Our Beliefs

The Biblical Gospel begins with God. He created everything by his word. Out of the dark void, God spoke into being the heavens, the stars, and the planets. He created life on earth, including Adam and Eve. God gave them the Garden of Eden. It was theirs to subdue and enjoy. One law was given: they were not to eat from a specific tree. God’s rebellious enemy, Satan, came to the garden and in his evilness, tempted Eve. Adam was present for this interaction and he said nothing. They ignored God’s instruction and instead trusted Satan’s false promises. We humans have been doing the same thing ever since. God is good and just, so he must punish sin. That’s bad news for unrighteous sinners like us.

Rebelling against the loving rule of a righteous God deserves a severe eternal punishment, hell. 

But God, in His loving wisdom, had a plan to punish sin and forgive sinners like us. He did this by sending Jesus, his only Son, to take on human flesh. Jesus lived a perfect life without any rebellion against God. He voluntarily stood in the place of all sinners. He stood in my place and your place and your neighbor’s place. Being nailed to the cross, he bore the wrath of an all-powerful and just God’s hatred of sin. In loving agony, Christ took upon our sin. It is finished. He sacrificed himself and took the punishment due to every sinner for all time. 

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:1-6

Now, this risen Jesus commands everyone everywhere to turn away from sin and trust in him. Christ forgives us and adopts us as loved sons and daughters. By repenting of our sin and trusting Christ, we can know peace with God now and the secure hope of eternal joy with him forever. That is the biblical Gospel. It’s true for every person, in every language, place, and culture through all time. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We do not know our last day, so why continue to live under God’s severe eternal punishment when the true and free gift of Jesus and eternal life is yours? To hear more about God’s redeeming grace or for questions, please email info@alongsiderchurch.org. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Genesis 1-3, Matthew 28:1-6, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:10-18, John 3:36, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:1, Ephesians 2:8-10