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[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles<\/strong>\u00a0 page.<\/span><\/p>\n Introduction<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n When the women who discovered the empty tomb of the Lord brought the news back to the apostles, they were at first incredulous, labeling it \u201cidle talk\u201d (Luke 24:8\u201311). This provoked Peter and John to race to the tomb to find it empty as reported (John 20:3\u20137). Soon afterward Jesus joined the two disciples who were travelling from Jerusalem to Emmaus, eventually revealing His identity to them Luke 24:13, 30\u201331). They immediately retraced their steps to Jerusalem, reporting their marvelous experience to the apostles and others gathered with them and testifying with certainty that the Christ was risen (vv.33\u201335).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n While they were discussing this astounding phenomenon (in spite of Jesus\u2019 numerous clear predictions of the resurrection!), He appeared in their midst, quieting their fears by inviting them to touch Him and see that He was not merely an apparition (vv. 36\u201340). Luke then records their reaction: \u201cThey…disbelieved for joy, and wondered… \u201c(v. 41). They obviously still had difficulty believing what their eyes, ears, and hands were telling them, yet they were overcome with joy and wonderment. In other words, the Lord\u2019s resurrection seemed \u201cjust too good to be true!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Yet it most certainly was true. His resurrection was prophesied ten centuries before it occurred (Psa. 16:8\u201310; Acts. 2:29\u201335). It was attested by His appearance to unimpeachable witnesses on several occasions, one of which involved over five hundred people (1 Cor. 15:5\u20138). Try as they might, skeptics, critics, and unbelievers have never been able to explain the empty tomb apart from the simple account of the New Testament writers\u2014\u201cChrist was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father\u201d (Rom. 6:4). \u201cHe [God] hath raised him [the Christ] from the dead\u201d (Acts 17:31).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the resurrection lies the foundation of the Christian religion and therefore the hope of the Christian both for now and forever: God \u201cbegat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead\u201d (1 Pet. 1:3); \u201cAnd if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain\u201d (1 Cor. 15:14). While the resurrection of the Lord is the very cornerstone of the only true religion (there could have been no Christianity without it), it somewhat symbolizes the entire gamut of God\u2019s wonderful gifts to mankind, and especially to His children. In all of this there are so many things about which we are tempted to say, they are \u201cjust too good to be true,\u201d but as sure as the Lord\u2019s resurrection is true, so are they.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Grace<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n God\u2019s grace upon pitiful sinners is the central theme of the Bible. Grace is God\u2019s bestowal of undeserved favor upon us. God has made His favor (and the salvation it provides) available to mankind universally through the death of His Son (Tit. 2:11\u201314). He did this not because of our worthiness or because we had somehow placed Him under obligation toward us, but \u201cwhile we were yet sinners, Christ died for us\u201d (Rom. 5:8), \u201cthe righteous [died] for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God\u201d (1 Pet. 3:18). Thus any and all who are saved at last will be saved by the grace of God, rather than by their own goodness or merit (Eph. 2:5\u20139). It is no exaggeration therefore to speak and sing of the \u201camazing\u201d grace of God, a blessing that is almost \u201ctoo good to be true,\u201d\u2014but is.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mercy<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n As sinners who have gone beyond and\/or fallen short of God\u2019s revealed will in the New Testament, we deserve death, the awful wages the sin-master pays (Rom. 6:23). While physical death came upon all men as a consequence of sin (Rom. 5:12), the \u201cdeath\u201d of Romans 6:23 is one that we earn by our sins, and it is far worse. It consists of eternal separation from God in the abyss of Hell\u2014the \u201csecond death\u201d (Rev. 20:14\u201315; 21:8).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n God\u2019s mercy enters here. Whereas grace is God\u2019s bestowal of undeserved favor, mercy is God\u2019s suspension of deserved punishment. Grace and mercy are therefore somewhat two sides of the same coin. But for God\u2019s mercy, the whole lot of mankind would suffer forever in Hell, Satan\u2019s unending house of horrors. As with grace, so with mercy\u2014God extends it not because of our merit, but because of His kindness and love (Tit. 3:4\u20135).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This release of sinners from the punishment we deserve is possible only because Christ was qualified and willing to be our sin offering: \u201cHim who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf\u201d (2 Cor. 5:21). Only by this means (i.e., accepting the death of His sinless Son as the propitiation for our sins) could God be both just (requiring the penalty for sin), and still justify (pronounce righteous) the sinner (Rom. 3:26) .Because of God\u2019s wonderful mercy His redeemed people will be able to hear His Son say to us, \u201cWell done,\u201d rather than \u201cDepart from me.\u201d Even a moment\u2019s sober reflection bids us to evaluate God\u2019s mercy as \u201cjust too good to be true,\u201d but it is true.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Salvation<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n God\u2019s provision of salvation for His sinful creation grew out of his grace and mercy, and it also sounds \u201ctoo good to be true.\u201d He began planning this provision even before He created us. He foresaw our awful plight\u2014the condemnation we would bring upon ourselves through sin. Seeing our helplessness to live perfectly free from sin and its condemnation, in His love, He \u201cdrew salvation\u2019s plan.