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Category Archives: the Good News
Jesus Says, “I Will Give You Rest” not “I Will Give You More Burdens”
Many say the foundational passage of the New Testament is John 3:16. Even young children can quote it: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish … Continue reading
Posted in faith, Jesus, legalism, the Good News, the invitation
Tagged burdens, following Jesus, I will give you rest, John 3:16, Matthew 11, sinner's prayer
21 Comments
Sharing about The Father’s House with Others—Which Model?
Previously, I introduced the metaphor of the Father’s House, and we will now look at it further. I believe the love of the Father extends to everyone, and I like to think of all of us being in the Father’s … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, Kingdom of God, The Father, The Father's House, the Good News
Tagged Evangelism, universalism
21 Comments
3 Reasons Why Loving Others is Not All There Is to Following Jesus
In recent years the idea that loving others is the essence of following Jesus has exploded. And this is a good thing! It runs counter to the view that following Jesus means embracing harmful beliefs like angry god, inerrancy, legalism, … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, Kingdom of God, love, love your enemies, the Good News
Tagged Luke 6, Matthew 28
62 Comments
If Most Everyone Will Have Eternal Life with God Anyway, then Why Do We Need to Share the Good News of Jesus?
Recently we discussed whether those who have not heard the good news or who even follow other religions might receive eternal life and live in God’s community after death—even if they never became followers of Jesus during this lifetime. My … Continue reading
Posted in eternal life, fundamentalism, God, hell, Jesus, Kingdom of God, love, resurrection, the Good News, witnessing
15 Comments
How So Many Believers Completely Misunderstand God’s Love in John 3:16
I suppose most believers think John 3:16 is one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible—and I agree! This passage tells of God’s love for us in a very proactive way. This is why “John 3:16” is found everywhere: … Continue reading
Posted in alienation, baggage, God, hell, Jesus, love, The Father, the Good News
Tagged angry God, John 3:16, John 3:17-18, Penal Substitution
48 Comments
Has Some Believers’ Focus on ‘Getting Saved’ Replaced Jesus’ Message of the Good News?
When we are attracted to Jesus and want to follow him, how do we go about doing that? Many believers would answer, “Get saved by responding to a salvation presentation and praying some form of the sinner’s prayer admitting you … Continue reading
Posted in God, hell, Jesus, Kingdom of God, the Good News, the invitation, witnessing
Tagged Mark 1, Matthew 11, sinner's prayer
37 Comments
Problems with the Sinner’s Prayer
In the last hundred years or so, the sinner’s prayer has become a popular tool in leading seekers to identify with Jesus. It is simple, to the point, and much less dramatic than the way I did it. During the … Continue reading
Posted in prayer, the Good News
Tagged Acts 16, Acts 8, Acts 9, baptism, Billy Graham, Dwight Moody, Four Spirtual Laws, saved
46 Comments
“If There’s No Hell then I Will Sin All I Want!”
One day I spoke with an elderly believer who was a fundamentalist all her life, and the issue of hell came up in such a way that I shared with her that I didn’t believe eternal punishment in burning hell … Continue reading
Posted in fear, God, hell, Jesus, legalism, love, sin, the Good News, witnessing
Tagged Do unto others, Love your neighbor as yourself, Mark 1, morality
62 Comments
The Misguided Concept of ‘Loving the Sinner and Hating the Sin’
Legalistic believers often feel it is their duty to confront sinners with their ‘sins’. This sometimes includes telling sinners how bad they are and urging them to accept Jesus. And they don’t stop there; they also confront fellow believers with … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, legalism, love, Paul, sin, sinners, the Good News
Tagged 1 Corinthians 4, Love the sinner; hate the sin, Matthew 7, Romans 14
55 Comments
Helpful Updates to the About This Blog Page
The most-viewed feature on my blog by far is the About this Blog page; it also receives more comments and interaction than any other page. The page is an important introduction to the entire blog describing the essence and purpose of the blog, … Continue reading
Do Jesus’ Words and Actions Demonstrate Empathy — or Judgment?
A central proposal of this blog is that Jesus’ message and example are geared toward empathy, reconciliation, and acceptance rather than judgment and exclusion. For the past two-and-a-half years I have addressed selected harmful beliefs by comparing them to Jesus’ … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, judgment, legalism, love, the Good News
Tagged acceptance, book of Luke, book of Mark, book of Matthew, exclusion, synoptic gospels
11 Comments
The Beginning of the Good News about Jesus the Anointed One
Have you ever heard unexpectedly of something exciting going on in your community? Perhaps you heard it first from a friend who couldn’t wait to tell you about it. And then you heard about it from someone else, and before … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus, Kingdom of God, the Good News
Tagged baptism, confession, John the Baptist, Jordan River, Luke 3, Mark 1, Matthew 3, repentance
23 Comments
Day 5: How Would You Respond to This Situation?
This is Day 5 of a five-day exercise on loving and caring for others based on the Good News of Jesus that the Father loves and cares for us. You can read the introduction to these exercises on the Day … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, love, the Good News
11 Comments
Day 4: How Would You Respond to this Situation?
This is Day 4 of a five-day exercise on loving and caring for others based on the Good News of Jesus that the Father loves and cares for us. You can read the introduction to these exercises on the Day … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, love, the Good News
12 Comments
Day 3: How Would you Respond to this Situation?
This is Day 3 of a five-day exercise on loving and caring for others based on the Good News of Jesus that the Father loves and cares for us. You can read the introduction to these exercises on the Day … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, love, the Good News
10 Comments
Day 2: How Would You Respond to this Situation?
This is Day 2 of a five-day exercise on loving and caring for others based on the Good News of Jesus that the Father loves and cares for us. You can read the introduction to these exercises on the Day … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, love, the Good News
10 Comments
Day 1: How Would You Respond to this Situation?
We talk a lot on this blog about the Good News of Jesus, and one of the great themes of this Good News is love. The Father loves and cares for us, and our goal is to love and care … Continue reading
Posted in behavior, Jesus, love, the Good News
14 Comments
Death is Not the End Because Jesus Offers Us Eternal Life and Happiness
The first four aspects of the Good News are very energizing, exciting, and fulfilling; and they impact our lives tremendously. If these were the only benefits we receive from the Good News of Jesus, then they are more than enough. … Continue reading
Posted in eternal life, God, Jesus, resurrection, The Father's House, the Good News
Tagged Isaiah 64, John 11, John 14, John 4, John 6, Luke 14, Mark 10
34 Comments
We are Agents for Expanding God’s Kingdom on Earth
The first three elements of the Good News of Jesus are so wonderful that almost anyone can embrace them: God is not Angry and Harsh with Us as Many of Us Thought God’s Love for Us Takes Away Our Fear, … Continue reading
Posted in alienation, God, Jesus, Kingdom of God, love, The Father, the Good News, witnessing
Tagged justice, Luke 17, Matthew 13, mustard seed, peace, reconciliation
35 Comments
We are not to Follow Burdensome Religious Rules
When I joined an evangelical denomination in 1970, they read me the teachings of the church. I agreed to abide by prohibitions such as drinking alcohol or using tobacco, swearing oaths, wearing jewelry, and belonging to lodges. There were also … Continue reading
Posted in baggage, behavior, Jesus, legalism, love, sin, The Father, the Good News
Tagged Matthew 23
33 Comments
Jesus Without Baggage 