If you were drowning and the lifeguard decided to rescue you only if you would stop splashing, or made you promise never to eat just before going swimming, what would people think of that lifeguard? Even more so, how would you be in any condition to make a rational process of thought in the midst of such a consuming calamity?

Yet people think the God of all creation acts that way. They think that a list of conditions has to be met before the God-Who-is-Love would consider offering the gift of forgiveness and eternal life to anyone. That is totally bizarre!

The Bible states: “Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us” (Romans 5:6-8 God’s Word©).

God’s love for us does not start with our promise to do better, or keep some creed, or change. It starts with God!

“This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins” (1 John 4:10 God’s Word©).

This is incomprehensible. God loves us when we are unlovable. God saves us when we are totally lost.

And it is a gift (called God’s grace) – not a reward!

It all starts with a simple, “Yes” to Jesus.

This is another reason why it is called Good News (Gospel)!