N.T. Wright’s Simply Good News Filled Me with Joy and Confidence in the Gospel

So, the good news is something that has happened (the actual, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ), which affects not only our future destiny, but our present lives as well. Here, Wright has done some beautiful work that distinguishes him from the kind of Christian Gospel that only speaks to us of eternal life someday in the “sweet by-and-by.” He argues, instead, that the resurrection is the beginning of God’s creative and renewing work for the whole of creation. He writes, “God made this world of space, time, and matter; he loves it, and he is going to renew it” (95). This speaks to a compelling argument that what Christians are to be about in our time on the planet is not simply the saving of souls, but rather being active parts of God’s renewing work in all of creation. This means that Christians will yes, tell people about how Jesus has brought about salvation from death and the forgiveness of sins, but they will also be feeding and clothing the poor, teaching, doctoring, making beautiful art and music, writing good books, caring for foster children, gardening, recycling, parenting, picking up trash by the roadside, making scientific discoveries, cooking well-composed meals, and doing a host of other things that bring the kingdom of the Creator God here to earth.

The Gospel means good news for the whole of creation; it is God setting right was has been broken and damaged in all of creation. It is the antithesis to a theology that suggests this only heaven matters and that therefore we should treat creation like trash. Although creation will only be fully made right by an act of God at some point in the future, the resurrection has changed everything and brought the beginning of this kind of bodily new life to earth now. Wright argues that we can be a foretaste of the restoration and resurrection that is to come. Each of us can be signs of God’s all-encompassing good news.

But whenever someone says there is no point in working for justice in the world; whenever anyone says that it doesn’t matter what we do to the planet because God is going to throw it away one day and leave us in heaven instead; whenever anyone says there is no point in working for unity in the church, for reconciliation between different nations, cultures, and ethnic groups–then we must protest. Jesus the Messiah is risen from the dead! A new world has come into being, and within that new world all kinds of new possibilities are now open (115-16).

Can you help but shout “Amen”?

N.T. Wright has provided a compelling, holistic vision for Christianity today. He has convincingly reminded us that the Gospel is indeed good news that provides hope not only for future eternal destiny but the good of the world now. He stirs our hearts with joy in this good news and in God’s triumph over sin, death, and evil, and gives a vision for how to live as “good news people.” The book left me wanting to not only speak good news, but live it too.

…the one true God has now taken charge of the world, in and through Jesus and his death and resurrection. … God’s plan to put the world right has finally been launched. … The ancient sickness that had crippled the whole world, and humans with it, has been cured at last, so that new life can rise up in its place. …The good news was, and is, that all this has happened in and through Jesus; that one day it will happen, completely and utterly, to all creation; and that we humans, every single one off us whoever we are, can be caught up in that transformation here and now. This is the Christian gospel. Do not allow yourself to be fobbed off with anything else (55).

Where do you see God’s creative, resurrection life appearing in the world?

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