The ‘Good News’ of the Gospel is that there is a Substitute Who has stood in the place of every chosen sinner and borne the wrath of God in their place. He did this for all whom the Father had given Him from before the foundation of the world. It is for them that He prayed in John 17:9. They are “His sheep.” The Father gave them to Him and He died for them, John 10:15-29.
Substitution is the very heart of the Gospel. Christ did not give His life to make salvation possible for those who contribute their part to what He has done by trusting Christ. It is He that gives the repentance, 2 Tim. 2:25; Eph. 2:8. Christ did not say to the religious Jews of His day that they were not of His sheep because they did not believe. He said, “You do not believe because you are not of my sheep.” If they had been His sheep, they would have believed! The “Good News” is that all whom the Father has given to the Son for whom He died will believe and manifest true repentance. This they will do willingly and with gratitude in their hearts. It is God’s work and He cannot fail!
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