AT OH BE JOYFUL CHURCH, WE BELIEVE IN LIVING LIVES THAT ARE DEFINED BY CHRIST AND UNDERSTOOD THROUGH A LENS OF THE GOSPEL.
What does that mean? We’re glad you asked. The word Gospel means “good news” and the good news is God’s great plan to redeem all who call on his name. It is the central message of the Bible, which we believe is the perfect word of God. It’s a great story. It’s a great reality. And it could take a while to explain, but here are the basics.
Martin Luther said that, as sinners (Romans 3:23 makes it clear that is what we are), we pursue God either through religion or the gospel. Religion is man’s efforts and strivings to gain God’s approval. The gospel is God’s approval in us through his son Jesus. Religion says that by being a better person, we can have right relationship. The gospel says we already have right relationship because of Christ in us. Put simply, religion is about what we have to do. The gospel is about what we get to do. We get to celebrate Jesus and pursue him with our hearts and worship him with our very lives. We are no longer under the curse of sin, the curse of death (Romans 6:23). Instead as Romans 5:8 outlines, God loved us while we were yet sinners and sent his son on a rescue mission.