First The Bad News
By John Hendrix
There is a great irony in the scriptures. It goes to the very heart of the message of Jesus Christ, the gospel, the good news of God. It is centered at the very cross itself, when Jesus redeemed us through our most horrible act: murdering our God.
I cannot accept the good news of Jesus until I accept some decidedly bad news: I am a lost sinner, heading for hell. I cannot receive the gospel until I receive the terrible news that I stand in fiery condemnation before my God.
The wonderful news that came through Jesus is that we can receive complete salvation. Salvation from terrible wrath on the great Judgment Day of God:
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:9-10)
We need justification and reconciliation with God because our sins make us His enemies.
Imagine! Enemies of God! By our own actions!
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. . . . (Colossians 2:13)
There it is. We must come to grips with the awful realization that our sins cause us to be lost. We all sin, and not one of us can do anything to correct our horrible condition. Only in that horrible pit of despair can we raise our eyes to the cross, see the anguished face of Jesus and grab hold of the one hope He held out: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
In the first gospel sermon Peter did not emphasize the love of God, though that is certainly important. No, that crowd needed to know the great anger of God. So Peter nailed home a terrible, horrible verdict of guilt:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
What a dreadful truth to face! You have killed your Savior!
Peter earlier had learned of his own depravity, despite his boasts of the night before:
Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:59-62)
When Peter spoke those heart-piercing words on the day of Pentecost, the crowd was stunned by the realization of their enormous sin and horrible condemnation:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)
Only then, when the men were trembling under the terrifying thought of God's wrath--it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31)--only then did Peter speak the good news:
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . ." (Acts 2:38)
Later on Peter would sum up the process of reconciliation to God, the true path to salvation, the only way to grace:
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. . . . (1 Peter 5:6)
Many People do not like to hear "hell fire and brimstone" preaching. Sometimes, though, this is the only thing that will humble us. When we feel our feet dangling over the fires of hell we will reach out to Jesus with all our might. When we know we are drowning in sin we will call out to Jesus without hesitation.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:3-5)