The Gospel.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15 :1-4).

At St Mark's Church, we believe that the gospel is the good news of the salvation in God brought to humanity by the birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel reveals our sinfulness and helplessness (Rom. 3:23), our deserved judgment (Rom. 6:23), and the way of escape from judgement brought about by Christ's death and resurrection (John 14: 6). And so the choice is laid open before all: if anyone chooses Christ, there is eternal life; if Christ is rejected, there is damnation.

"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. (John3: 16)

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Rom. 10:9-10)

Those are just a few passages from the Bible to point anyone willing to be saved or explore the Christian faith in the right direction. So, if you want to claim for yourself the opportunity that the Gospel brings to the human race, then feel free to read more, especially from the Gospel side of the Bible.

It is important to bear in mind that taking this step is a huge decision, it is not an overnight experience, but that of a lifetime. That is why it is important to belong to a body of Christ where your faith can be nurtured and proper discipleship process can be ensured.

If you are happy to take the initial step right away, then reverently acknowledge who you are as a sinner, ask God to forgive you and cleanse you through the death of Jesus, and ask Him to become your Lord and Master. And do not forget to ask Him to fill you with the power and presence of His Holy Spirit.

For further information about becoming a Christian, maturing in the Christian faith, or any other related issues, please do get in touch either via email or by telephone.

Every blessing.

Olusegun Balogun.

Parish Vicar.