Text Box: There was a Christian book released in March 2011 that has raised much controversy in church circles. The book’s full title is Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell. The author is a younger pastor of a 10,000 member church in Michigan. The controversy has been the author’s understanding of hell. Critics have been saying that he has become a ‘universalist,’ someone who believes everyone will go to heaven. His defenders say he is not a universalist, but has courageously discussed many difficult aspects of believing in a loving God who would send those who do not believe in Jesus to an everlasting place of suffering, known as hell. To be honest, I have only read opinions about the book and would need to read the book myself to form a more concrete opinion. The book has only been in print for 2 weeks. I do know that a book written in 2011 has little bearing on what the Bible says and teaches. Even the best know verse of the Bible, John 3:16 says, “For 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.” Note that all the good news of God lovingly sending His Son is connected to the bad news that there is an issue of ‘perishing.’ As we come to another Easter season, we again come to the central theme of our faith. Jesus died on a cross and rose again on the third day. The evil and cruelty of the cross Text Box: was necessary due to the reality of people perishing and a place called hell. On a personal level, many of us create our own hells by our sinful lifestyle and dysfunctional living. The hope of the resurrection is that God can change our experience of hell on earth to be closer to the life God created us to live. This change comes because of Christ’s work on the cross and our embracing Jesus as Savior and Lord. The great news of Easter is that there is the hope for change. Mary Magdelene and the women went to a tomb with tears. They returned rejoicing because they found an empty tomb. That same joy can be ours as we realize the work of Christ on the cross for us. Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” May we tap into that power to live a life full of the presence of God. Change is possible as we yield to the work of God in our lives. My prayer for you this Easter is that your reflection on the work of Christ will lead you to renewed joy in your salvation. In the language of I Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” May your Easter season be filled with themes of joy, hope, and continuing growth in faith. We celebrate the Text Box: Good News at Easter Text Box: Gospel News Text Box: April 2011

Guest Preachers

2

Youth Events

2

Faith & Reason

2

April Events

3

JFM Banquet

3

Easter Week

4

April Calendar

 
Text Box: Fort Lee Gospel Church 1625 Palisade Ave. Fort Lee, NJ 07024 (201)947-1465 Pastor: Rev. Rick Spenst Web site: www.fortleegospel.org E-mail: fortleegospel@juno.com