From the Pastor,
The most important question you could ever answer is this: What does it mean to be a Christian? Well, I admit that is a loaded question, but let me try to answer it in a few words.
A Christian is someone who believes that there is an infinitely holy and righteous God. All mankind has offended and fallen short of that holiness because of our sin. Now we are all in a state of offense toward that holy God. We stand deserving his just condemnation for our crimes of sin and rebellion against him. So what is the solution to this massive dilemma? The answer is that God became one of us, a man, his name is Jesus. He lived a perfectly righteous life. He was crucified on a cross, and rose again after three days. He did all of this so that we could be reconciled to God. If we will repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus' sacrifice in our place on that cross, we can be forgiven and made right with God. No amount of good works on our part can make us right with God, but through faith alone in Jesus we can have our sins counted as paid for in Christ on the cross, and his righteous life will be counted as our own in God's sight. This is the gospel - the good news!
As Christians, we confess and commit that Jesus is our master and Lord, and in obedience to him we now live our lives as his disciples. We deny ourselves and take up our cross, and follow him for the sake of his name. We lay down our lives in radical sacrifice for the sake of Christ and others, that he would be exalted, and that they would know this glorious gospel. We long for others to know that they too can know this God who is all satisfying, and in who's presence there is fullness of joy, and at who's right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11)!
Do you long for this kind of joy that only Christ can give? If so, then God is working in your life. Repent of your sin, and call on Christ right now.
The greatest news in all the world is this: I Tim. 1:15 That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
Eph. 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
That is the core of what being a Christian is all about. That is what we are focused on at UVBC, being disciples of Jesus. If we can help you in knowing and living for Christ in any way, please let us know.
For the sake of His name,
Josh Fitzsimmons, Pastor
The most important question you could ever answer is this: What does it mean to be a Christian? Well, I admit that is a loaded question, but let me try to answer it in a few words.
A Christian is someone who believes that there is an infinitely holy and righteous God. All mankind has offended and fallen short of that holiness because of our sin. Now we are all in a state of offense toward that holy God. We stand deserving his just condemnation for our crimes of sin and rebellion against him. So what is the solution to this massive dilemma? The answer is that God became one of us, a man, his name is Jesus. He lived a perfectly righteous life. He was crucified on a cross, and rose again after three days. He did all of this so that we could be reconciled to God. If we will repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus' sacrifice in our place on that cross, we can be forgiven and made right with God. No amount of good works on our part can make us right with God, but through faith alone in Jesus we can have our sins counted as paid for in Christ on the cross, and his righteous life will be counted as our own in God's sight. This is the gospel - the good news!
As Christians, we confess and commit that Jesus is our master and Lord, and in obedience to him we now live our lives as his disciples. We deny ourselves and take up our cross, and follow him for the sake of his name. We lay down our lives in radical sacrifice for the sake of Christ and others, that he would be exalted, and that they would know this glorious gospel. We long for others to know that they too can know this God who is all satisfying, and in who's presence there is fullness of joy, and at who's right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11)!
Do you long for this kind of joy that only Christ can give? If so, then God is working in your life. Repent of your sin, and call on Christ right now.
The greatest news in all the world is this: I Tim. 1:15 That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
Eph. 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
That is the core of what being a Christian is all about. That is what we are focused on at UVBC, being disciples of Jesus. If we can help you in knowing and living for Christ in any way, please let us know.
For the sake of His name,
Josh Fitzsimmons, Pastor
