Why Bad News is Essential for The Gospel

May 02, 2020

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

Why Bad News is Essential for The Gospel

Wilston Trin

3 Minute Read

Why Bad News is Essential for the Gospel

Imagine a situation where you so desperately need blood to ensure your physical survival. You have been diagnosed with a low red blood cell count in your body and the only way for survival is to get a blood transfusion real fast. To your dismay, you found out that the blood bank in the hospital is empty. But lo and behold, there are some Good Samaritans who volunteer to donate blood you desperately need. I bet this becomes good news for you in an otherwise desperately helpless situation.

Now, this hypothetical situation may or may not be happening to you. But the point is, every good news comes with a backstory behind it, i.e. the bad news. In the case above, people who volunteer to donate blood to you becomes a good news, for without which, your chance to survive is minimal. That applies to every good news you receive. For a good news to be truly a good news, you must realise and understand the bad news.

That is certainly true for the gospel as well. Scripture announces that the gospel is a good news. The message that centres around the person and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of those who believe in Him, is truly a good news. In fact, it’s the good news. But in order for it to be truly a good news, we must understand the backstory of it– i.e. the bad news.

The Bad News

The bad news is that we have rebelled against a holy God by sinning against him. Scripture declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). In our rebellion and sin, Scripture further declares that we are his enemies (Rom. 5:10), under the righteous wrath and judgement of this holy God. In our rebellion, our deserved destiny is God’s eternal condemnation, and we are unable to save ourselves. In our natural state, we are helpless. That is the bad news.

It is precisely because the bad news is so bad, that the gospel is indeed a good news. We who had rebelled against a holy and righteous God and deserve eternal condemnation, are now being brought into the state of reconciliation with the same God through the person and the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. He took our punishment that we deserve on the cross, died the death that we deserve, and now is risen to be the King who rules forever. If we would repent and trust in him, the promise of eternal life is ours, for free! We who were once enemies of God in our rebellion, are now adopted into his family to enjoy him forever.

A Half-Gospel

That is why understanding the bad news is essential for the gospel. In fact, it is part of the overall message of the gospel. It irks me when Christians–even some pastors–try to downplay or even leave out the bad news entirely only to focus on the good news. “We don’t want to make people feel bad about themselves,” they say. “Telling people that they have sinned is so judgemental,” they justify. “Telling people that they are under God’s condemnation alienates people,” they rationalise. When we do this, we are leaving out an essential message of the gospel. We are not preaching the full gospel. And a half-gospel is not a gospel at all! Without the bad news, the gospel is only a news (and an irrelevant news at that)–but it is not a good news.

The gospel is glorious simply because of the reality of the bad news that befalls us. Only when we understand the bad news, are we able to see and appreciate how the gospel is truly the good news for sinful humanity.

Get articles delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our mailing list here.

Follow us on:

Wilston Trin is an Assistant Minister at St. Peter’s Anglican Church Saratok, a church under the Anglican Diocese of Kuching. He graduated with a B. Div. from Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and currently in a transition to do his MA (Theol.) at Moore Theological College, Sydney. His passion is to help people to understand and believe the gospel, as well as helping God’s people to grow in their knowledge and love of God.

Bethel, Jesus, and Dove Dung

Bethel Church in Redding, California, is becoming increasingly influential amongst churches in my own city of Sydney. This is partly due to its promotion by Hillsong and also because of its influential music label. So I’ve set myself the task of reading through some of Bethel’s books in order to understand their theology...

Lionel Windsor

Can We Raise the Dead Like Jesus Did?

Does Jesus really expect believers to raise the dead as part of “normal Christian life? Stephen Tan considers two unhelpful responses. In John’s Gospel, Jesus performs a series of signs to show that he is Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. In John 11, he performs the climactic sign, raising to life his friend Lazarus, who had been dead and buried four days.

Stephen Tan

Witnessing Christ through Sorrow and Pain

As an apologist, questions of pain and suffering are among the toughest I have attempted to address. It is one thing to respond to an atheist making an argument like the one commonly attributed to the Greek philosopher, Epicurus: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing?...

Samuel Nesan