Have you Heard the Gospel?

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At Valley Alliance, the center of our worship is the glorified Christ. Jesus – who is, who was, and who is to come for the collection of His Bride – the Church. Jesus is our all and all.

Who do you say this Jesus is? There are many opinions out there, but are they informed? What do they base their opinions on? Before forming another opinion, let’s consider who Jesus said he was first. In the Gospels He says, I am the Bread of Life; I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; I am the Door of the Sheep; I am the Good Shepard; I am the Light of the world; I am the True Vine, the Resurrection and the Life . . .

You must admit, those are fantastic statements? If someone makes those kinds of outrageous claims about themselves, then a thinking person can only draw one of three conclusions about such a person. One, if he knew such things about himself were not true, then he was deceiving people and therefore a liar. Two, if he believed himself to be what he said then he was completely out of touch with reality, thus rendering him a lunatic. Those who say he’s a good or wise teacher must think hard about that position because how could you honestly say somebody’s good and at the same time be a liar or a crazy man?

The third conclusion is he is who he said he was. If this were true, then what evidence is there to substantiate those claims? After all, millions of people throughout history shouldn’t follow someone just because they say they are the “Way” – Right? So why did the earliest disciples, and so many throughout history follow him? It is plainly this: the historical record testifies by, eyewitness accounts, the things he did gave him the right to say the things he said. By eyewitness accounts Jesus: healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, healed the crippled, gave sound to the deaf, healed leprosy, cast out demons, restored people to their sanity, he knew people’s thoughts, he knew the future and spoke about it with 100% accuracy, he made physical matter change form, and he raised people from the dead.

All these things were absolutely incredible, but one would historically finalize all doubt. Jesus would go on to be falsely accused and put to death by being nailed to a Roman cross, but he told his followers this would happen according to the Scriptures, and on the third day he would rise from the dead. After he was crucified and buried, even his most devout followers doubted and started to walk away from the things he said. However, on the third day he rose from the dead just as he proclaimed, and not only did he appear to his closest disciples, he appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses over a period of 40 days, and then was taken up in glory to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 

Wow! What a story! But what does it mean? It means this, Jesus, born of a virgin, came as a ransom into a world held hostage to sin and death. Man, created in the image of God, has alienated himself from God because of his evil deeds.  Every time man sins it is an act of treason against the very nature in which he was created, and direct rebellion towards God. The damage is already done and man has no ability to correct it, the evidence of this is in any current events story.

Some may balk at this point, saying to themselves, I am not a bad person compared to others. Let me assure you, that when a man is judged it will not be based on man’s standards, but on God’s righteousness; and if found guilty will be sentenced to everlasting torment away from the presence of God. 

Jesus said that all God’s laws could be summed up in two commands: love God with all our heart, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Every time man esteems something more than God; or lies, steals, lusts, hates, or envies others he violates those commands and is consequently guilty. Since man has separated himself from God, Jesus is therefore God’s only means of reconciling man back to Himself. When Jesus was crucified it was a substitutionary death. In other words, he willfully took the punishment that we deserve, and by faith in Jesus’s sacrifice we are forgiven and justified before a holy God. This is the gospel, and the gospel is the Greek word for “Good News”.

You may ask, how do I receive this forgiveness? Simple, by turning away from your worthless deeds and self-righteousness, and turning towards the one who will give you LIFE; and believing that Jesus is who he said he was and trusting in his death on the cross as a sacrifice for your behalf, God will grant you forgiveness and everlasting life based on His Promises. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Whoever believes in the son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. If you own a Bible, we encourage you to read it and find out for yourself if these things be true.

Here at Valley alliance, we believe in the third alternative, that Jesus is the Son of God; and our vision statement is this: “Loving God. . Loving people”. Therefore, in obedience to God, it is our desire to be an extension of his hand in the community in which he placed us. If you have any questions concerning the gospel, or needs for growing in this precious faith we would love to hear from you. 

- Jim Kashuba