Everyone likes to hear good news. When the dentist says, "No cavities!" When the dietitian says, "No calories!" When the doctor says, "No cancer!" I have good news for you. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! From 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 we discover the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not incidental, it is fundamental to our faith, and it is not peripheral; it is central to our Christianity.

Don't confuse the good news. A.W. Tozer explains, "Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way." From Paul's summary of the good news of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, we note three things. The good news involves the heroic death of Jesus Christ. According to Romans 5:6-8, it's true, Jesus died for you! The good news involves the honorific burial of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:9 reads, "And they made His grave with the wicked — But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth." The good news involves the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ. Someone said, "The resurrection of Jesus announces the 'good news' (gospel) of the great imperial victory of Jesus over sin, corruption, injustice, and death itself." This is the essence of 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.

Don't defuse the good news. Hebrews 4:2 reads, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." Romans 10:9-10 is known as "the T-N-T of the gospel." Here, Paul writes, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Some would try to defuse the good news by downplaying its dynamic power. Remember faith is the fuse that detonates gospel dynamite (Romans 1:16-17).

Don't refuse the good news. Someone said, "To refuse to choose is to choose to refuse." Leonard Ravenhill explains, "The devil has two major tricks with people. One is, 'You're so good you don't need to be saved.' The other is, 'You're so bad you can't be saved.' And he's a liar on both counts." As good as it is to have no cavities, no calories and no cancer, there is something even greater, that is to have no condemnation. Romans 8:1 reads, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." The good news is for everyone, and everyone needs the good news.

Make certain you know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by repentance of your sin and faith in His death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sin and for eternal life.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival!" Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.