The Good News We’re All Waiting For
The word gospel literally means “good news.” In the ancient world, euangelion was used to announce victories or royal decrees. The New Testament writers adopted it to describe the ultimate victory—Christ’s triumph over sin and death. But why is this message still called “good news” today? Because it speaks not only to ancient needs but to the deepest cries of the modern era. When contrasted with what the world offers, the gospel emerges as profoundly relevant: it is good news because it answers the cries for identity, freedom, peace, and hope.
The Cry for Identity
Modern man longs to know who he truly is. Culture tells us to “discover your true self” through career, sexuality, politics, or curated online personas. Yet this journey often leaves people fragmented and anxious. The self becomes a performance, endlessly curated but never secure.
The gospel answers this cry by proclaiming identity as received, not achieved. It declares that we are children of God, loved and valued apart from performance. Instead of fragile self-construction, the gospel anchors identity in something eternal and unchanging. In a world where authenticity feels like chasing a horizon, the gospel says: “You are already known, already loved, already given a name that cannot be taken away.”
The Cry for Freedom
Modern man longs to be free. Freedom today is defined as limitless choice—the ability to do whatever you want. Yet this often leads to paralysis, addiction, and exhaustion. What is marketed as liberation becomes bondage.
The gospel answers this cry by redefining freedom. True freedom is not indulgence but purpose—the ability to live as you were designed. Christ liberates from sin, self, and striving, granting freedom to love God and neighbor. Paradoxically, surrendering to Christ brings the deepest liberation: freedom from the very forces that enslave. In a world of exhausting autonomy, the gospel says: “You are free to love, free to rest, free to be whole.”
The Cry for Peace
Modern man longs for peace. Despite mindfulness apps and wellness industries, inner peace remains elusive. Global instability, economic uncertainty, and personal stress keep people restless. Peace is reduced to temporary coping mechanisms—vacations, escapism, or meditation—but collapses when circumstances shift.
The gospel answers this cry by offering peace that endures. It reconciles us to God, removing the deepest source of unrest: alienation from the divine. It promises God’s presence in suffering, not just escape from it. This peace “surpasses understanding” because it is not circumstantial but transcendent. In a restless age, the gospel says: “Peace is not manufactured—it’s gifted.”
The Cry for the Future
Modern man longs for hope. The future feels bleak—climate anxiety, political polarization, and economic instability fuel despair. Progress promises salvation but often delivers disillusionment. Many young people describe themselves as hopeless about tomorrow.
The gospel answers this cry by anchoring hope in Christ’s resurrection, securing a future beyond death and despair. It reframes suffering as part of a larger story of redemption. Unlike progress, which can collapse, gospel hope is unshakable. In an anxious age, the gospel says: “Your future is secure, your hope unshakable.”
Answering the Cries of Our Age
The gospel is good news because it answers the cries of our age head-on:
- The cry for identity → Secure identity in Christ
- The cry for freedom → Liberating freedom in Christ
- The cry for peace → Enduring peace in Christ
- The cry for the future → Certain hope in Christ
It does not deny the bad news of human brokenness—it confronts it and offers a surprising, undeserved solution. That tension between longing and fulfillment is what makes the gospel not only good news but the best news.
Every age has its cries, but the modern era is marked by fragile identity, exhausting freedom, restless peace, and anxious futures. The world offers temporary fixes—status, distraction, conditional belonging, and progress. The gospel offers lasting transformation: meaning, forgiveness, family, and hope. That is why it is still called “good news.” It is not merely ancient proclamation but the living answer to the cries of the modern era.
Apologetics in the Lion City 