\u201d This involved a Redeemer because men could not redeem themselves from sin. By a sinless One the sinful ones would be saved. He thus planned to send (and sent) One Who would be perfect and who could satisfy His just law that unredeemed sinners must die. \u201cYe were redeemed…with precious blood…even the blood of Christ: who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world…\u201d (1 Pet. 1:18\u201320).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He providentially worked out His plan through the ages, and then, \u201cwhen the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son\u201d to redeem men from sin (Gal. 4:4). The Son paid the price for sin that we did not have the ability to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed….Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all\u201d (Isa. 53:5\u20136).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Jesus of Nazareth came as both the unique Son of God and Son of man. The pre- incarnate \u201cWord became flesh\u201d as the Holy Spirit implanted the sacred seed in Mary\u2019s womb (Luke 1:31\u201335). Paternally Jesus was God, possessing all of the attributes of Godhood. Maternally He was man, susceptible to all of the pains, sorrows, and temptations of manhood, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). That the Godhead went to such great pains and great lengths to save us is almost too good to be true, but it most certainly is.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Church<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The church was a part of God\u2019s plan from the moment He began formulating the scheme of man\u2019s redemption. It was never a substitute, second thought, or emergency measure to cover some alleged failure of God\u2019s plan for His Son\u2019s kingdom. Rather, it is the Son\u2019s kingdom (Mat. 16:18\u201319; Col. 1:13). Paul declared that the church is \u201caccording to the eternal purpose which he [God] purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord\u201d (Eph. 3:11). As \u201cthe house[hold] of God\u201d (1 Tim. 3:15) the church is made up of God\u2019s children, who become such when they are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). This occurs when they obey God\u2019s plan of salvation (Acts 2:37\u201338, 41, 47). The church is God\u2019s depository of those who have been forgiven of their sins through their response to the grace of God.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Christ purchased the church with His pure blood (Acts 20:28), and He wants her to remain pure, without sin-stain or blemish, as did her bridegroom (Eph. 5:25\u201327). It is a sacred and exalted privilege to be a part of that which meant and means so much to the sinless Second person of the Godhead. The church He built (Mat. 16:18) and it alone is that which He will save when He returns to take the redeemed to their final heavenly home (1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 5:23; cf. Mat. 15:13). It is a wonderful haven from a world of wickedness and worry, built not for angels or lower animal forms, but entirely for men. By becoming a part of the church and by living in the church so as to glorify God, the Son of God will save us eternally, which seems almost \u201ctoo good to be true,\u201d but which is as sure as God Himself.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Plan of Salvation<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Father, Son, and Spirit have done the \u201cheavy work\u201d in our reclamation and salvation, but they have forced these unspeakably generous blessings on no one. They require our response to their offer of grace, forgiveness, mercy, and salvation at last. The wonderfully simple plan of response includes belief in Jesus as the Son of God (John 8:24), renunciation of one\u2019s sins and errors in repentance (Acts 17:30), confession of one\u2019s faith in Jesus as God\u2019s Son (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10), baptism in order to be saved (Mark 16:16), and a life of faithful service to the Christ in Whom we believe (1 Cor. 15:58). God has even made provisions for us when we sin as His children: The blood of Christ cleanses us as we confess and repent of those sins (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7\u20139). While this plan may seem\u201d too good to be true,\u201d its implementation began on Pentecost and will continue until time is no more.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Our wonderful, loving God has done all He could to save us without interfering with our free wills to choose to obey and serve Him. His many plans and works on our behalf to affect our salvation, consummated in the coming and death of His Son, are what make the Gospel good news. The news is so good that most people refuse to believe it as if it were all fantasy. Failed promises have caused many to be wary of things that seem too good to be true, because such things often are. However, not so with the Gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n No greater news could be announced or promise given. The best part of it all is that it is absolutely warrantied by the Creator Himself (Heb. 6:17\u201319). We have the grand task of so disseminating this message that all men in each generation will have the opportunity to act upon it (Mat. 28:19\u201320). Let us go everywhere and to everybody with the message that is \u201ctoo good to be true,\u201d\u2014but is.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [Note: <\/b>I wrote this MS for, and it appeared as an \u201cEditorial Perspective\u201d in, the January 2002 issue of THE GOSPEL JOURNAL<\/i>, of which I was editor at the time.]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Attribution:<\/b> From thescripturecache.com<\/i>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles\u00a0 page. Introduction When the women who discovered the empty tomb of the Lord brought the news back to the apostles, they were at first incredulous, labeling it \u201cidle talk\u201d (Luke 24:8\u201311). This…<\/p>\n