About Bethel
As we consider spiritual things—invisible, meaning of life questions and wondering is there anybody out there, we come face-to-face with the idea that if there’s a God and He made us and He designed us to live in a way that honors Him and loves others. . .well, that means we’ve got a problem. We don’t always honor God; we don’t always love other people.
In fact, if we pick up the Christian Bible, turn to the book of Romans (a letter written by the early church leader Paul to the Christians in Rome), we find out that we are indeed in trouble. Spiritual trouble. Trouble that could lead us to be separated from God now—and forever after death.
Paul says that God’s commands point out our problem—called sin—and that we’re not living and thinking in the right way. Paul says: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:19-20).
But God doesn’t leave us there. God created us, God loves us, God had a plan of wanting us to live with Him forever in beautiful world He made for us. And God decided that His plan would not be stopped by our sin. He would find a way to make it right—to punish our sin, to save us from eternal death, and to bring us to be with Him again. It wouldn’t be based on our actions; that would never work. We’d never measure up. Instead, God would send His Son, Jesus, to take our place, and then we would be given the Son’s perfect righteousness.
Paul explains it this way: “Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified [made right and holy in God’s eyes] freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24).
So now what? Do we act as if we got ourselves out of trouble? Do we brag that we’re perfect and holy? No! We rejoice in the gift of God’s salvation and forgiveness and hope for life after death. We praise God that He has given us the gift of faith (see Romans 3:27-28). And then we go out to share that hope with others.
This is how God invited us into His story, and we, at Bethel Lutheran Church, are confident that God is also inviting you into His story through the power and grace of Jesus Christ.
Bethel Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), because we believe that the Lutheran way of understanding God correctly reflects what God says in His Word. To find out more about the LCMS, go to LCMS: About Us.
In fact, if we pick up the Christian Bible, turn to the book of Romans (a letter written by the early church leader Paul to the Christians in Rome), we find out that we are indeed in trouble. Spiritual trouble. Trouble that could lead us to be separated from God now—and forever after death.
Paul says that God’s commands point out our problem—called sin—and that we’re not living and thinking in the right way. Paul says: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:19-20).
But God doesn’t leave us there. God created us, God loves us, God had a plan of wanting us to live with Him forever in beautiful world He made for us. And God decided that His plan would not be stopped by our sin. He would find a way to make it right—to punish our sin, to save us from eternal death, and to bring us to be with Him again. It wouldn’t be based on our actions; that would never work. We’d never measure up. Instead, God would send His Son, Jesus, to take our place, and then we would be given the Son’s perfect righteousness.
Paul explains it this way: “Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified [made right and holy in God’s eyes] freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24).
So now what? Do we act as if we got ourselves out of trouble? Do we brag that we’re perfect and holy? No! We rejoice in the gift of God’s salvation and forgiveness and hope for life after death. We praise God that He has given us the gift of faith (see Romans 3:27-28). And then we go out to share that hope with others.
This is how God invited us into His story, and we, at Bethel Lutheran Church, are confident that God is also inviting you into His story through the power and grace of Jesus Christ.
Bethel Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), because we believe that the Lutheran way of understanding God correctly reflects what God says in His Word. To find out more about the LCMS, go to LCMS: About Us.