Good News in the Morning with Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson explains why the Bible calls believers to live by faith, not by earning God’s favor. Using stories from Abraham, the Israelites at Mount Sinai, and the parable of the workers, he contrasts trusting God’s goodness with a works-based, transactional mindset.He urges listeners to receive God’s gifts with gratitude and walk in trust, emphasizing that faith — not self-righteous effort — pleases God and opens the way to life and joy.

Jeremiah Johnson explains that believers are made right with God through faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection—not by external actions like law-keeping, church attendance, or circumcision.He urges listeners to embrace grace, let the Holy Spirit transform the heart, and allow love and good works to flow naturally from a settled identity in Christ.

Jeremiah Johnson opens the day reminding listeners that God loves them, cares for their needs, and calls them to seek the kingdom above material concerns.He explains how trusting God, embracing grace and righteousness by faith, and developing cheerful endurance (hupomone) bring inner peace and strength to face life’s storms while God fulfills His promises.

Good morning. God bless you. This is Jeremiah Johnson with Good News in the Morning, and I just want to greet you today, and I want to remind you that God loves you. He has value for you. He knows you. He's drawing on you. He wants to walk with you. He wants to do life with you. That's one of the most awesome things about being a child of God, is that we get to do life with the creator of the universe. Now, certainly, you know, God is seated on his throne in heaven. Certainly, his jurisdiction and his rule and his reign is established in heaven. But the thing that God did through his son, Jesus, was he provided a way where he could actually move. Into us. It's one of the most amazing things that God has planned. Definitely was a very flip the script moment for the Jewish mind because they had spent thousands of years establishing that God was too holy to be around people and too powerful. His holiness was too powerful. And so, you know, we had the inner court, the outer court, the holy of holies, and And sacrifices were made for sin regularly in the outer court, and nobody was allowed in the inner court. Nobody was allowed into the Holy of Holies, which represented the presence of God. It's where the Ark of the Covenant was, except the high priest. And he was only able to go in there once a year, and that's after he had done strenuous cleansing ceremonies and made sacrifices for himself and the nation. And then he would go in once a year. And so, you know, God was establishing just the reality of the transgression and the sin that had taken place through the fall of Adam and instilling within humanity just the magnitude of that. But, you know, when Jesus came, you know, they were always interested in building a temple. You know, David wanted to build a temple. Solomon built the temple, they always wanted to build a place for God to live. They wanted God to live on earth. And I think that God was honored by that. And for a season of time, he allowed it to function that way. But God's end game, his ultimate plan was not to abide in a tent or a tabernacle or in a building. His plan was actually to move into humans. And that was his intention. And so when And Jesus, when he said it is finished on the cross, Talithia Kumai, it is finished, that veil, in the Holy of Holies was torn. And I love how it was torn from top to bottom, from God's perspective all the way down to man's perspective. And what that symbolized was there was an unleashing. Of God's presence into the earth. Because now through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God had the ability to actually cleanse humans to such a degree that now he could take his Holy Spirit and actually move inside of them. And this was always God's heart. This was always God's intention because he'd always wanted a place of intimacy with us. Now that is just flabbergasting to the Jewish mind because they live in existence where they didn't even feel like they could comfortably even say the name of God. And they had a real sense of reverence towards him and just the power of him and his holiness, which is healthy and which is good. I'm not taking away from that. But God wanted to bring us into a place of union, into a place of relationship with him where he could do life together with us. And that is so exciting. And sometimes I think that we don't realize just how special that is. I think that people think, well, man, I just wish I could have been alive in Jesus's times and watched him multiply the bread and the fish and watch him walk on the water and watch him raise the dead and all these things. And certainly that was very special and an awesome experience. But honestly, what we have now is even greater than that. And that's why, you know, Jesus said, those born among men, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. And, but he that is least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist because the kingdom actually brought God to live inside of us. And he would cleanse us to such a degree that he could actually do that. And so, and then, you know, we're functioning in this new covenant where he's writing his laws in our mind upon our hearts. And, you know, we're not living in this continual state of remembrance of sin. We're actually realizing that the true Lamb of God finished the work, sat down, and he is perfecting forever those which are being sanctified through one offering. And so this new covenant, not like the old covenant, the old covenant, there was continual washings, there was continual sacrifices, there was all these things. There was no seat in the temple, you know, in the inner court or outer court. Why? Because the work was never done. There was always more work to be done. But all of those things are really a typology. They were actually pointing to the true Lamb of God. Who is actually going to cleanse the true temple and then cleanse the heavenlies themselves with his blood. And so all those were a pattern or a shadow or a typology of a greater and truer reality, which we now enjoy. And so in the new covenant, you know, it is a covenant that's based upon the forgiveness of sin. It says, you know, your sins and lawless deeds, I will remember no more. And so God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, has given you an eternal pardon. It's a forever forgiveness. And it's a forgiveness that is based upon his death, burial, and resurrection. And it is an annihilation of all of that sin and death. And then it's an invitation to step into a new creation. And so your forgiveness is based upon the fact that you've been born again, born from above, that you now enjoy that beautiful gift of righteousness, that you're right with God and that rightness, you're now in union. You know, you're one spirit with the Lord Jesus Christ and you're in a state of union. And now you are part of the body of Christ. Now, obviously, you know, Jesus is the head. He's the boss. He's the captain. He's the Lord. He's the king. But we are now a part of him. And he has done this judicially. He's done