Reflecting on the Good News in Simple Terms
The Main Message
If you boil down what Christianity is really about, you’ll find two big ideas at its center: redemption and reconciliation. These aren’t just complicated words for preachers or scholars; they’re basic truths meant for everyone. The Gospel is God reaching down to us, offering a new beginning—a way to get right with Him and start fresh.
Redemption: Jesus Paid the Price
Think about being stuck in a situation you can’t fix, weighed down by mistakes or regrets. That’s what sin does—it traps us. Redemption means that Jesus did something about it. When He died on the cross, He took our place—He carried the weight and consequences of all our wrongdoings. Imagine someone paying off a debt you could never afford; that’s what Jesus did, out of love, not because we deserved it.
Reconciliation: Bringing Us Back to God
Redemption leads right into reconciliation. Our wrong choices created a gap between us and God that we couldn’t cross on our own. But Jesus built the bridge. Reconciliation isn’t just about ending the conflict—it’s about starting a real, close relationship with God. Because of Jesus, we’re invited to know God, not just as a distant idea, but as someone who loves and welcomes us.
Why These Truths Matter
This is the heart of the Gospel. If someone shares these truths—about redemption through Jesus and reconciliation with God—they’re sharing the real message of Christianity. Without Jesus’s sacrifice, you don’t have the Gospel; His love shown on the cross is what everything else rests on.
Today, more than ever, it’s important to get back to these basics. These truths aren’t out of date; they’re what give real hope and meaning in a world that’s often lost and hurting. To talk about this message is to shine a light for others who need a way out of darkness.
Our Part: Living and Sharing the Message
Following Jesus means holding on to these truths and sharing them with others, not in complicated words, but with honesty and heart. Redemption and reconciliation aren’t just ideas—they’re life-changing realities. When we accept them, we discover peace with God, hope for our future, and meaning in our lives.
Let’s never get tired of repeating these truths. The Gospel is the story of God’s relentless love—a love that steps in to rescue us and brings us back to Him. When we share this, we help others find their place in the story of grace, too.
Minister A Francine Green
January 2026
afrancinegreen.com 