The Bible for Women

The Good News

I am so excited to be able to share the Good News.  That is this:  Jesus Christ is the son of the one true and living God.  He came to this earth, lived a perfect and sinless life.  He was put to death on a cross so that he could bear the sins of the world by shedding his blood for us. Every person who ever lives on this earth can have the opportunity to choose eternal life and a home in heaven.  We read about the Good News in the Bible, the inspired Word of God. 

I first encourage you to read your Bible.  Read the words for yourself.  Read a little each day.  Start with a New Testament book like Matthew, then go back and read Genesis.  Continue to read and continue to study for yourself.

Jesus was born of a virgin, Mary in a town called Bethlehem and he grew and he obeyed his parents. (Luke 2)  As Jesus grew, he studied and taught.  He preached, performed miracles, loved, and was loved. 

John 21:25 says, “Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”  Some people rejected his teaching and some followed.  Many people came to hear Jesus preach and teach.  Jesus knew he was going to die.  He had a final supper with his disciples where he instituted the Lord’s Supper which Christians are commanded to partake of on the first day of the week to remember his sacrifice. 

Luke 22 and 23 gives an account of Jesus betrayal and crucifixion.  The account does not end there.  Just as Jesus foretold, he was placed in a tomb, but rose from the tomb three days later to walk with his disciples and teach once again.  He ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us in heaven if we choose to go there and be with him. 

The Lord’s church was established after the death of Christ on the day of Pentecost.  You can read about this in Acts Chapter 2.  In verses 41-47, the Bible tells us that 3000 were added to the Lord’s church.  How were they added?  In Acts 2:36, the apostles preached about Jesus.  Peter said, “Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this:  God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”  In verse 37, the people were “cut to the heart” and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  In verse 38, Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  He goes on to say, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are a far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

How are we added to the church today?  How can I make sure that I am going to heaven when I die?  How can I have a personal relationship with Christ?  What must I do?  What do I have to do to be able to call myself a Christian?  Let’s look at the scriptures.  The people on the day of Pentecost asked Peter these same questions.  The answer is no different.

Acts 2:38 states, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 16:16 states, “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

The Ethiopian Eunuch asked Philip the question in Acts 8 beginning in verse 35, “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized? And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”

We must repent of our sins; we must be buried in baptism with him.  Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”  Our sins must be “washed” away, buried.  The way we do this is by being immersed in water.  Does the water itself save us?  Is there something special about the water?  No.  Our act of obedience to Christ saves us.  Our faith saves us. Christ’s blood saves us.  Christ saves us. Our commitment to live a Christian life saves us. God's almighty grace and mercy saves us.

We must confess that we believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.  Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  He also says in Matthew 10:33, “but whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Once we’ve heard the Good News, confessed Christ before our brothers in Christ, repented of our sins and been baptized, we are added to the body of Christ.  There are still things that we are commanded to do.  Now that our sins have been washed away the Lord commissions us to tell everyone about what he has done for us.

  
Matthew 28:18-20:   And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in Heaven and on earth.   
 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." 

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

 
Continue to read and continue to study God’s will.  Continue to pray to God for help.  We know that we will not be perfect, but that is okay.  We must be committed to living a Christ centered life and striving toward heaven, knowing that Christ’s blood is forever flowing and forever cleansing our iniquities.  We must always give God the glory in all that we do, and as the apostle Paul wrote in 

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Margie Busby

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