this, you know, legally through all the senses of God's justice and the right, correct way to do it. You know, sin was not just swept under the rug. and God have this lackadaisical attitude towards his creation. Oh, boys will be boys, girls will be boys. It's not that big of a deal. No, it was a huge deal and it required heaven to literally pour the blood of God on the ground to fix it. But it was fixed and it was successful. He did a good job. And so when you call upon the name of the Lord and you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, you become the righteousness of God in Christ and is the product of a new birth. And then God moves on the inside of you. And now you get to do life with him. It's so good, man. It's so wonderful. And so, you know, you're not just looking to just have church on a Sunday morning. And, you know, I'm all for going to church on a Sunday morning and going to meetings and conferences and stuff like that. Those things are wonderful. But what you have to realize is like God is with you all the time as a child of God. And you can always turn your heart towards him, communicate with him, be led by his spirit and allow him to teach you. You know, one of the things that Jesus promised is he said, you know, it's expedient that I go because if I don't go, then the teacher will not come. The comforter will not come. And what he's talking about is the Holy Spirit. And so now, you know, the Holy Spirit is your primary teacher and he teaches you from the inside out. He teaches you in a way that you can understand, a way that you can receive. He is the greatest of all teachers. And, you know, certainly we have pastors and leaders and, you know, going to church is awesome and living in community is awesome. But this beautiful place of intimacy that you have with God, it's actually really wonderful. And it's not something that anyone in the old covenant got to enjoy. You know, they certainly had these great relationships with God, but God was never actually living on the inside of them. You know, even Moses, you know, he spoke face to face with God as a friend would speak to a friend. And that's awesome. And then, you know, you see David's relationship with God, and it's based upon the sure mercies. And in the Hebrew, the word chesed, which it means love. And he has this awesome relationship with God. But David didn't have what we have. Moses didn't have what we have. None of them have what we have. We actually have God living on the inside of us. And that's what makes it special. But I encourage you, it's important to access and to enjoy that. And really, you do that by being intentional. And turning your heart towards him. Now, it's so important for you to get your mind renewed to and your heart established in the reality that you're right with God, according to what Jesus has done. That's what's going to help tune you into the frequency. That's what's going to help get you to a place where you can really have a place of intimacy with the Lord. In Philippians chapter three, Paul says, I'll be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, not an external righteousness, but that I will be found in him not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness, which is of faith in Christ Jesus, that I may know him. And so this place of intimacy, this place of relationship with God is going to be directly related to you knowing that you're right with God because of what Jesus has done. Because when you know that you're right with God, then you have confidence to move towards him. Faith rises on the inside of your heart. You enjoy this place of intimacy. You know that he loves you. You know, you know that he's not mad at you or disappointed in you. And it really creates this safe place where we can have intimacy with God. We have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can enjoy that. And that place of intimacy is this, it's a great man, because God's with you all the time. And you can talk to him and pray to him all the time. The Bible says we're to pray continually. And, you know, what that means is just this place of communion. And, you know, Paul said it just beautifully when he said, you know, I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. He said, Christ lives in me, in me. And so what that Christ in you reality, that new creation reality, that fresh place of identity, that really is one of the biggest things, if not the biggest thing, that's really going to help you walk with God and to walk in his ways. Because God's always going to lead you into paths of peace. He's always going to lead you to do the right thing. He's going to lead you to walk in love. He's going to lead you to care about people and to take care of people and to walk in love and peace and joy and kindness and goodness and to pray and have your prayers answered and, you know, to walk in the goodness of God, to walk in the power of God. So many of these things that he has for us in the kingdom and the kingdom is within you now, but you learn how to access the kingdom and really you access the kingdom through your heart, not just through your mind. Now your mind is the doorway many times to your heart, but your heart, the beliefs of your heart, that's where we really start to access the kingdom of God. And honestly, really no human being can perfectly teach you how to do that. That is actually something that's between you and God. And, you know, that's why one of the things that was shown forth in that new covenant. Is, you know, it says, they all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest of them. No one should say, know the Lord, know the Lord, for all shall know me. And so, you know, one of the things you have to understand is in this new covenant, there are certain things that really nobody can teach you, but the Holy Spirit, nobody can teach you, but God himself. And certainly, you know, as pastors and leaders, you know, we do our best and we teach, but that God kind of reserves this certain space for just personal relationship. And you say, well, Jeremiah, mind, how's he going to do that? Ask him. Ask, man. I mean, that's a big part of this thing. Ask, seek, knock. Aggressively pursue him. Pursue relationship with him. So important. And you want to pursue truth. You want to pursue repentance. You want to change the way you think. We want to change our conduct. We want to really to align every single aspect of our lives up with him, with his way of thinking and his way of doing things. This is what it means to be a disciple. Now, you know, the level of pursuit that you put upon that will reflect tremendously the level of growth that you have in your life. If you have a real casual attitude towards, you know, knowing the truth and towards, you know, changing the way you think, changing the way that you live your life, if you have a casual attitude towards it, then, you know, God still loves you. You are going to heaven and he's on your team, he's on your side. But there are certain things that you're probably not going to be able to enjoy just because you're not necessarily walking in alignment with those ways. And it's the same as, you know, following GPS directions. You know, if you follow the directions closely, you're going to get where you want to go.

