What is the Good News?

Hello,
 
We heard recently of a young lady that was beautifully converted to Jesus from a life of sin.  She was so blessed with this new life in Christ until she attended her first Bible study.  The teacher quickly told her that though she was saved she would remain under a life of bondage to sin until she died. The grave would bring the freedom.  Her heart sank in her chest, as the little bird that had been singing within her flew away.  Many evangelical teachers insist so strongly upon free, unconditional grace as to create the impression that sin is not a serious matter and that God cares very little about it! They make it seem that God is only concerned with our escaping the consequences.
 
The gospel, then, in practical application, means little more than a way to escape the fruits of our past! But the heart that has felt the weight of its own sin and has seen the perfect holiness of the Most High God will never believe that a message of forgiveness without transformation is a message of good news. To remit a man's past without transforming his present is to ignore the honesty of his own heart. To that kind of thing God will be no party! For to offer a sinner the gift of salvation based upon the work of Christ, while at the same time allowing him to retain the idea that the gift carries with it no moral implications, is to do him untold injury where it hurts him most! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life."  Romans 6:23
 
That young lady struggled without the clear understanding of the "New Birth", until she heard of the victory that is available in Jesus.  Jesus saves, cleanses, and keeps that one that is surrendered to Him.  What a difference He has made in her life.  The little bird began singing within her again.  Praise God for He paid it all to provide it all.
 
"Freedom from all the carnal affections; Freedom from envy, hatred, and strife;
Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions; Freedom from all that saddened my life!
 
Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom! No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator!  Now and forever He shall be mine."

".....I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10b
 
Have a blessed Thursday, and remember that you are loved!!!
 
Henry