. No one is exempt (Rom 2:1). "None is righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10). "No one is good, not even one" (Rom 3:12). "By works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight" (Rom 3:20). Really bleak. And related to the gospel, to the good news, to the righteousness of God?
How is this related to the good news? How is this a display of God's righteousness, His rightness? Well, it's an interesting thing. Good news is only good if it is contrasted. Let me illustrate with the fires. Let's say you owned a house in that area and you went away for a two week vacation in some remote cabin. You had a friend take you to the airport and watch your house and pick you up when you returned. He greets you at the airport and says, "Good news! Your house is still standing!" Good news ... right. Like ... why wouldn't it be? I mean, sure, my house is still standing, but I expected it to be. "No," he says, "you don't understand. While you were gone, a fire raged through the area. Every house was burned to the ground ... but your house is still standing." Do you sense the shift? Do you feel how that news ... although the content is the same ... is better good news than "Your house is still standing"?
Paul paints a bleak picture of the plight of sinful Man, justly facing God's wrath, as part of both God's righteousness and the gospel. It's such good news because of the horrible condition we've achieved. "You can have peace with God" is all well and good if you think you deserve it, but what if you don't (Rom 5:1)? "You can be saved by faith" is fine if you've earned it anyway, but what if you can't (Rom 3:20)? "God will withhold no good thing" (Rom 8:32) takes on new meaning when we know He owes us ... judgment, not grace and mercy. By telling us the worst possible news, the magnificence of the gospel becomes truly great news ... and the righteousness of God becomes huge.
3 comments:
Far too many people, including people that claim Christianity, believe that all they need to do is be good... enough. As long as their good deeds outweigh their bad, without realizing that in reality, none of their good deeds even count in the positive column. Until we tell people the bad news that nothing they do is good enough, the Good News won't be all that good.
The L.A. fires is a very good--and relevant--example of the “bad news/good news” juxtaposition. It’s the classic “There but for the grace of God go I”--not only in temporal concerns but the bigger issue of our eternal destiny, as you say. But, of course, if one will not believe the bad news, they cannot then receive the good news. This denial of reality can stem from pride, rebellion, or as you point out, plain obliviousness; regardless of the reason, the outcome will, sadly, be the same.
I usually have no interest in professional sports at all, but I am currently cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles (since my son has been a huge Birds fan since he was 10 years old). At last Sunday’s playoff game, they opened with “a moment of reflection” for the L.A. fire victims--a moment that lasted all of 10 seconds or less. I am hoping they make a little better effort next Sunday, when Philly hosts the L.A. Rams for their playoff game #2 (Fly, Eagles, fly!). In any event, may God be glorified, even as the winds whip up more disaster.
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