Please Remember to Pray for...
1. Members of Bethel who have lost their jobs with this economic crisis.
2. Ruth Golden, for God's protection against cancer, fear, and worry.
3. The Lord to mercifully bring this virus threat to an end.
4. The Lord to use this hardship to help believers trust God more.
5. The Lord to cause the Gospel to spread globally as believers share their faith.
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"Peace to you!" from
Pastor Jon Cox
Thank you for visiting the Bethel website!
Bethel is a family of believers in the one true God. He has done all that the world needs to be saved from sin.
Jesus Christ, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through faith in his life, death, and resurrection, all people may have forgiveness of sins and life in heaven.
No matter what troubles may confront us in this life, God promises to provide for all life, to care for his believers, and to work through all circumstances to bring about good for those who love him.
I have been a pastor since 1992, and have had the privilege to serve many people in various situations. I want to serve you too.
If you would like any spiritual or pastoral care from me, questions answered, prayers prayed, or just a listening ear, please call me on my cell phone or send an email message to me.
Pastor Jon Cox
608.582.9998
jon.nathan.cox@gmail.com
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Pastor James Mumm
Jim and Gail Mumm
608-881-0445 - dakota1940jm@gmail.com
622 Bennora Lee Ct. #4026 La Crosse, WI 54601
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Faith Related Q and A
| Is Article XVIII of the Augsburg Confession - about free will - specifically talking about libertarian free will? If so, how is that compatible with divine providence, if no event can occur outside God's control?
Article XVIII addresses the natural condition of people. Conceived and born into this world with a sinful nature, people cannot choose do anything good or godly in the sight of God. People cannot choose to believe in God (John 15:16). Faith is God’s work in the hearts of people (Ephesians 2:8). Only after the Holy Spirit has changed their hearts can Christians do anything to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
The free will that people have by nature is limited to the things of this world. Article XVIII provides some examples of the worldly choices people might have.
Certainly, God is in control of all things (Psalm 2; 47:8; Proverbs 19:21). No one and nothing can thwart God’s purposes. Christians also have God’s promise that he will work for their eventual and eternal good in every situation in life (Romans 8:28).
| Do we know from Scripture whether Jesus himself returns to usher dying believers home to heaven in the days between his Ascension and his final return on the Last Day?
As I think about this more, I suppose this could even be an idle question, as being "ushered" to heaven may not even be the reality of what happens, but rather only a manner of speaking about a believer leaving this life and entering eternal life. Perhaps there is actually no "ushering" involved, as when a believer closes their eyes in death they simply find yourself in the presence of the Lord in heaven. Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm just curious as to how we should speak (according to Scripture) about the "ushering" into heaven of believers who die between Christ's Ascension and his return for Judgment.
Luke 16:22 speaks of Lazarus and angels who “carried him to Abraham’s side” (Luke 16:22). Is it possible that angels provide similar service to all believers who die? It is possible. Scripture does not explicitly teach that.
Does Jesus himself usher believers home to heaven? The Bible does not teach that. Jesus promised the repentant thief that he would be with him in paradise that day (Luke 23:43). There is no mention of Jesus ushering him home.
The apostle Paul wrote of his desire “to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). Paul’s words illustrate that being with Jesus in heaven is of utmost importance. Death provides the opportunity for Christians to leave this world and be with Jesus in heaven. According to Scripture, we can speak of Christians who have died in the faith as being in heaven. The Bible’s emphasis is clearly on the location of believers’ souls after death, without any description of the soul’s immediate transition from earth to heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describes what will take place on the Last Day. Jesus will return visibly to this world. He will be accompanied by the souls of believers who were in heaven with him. Christians who are alive on the earth on the Last Day will “meet the Lord in the air” (verse 17).
While we may have unanswered questions about the Bible now, what a blessing it is to have the answer to the most important question a person could ask: “What must I do to be saved?” “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31). We enjoy salvation now through the forgiveness of sins. We will enjoy it forever in the presence of God.
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| | » | WELS Connection - April 2020 (captioned)
For more than 150 years, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., has been training men to be pastors, professors, and missionaries around the world. In this edition of WELS Connection, discover more about the school’s overall ministry and its vision of service to the Lord and his people.
| | » | WELS Connection - June 2020
Not everyone can travel to a disaster site to pitch in, but WELS Christian Aid and Relief represents all of us . . . by organizing volunteers, helping provide for basic needs, and assisting individuals in extraordinary situations. All this work follows from Jesus’ simple command to love our neighbor. Learn more about its work this month.
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Forward in Christ
| Please explain: Why should I be a Christian when I have to suffer?
 She was lying in the hospital bed awaiting the test results. She was facing surgery and a long recuperation. As I stood by her bedside, she asked, “Why is God allowing me to suffer like this?” That’s not an uncommon question for believers. Job struggled with it and so did the early Christians as they […]
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