Good News!

Actually, the Good News has to start with the bad news....and that bad news is that every one of us has sinned against a good and holy God.  Sin destroys relationships, and sin has separated us from God.  The penalty for sin is an eternal separation from God in hell.  This may seem harsh, but before you can receive the Good News, you have to know why it's good news!  It's good news because, without it, we're facing an eternity without God.  Sin is a big deal, bigger than most of us think. But God's wonderful plan to forgive, cleanse, and restore is far, far bigger than any of us can even imagine...  Read on!

At The Center, we give away bracelets that use different colored beads to explain the story of forgiveness, hope, love, and holiness that God offers to us.  We'll use those same colors to explain the Good News here:

CLEAR  represents the perfection and purity of Jesus Christ. God is holy and only perfect purity can be in His presence.

BLACK  represents sin. Though we are all called to be perfectly pure (Matt. 5:48), each of us has sinned and is in a dirty and impure state, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)  Despite our best intention and all our trying, we are all sinners. Because of our impure state, the Bible says even our good deeds are ‘filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6).

BLUE  is to remind you that God did not leave you without hope. Jesus is the only one who has ever perfectly and completely fulfilled God’s righteous requirements, but “God so loved the world, He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

RED  is to remind you of the blood needed to cleanse from sin. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Sin is so serious to a holy God, that eternal separation from Him (death) is the result. By dying on the cross, Jesus offered Himself as the payment for the death penalty you deserved. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

WHITE  is to remind you that when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved (Acts 16:31). If you put your trust in Jesus, His perfection and purity will be credited to you! “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” ( Isaiah 1:18)

GREEN  represents a new life in Jesus Christ. When you trust Jesus, He makes you a completely new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

YELLOW represents joy. “Though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (1 Pet. 1:8)

GOLD  represents eternal life. Jesus said, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

Please come into The Center to talk further with one of our client counselors, or to get your own "Good News Bracelet" or a free New Testament.  For those of us at The Center, Jesus Christ has saved us, made us new, and given us peace! We love to talk about our dearest Friend, and we would love to discuss any questions or concerns that you have about the Bible, Jesus, or faith in general!

And finally, here are a variety of links to help you explore further.