The Good News

https://odb.org/MY/2021/08/29/the-gospel-of-rome

Interesting to know from today’s ODB writer that the Good News used to mean that the Roman Empire had no boundaries or end and that it meant Augustus was decreed by Zeus to be the divine son and saviour of the world to usher in a golden age of peace and prosperity. Except that the harsh reality was the Roman Empire was built on the backs of thousands and thousands of slaves who were legally the property of their masters (generally, slaves were spoils of war who were given the choice to be slaves and live or death).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by Paul first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles was the real Good News, promising hope and salvation to all including the multitudes of slaves who had no future but also to the free who were shackled by sin, living in spiritual blindness. The Gospel is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes. For in the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith.

Although we are all legally free today as rightful and lawful citizens of our country, we are not completely liberated by the shackles of sin. Some of us remain in spiritual blindness. The enemy increasingly wants to keep us bound by sin as well as entangled by the attractions of the world – to distract and keep us away from God’s perfect plans and purposes for us.

The Good News of the Gospel is thus still relevant today, even to us who are believers – as a reminder that we were previously slaves bound by sin with no identity in God and separated from God by sin. We are now lawful and rightful children of God in fellowship with God where our prayers can reach and penetrate into the heavenlies with the power to change the natural, with the hope of glory for an eternal life to come.

Thus, take our place in the Kingdom of God and begin to act with authority over sin and the devil as rightful and lawful children of God. Don’t be passive anymore, looking on at the sidelines and sitting tight in our pews. Get in the ring and fight for the Kingdom, for God as our battle is not against flesh and blood but principalities of the air and dark forces. Use the power of prayer given to us and begin interceding for our family, friends, church, country and the world! Be active and participate in the work of the Kingdom! Let’s all do our respective part in the body of Christ!