We believe that every person is created with a purpose, and that purpose is to Love God. According to the Bible, God created man in His image; however, that first man disobeyed God, separating himself from the Father forever. Big problem, right?
You said it. Because of this disobedience, or sin, all people are destined to die, not just physically, but spiritually. In fact, to God we are already dead spiritually.
But God provided a solution in His Son, Jesus. At just the right time in history God sent Jesus into the world to be born to a young virgin and conceived by the Spirit of God. Because Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of Man, he never sinned. He was tempted just like we are tempted, but he never yielded to temptation.
Because he never sinned, it was possible for him to die in our place, to receive in Himself the penalty for our sin. And so, He did. Just outside of Jerusalem, in Israel, He was killed by the Roman government, having been convicted by the religious leaders of His day of claiming to be God. They nailed his hands and feet to a cross and then gambled for His clothes. When they were certain He was dead they took Him down from the cross and buried Him in a borrowed tomb.
But, this was not the end. Miraculously, three days later, God raised Him from the dead; and He is returning to Earth someday to gather those who trust in Him as Savior from spiritual death to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
So, you see, without Jesus, we aren't capable of Loving God, but through faith in Him and by His Grace, we can be saved.
If you would like to talk more about this to a pastor, please call us at 740-522-5245. We would love to talk to you.
No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, whether you are filled with doubt or growing in grace and obedience, we invite you to join us for one of our weekly worship gatherings.