Romans: Can the Gospel Be Bad News

The Gospel is an offensive message.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18

“Paul was imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Damascus and Berea, laughed at in Athens, considered a fool in Corinth, and declared a blasphemer and lawbreaker in Jerusalem. He was stoned and left for dead at Lystra. Some pagans of Paul’s day branded Christianity as atheism because it believed in only one God and as being cannibalistic because of a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper.”

Despite the offensiveness of the message, we cannot afford to compromise the Truth.

The Gospel says “You are wrong.”

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.Romans 3:11-18

This is offensive to a culture that has adopted subjective truth.

This is the opposite of a culture that encourages speaking your own truth.

The Gospel says “You must repent.”

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Mark 2:17

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;Acts 3:19

This is confusing to those who see no need to change.

This is unattractive to a culture that wants benefits without change.

The Gospel says “If you refuse, you will be punished.”

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.Revelation 20:12-15

This seems unloving to those who do not understand God’s justice.

This seems coercive to those who do not understand the grace of God.

The Gospel says “Jesus is the only way.”

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6

This seems narrow-minded to many.

This appears as arrogance to say that your way is the only way.

The Gospel is an encouraging message.

The Gospel says “You are wrong.”

As many excuses as we may try to make, we know that we are not okay.

The Gospel says “You must repent.”

As much as we dislike change, we must admit that we cannot continue in our sin.

The Gospel says “If you refuse, you will be punished.”

As much as we hate accountability, we know we cannot continue to sin forever and get away with it.

The Gospel says “Jesus is the only way.”

We must all come to the point where we recognize that we need Someone greater than us to save us.

The Gospel is bad news for those who reject it.

The Gospel is good news for those who receive it.

The Gospel is only good news if it makes it in time.