How can one be sure that the gospel is good news?

As discussed in Luke 18:9-14, the distinction between those who find the gospel good news and those who do not is their recognition of sin. The publican’s cry for mercy exemplifies a changed heart that acknowledges sinfulness. Only when a person understands their desperate need for God's grace does the message of the gospel resonate as good news. The gospel's transformative power is emphasized in John 6:63, illustrating that it is the Spirit that gives life, confirming that the essence of the gospel is realized when one is drawn to Christ by the Spirit's work.