If the hearers of the gospel do not witness the glory of Christ in the image of God through all the blessings of the gospel, then we have not yet seen what finally makes the gospel truly good news—the Person of God himself.

We have pictured the gospel as a glorious diamond reflecting biblical truths critical for our present sanctification. These gospel facets empower us, by God’s grace, to endure suffering and to overcome the sin we battle in this life. And each facet is important for living a life that pleases and glorifies God.^[1] So, let’s pick up where we left off last time.

1. The good news offers peace with God and others.

Much of counseling deals with conflict in our relationships, so the good news offers peace with God and others. For example, Peter describes the gospel as “the word that [God] sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36).

In addition, the gospel offers the hope of peace between people as witnessed in Ephesians 2:14-18, “ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

We enjoy peace with God because of Christ’s reconciling work, and we pursue peace with others when we forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32). The gospel must always be central to our ministry of peacemaking.

2. The good news assures eternal life.

The effect of our peace with God is eternal life! This too is what makes the gospel of Christ truly good news. So, Paul describes God’s purpose and plan “manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1:10).

This new life begins at salvation and continues throughout the believer’s life. So, we can endure our present suffering because we know how the story ends (2 Cor 4:16-18). And we can overcome any temptation when our hearts delight in a greater joy than anything this world can offer (Heb 12:1-2).

3. The good news is for all people.

Part of what makes the good news good is that Jesus rules as the King of kings over all people and all nations! In Galatians 3:8, “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed’” (see Gen 15:1-3). Preaching the gospel means announcing this good news that all the nations, not just Israel, will be blessed through Abraham—through the death and resurrection of Abraham’s seed, Jesus Christ. The gospel is for everyone, and that’s good news!

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