Luke 2:8, In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The good news that brings great joy is that Christ is our Savior. Sadly, many Christians think of that only in limited terms, such as our sins being forgiven and one day getting to go to heaven. That is certainly good news, but there’s more to the good news than that. As my Savior Jesus, did not just come to guarantee me a place in heaven, but he came to bring heaven, and all the resources of heaven to my experience here on earth, on the way to heaven. He certainly came to save me from sin’s penalty, but he also came to be my Savior every day, as he delivers me from sin’s power. The cause of all human misery is sin, and without Christ saving me from sin’s power daily then salvation would only mean something one day in the distant future, when we get to go to heaven. Romans 5:10 says that there are two parts to the saving work of Christ; the first being saved from sin’s penalty because of his death for me, but the second is being saved from sin’s power because of his life in me. This is the good news that is so wonderful that it brings great joy while we are still on this earth. Being saved every day by his life in me is such an important part of what it means for Christ to be my Savior. That is the full gospel