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If you are one of many redeemed saints who can thankfully and enthusiastically shout to Jesus, “You Found Me!” then “Grace Got You,” and you are now a “Lifer” in Him.
And if that’s the case, it all started when you heard and responded to the “Best News Ever“—the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus.
Yes, the BEST NEWS EVER is hands down the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus!
Today’s post, “Have You Heard the Best News Ever?” is the fifth in my series of posts on the messages in MercyMe’s album, Lifer.
The title of this post is a double entendre—a statement that has a two meanings.
For the second meaning of the title, I’m asking you, “Have you heard the MercyMe song, “Best News Ever“?
If you haven’t, to say you’re missing out would be a gross understatement.
Let’s watch as Bart Millard, the band’s lead singer, tells the short-and-sweet story behind “Best News Ever,” Lifer’s fourth track.
Millard believes this song—message wise—is the flagship (the most important) on the record:
I will honestly say it’s one of my favorite messages on the record, because it’s the way I grew up. It was, ‘Be all you can be and, you know, you get what you deserve. And work harder and try harder.’ And it’s like, well wait a minute, what if somebody (which somebody did), what if they came and told me, ‘Hey, the work’s already been done; the fight’s already been won. You don’t have to try so hard.’ That’s what makes the gospel not just the good news, but the best news ever.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Millard’s statement.
The work’s already been done; the fight’s already been won … That’s what makes the gospel not just the good news, but the best news ever!
Listening to the story behind the song reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend (who is at least thirty years my senior) at a local grocery store several years ago.
A sad conversation.
She was one of the first people to invite me and Steven to church when we moved to Perryton back in 1998.
Every time we see each other, we always end up talking about the Lord.
But that day in the pasta aisle, I was completely unprepared for what she was going to say to me.
I said something about looking forward to spending eternity in Heaven with Jesus, and she responded to me with worried eyes, “I sure hope I make it.”
I couldn’t believe my ears!
This precious friend loved Jesus with all her heart, yet she did not have assurance that she would spend forever with Him when she passed from this earth.
How heartbreaking that she had spent her entire Christian life not clearly understanding the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus—the best news ever!
I think I said something like, “Sure you’re gonna make it! You’re one of the most Jesus-loving women I know.”
She smiled when I said that, but I knew she still wasn’t convinced that her final destination included eternal bliss with Jesus.
And then we went in opposite directions to finish our grocery shopping.
How I wish I would’ve said to her what I so clearly understand now:
Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. (Eph. 2:8-9 MSG).
And now I’m wondering if she’s still wondering …
The apostle John tells us in his first epistle that we can know for sure that we have eternal life:
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).”
What things did he write prior to this verse so that those of us who believe in the name of the Son of God can know we will spend forever with Jesus?
Let’s look at First John 5:10-12 to find the answer:
10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
He who has the Son has the life (because Jesus is eternal life).
He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life (because Jesus is eternal life).
It really is that simple!
Me + Jesus = Eternal Spiritual Life
Me – Jesus = Eternal Spiritual Death
And let’s not forget that John 3:16—the most famous verse in the Bible—also came from the inspired pen of the apostle John:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
I wrote a post on John 3:16 titled “The Most Important Verse in the Bible.”
In it, I share how the word in actually means “into.”
So, when we believe in the name of the Son of God, we believe ourselves right into His Spirit.
In other words, when we believe, Father God takes us out of Adam and places us into Christ (Col. 1:13).
Our new spirit is immersed (baptized) into His eternal Spirit.
Forever.
Never again to be separated.
And there is nothing we can do (or not do) to mess this up.
The gospel of grace in Christ Jesus really is the best news ever!
Now, won’t you join me in celebrating the best news ever by listening to MercyMe’s song “Best News Ever” with me?
(Here is a table of contents for every post in this series.)
“Are You a Lifer in Christ?” – a review of track 1, "Lifer"
“Come out, Come out, Wherever You Are!” – a review of track 2, "You Found Me"
“Has Grace Got You?” – a review of track 3, "Grace Got You"
“Have You Heard the Best News Ever?” – a review of track 4, "Best News Ever"
“Because Life Ain’t Always Pretty” – a review of track 5, "Even If"
“Bye-Bye Lies!” – a review of track 6, "Hello Beautiful"
“Don’t Throw in the Towel” – a review of track 7, "We Win"
“Why Every Christian Should Be Doing the Happy Dance” – a review of track 8, "Happy Dance"
“Christian, Heaven Is Here & Now!” – a review of track 9, "Heaven’s Here"
“This Ghost Is Way Friendlier Than Casper!” – a review of track 10, "Ghost"
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If you love the best news ever, I invite you to check out all of my books and my video series based on my first devotional.
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