The Gospel is Good News not Good Advice

Late 1800's professor and pastor, James Denney:

"The proclamation of the finished work of Christ is not good advice; it is good news, good news that means immeasurable joy for those who welcome it, irreparable loss for those who reject it and infinite and urgent responsibility for all. The man who has this to preach has a gospel about which he ought to be in dead earnest. Just because there is nothing which concentrates in the same way the judgment and the mercy of God, there is nothing which has the same power to evoke seriousness and passion in the preacher." The Death of Christ, 173.

God Humiliated and Defeated Satan at the Cross of Jesus

Colossians 2:15:

"God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Jesus."

Thomas Schreiner:

"Christ's work on the cross not only broke the power of sin but also spelled the defeat of evil and demonic powers....[God] publicly exposed them and humiliated them....The triumphal procession was a ceremonial parade through the streets of Rome in which some captive leaders and their wares were displayed. The march concluded with the execution of those conquered...The powers have lost their authority due to the cross of Christ. They have been stripped, humiliated, and led to execution. They no longer exercise any control over those in Christ. In context Christ's triumph over evil powers is linked with forgiveness of sins, indicating that in receiving the forgiveness of sins believers have received everything that they need." New Testament Theology, 271.

Jesus Not Ashamed to Call Me Brother

I have been very affected by the reality that Jesus is not ashamed to call me brother. I think the reason why I find this difficult is because I'm ashamed that He would call me brother. Well, if He isn't ashamed to do this I should not be ashamed of it either. If you trust Jesus, be encouraged, for Jesus is not ashamed to call you brother.

"...he is not ashamed to call them brothers..." Heb. 2:11

Do read the context.

Jesus Died for God's Glory

I've heard it said by one preacher that one of the main reasons Jesus died was to preserve the freedom of man. Wrong. Jesus died for God's glory. John Piper, in his classic, The Pleasures of God, writes,

"...God would not just sweep the sins of his chosen people under the rug of the universe. If God was simply going to acquit guilty, God-belittling sinners by faith, then something terrible and awesome had to happen to vindicate his allegiance to the worth of his glory. And that something was the death of his Son. This death demonstrated the inexpressible passion God has for the worth of his glory and for the vindication of righteousness...We know that everything Jesus did in life and death he did for the glory of his Father...The very purpose for which Jesus came to the hour of his death was to glorify the Father. Jesus wants us to see that his willingness to lose his life is because of his love for the glory of the Father. This is how the worth of God's glory is magnified in the death of Jesus." (p. 165, 2000 edition)