This Sunday, we’re starting a new theme: Announcing the Good News. Everyone has problems, something in each life that seems to control it too much. Without Jesus, everyone is enticed or bullied by sin. But Jesus offers us new life and allows us to walk away from the things that dominated our old life. Jesus frees them like prisoners of a fallen nation. Like hostages suddenly freed, they owe nothing to their captors or their old lives.
This really is good news, and something that anyone might be glad to hear. And there is only one way that they can hear, somebody has to tell them they can be free. Join us if you can tomorrow, to hear more. Read ahead today, if you want to.
6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Shake yourself from the dust and arise;
be seated, O Jerusalem;
loose the bonds from your neck,
O captive daughter of Zion.3 For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.”