Pastor Jeremiah Johnson shares a clear, encouraging message about the good news of the gospel: Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection paid our sin debt and opened the way to forgiveness, freedom, and new life.He invites listeners to abide in Christ, walk in love, and live as disciples who demonstrate God’s heart through actions, experiencing victory, intimacy with God, and lasting joy.

Pastor Jeremiah Johnson encourages listeners with the message that God deeply loves and pursues you, even in your failures. Through receiving Christ and ongoing discipleship—repentance, renewed thinking, and obedience—you are transformed from the inside out and called to live out the greatness placed in you.The episode explains how the kingdom of God brings peace, joy, and a higher quality of life that should be evident every day, not just on Sundays, and invites believers to grow, be teachable, and let the fruit of God’s life attract others.

Pastor Jeremiah Johnson encourages you to trust God, stop playing it safe, and use the gifts and dreams He has given you. He reminds listeners that God is with them in every struggle, and that failure is part of growth.Take one step at a time, embrace perseverance, and start moving forward in faith—God is on your side and ready to help you overcome and fulfill your calling.

Pastor Jeremiah Johnson reminds listeners that God loves and values them, and that salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus. He explains that righteousness is not earned by deeds or religious performance but is given through Christ, allowing believers to access God’s grace and power.When we embrace Jesus as our righteousness, transformation begins from the inside out: sins are forgiven, new identity in Christ is granted, and the fruit of the Spirit flows as we live by God’s strength rather than self-effort.

Jeremiah Johnson encourages listeners who feel overwhelmed to stop running and run to God, explaining how believers access God's strength and grace in moments of weakness. He uses biblical examples (Paul, David, Elijah) and gives practical steps: avoid offense, humble yourself, pray honestly, and surrender to receive renewed strength.Learn how changing your source of strength can renew your hope, turn weakness into growth, and help you face life’s pressures with faith.

Jeremiah Johnson shares a personal testimony on how Jesus’ sacrifice and the renewal of the mind brought healing from depression, addiction, and fear.He emphasizes discipleship, Scripture, and community as pathways to lasting freedom and encourages listeners that hope and healing are available through Christ.