For many, the gospel is good news because our sins are forgiven past, present, and future in Christ Jesus. That is good news, no doubt. However, if you stop there, you’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg of what Jesus accomplished.

This fails to answer the question of why sin was necessary to be not just forgiven but completely removed in the first place. To make it only about sins being forgiven and going to heaven one day misses out on the glory intended in the New Covenant.

Really think about this for a moment and allow the privilege you have received to sink in really deep.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Notice the hope of glory mentioned here.

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ, in you the hope of glory!  What is glory?  The glory of God is His unchanging essence.  Christ was a visible representation of the very image of God.  He demonstrated the very nature of God, which is a supernatural nature.  God is not of this world; He created this world, but He does not originate from this world, and this world rebelled against Him.  God is altogether different from what we are so familiar with in the natural.  We should note what the Scriptures reveal to us regarding His presence.

Psalm 16:11  You will show me the path of life;  In Your presence is fullness of joy;  At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the ways of life;  You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

Christ came to give us hope of God’s presence, not just in heaven to come but also in this life on earth.  This is why Christ is in us!  God has made His abode in us!  God is alive in the church!  God is not dead; He is very much alive, and He lives in each one of us!

We are presence bearers. This is why we had to be made into new creations in Christ.  We were created to be a habitation for the Lord.  This is so much more than just having sins forgiven!  This is so much more than just being under grace.  This involves a privilege, unlike anything this world could ever offer.

God has shared His glory with us by bringing His essence to dwell within us. This is why Christ Jesus is the hope of glory!

We no longer have to live estranged from God or as enemies of God.  We’ve become His dear children and are one with Him now in a relationship made possible through Jesus Christ.  This is the purpose of forgiveness of sin; this is the purpose of grace and truth!  This is why it is such Good News and why we need to preach and teach the New Covenant Jesus established with His own blood.

It is His essence that makes it so amazing!  It is Him that makes it good news!