This is the most important question that anyone could ever ask! Despite all the confusion in the religious world, God's teaching in the Bible is very clear. The only thing that truly saves a person and allows that person to become a Christian is the saving death of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us there is nothing, no work or deed, that can bring us salvation. Salvation rests on the love and grace of God (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

The New Testament tells us over and over again that we connect with the grace of God and receive salvation through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26). Remember, it is the grace of God shown in the life and death of Christ which saves us. Our role is to accept this gift through saving faith.

True faith involves several specific actions. It involves confessing aloud to others that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). Faith involves repentance, the changing of our heart and life to do things God’s way (Acts 2:38; 3:19-20). Faith involves surrendering our lives in baptism to the will of God for the forgiveness of our sins (Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:38; 16:29-34; 22:16). Faith also involves living with commitment toward God and with compassion toward those around us (Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-16). While we submit to God's will in these actions, God is at work bringing us into his kingdom, his Church, forgiving and cleansing us of all our past sins, and placing his Holy Spirit in us (Colossians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38-41; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Titus 3:3-7; Romans 8:9-17, 26-27). We become new people (2 Corinthians 5:17), born of God to begin a new spiritual life of service for him (John 1:10-13; 3:1-5).

It is important to remember there is not one thing we can do to earn our salvation. These several actions do not cause our salvation to happen, they are simply the ways that God has provided for us to receive the salvation given us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This point is clearly shown in Romans 6 where Paul talks about baptism. Notice that the whole discussion on baptism is framed by the concept of grace (verses 3 & 14)! Notice also that baptism is not some arbitrary act that is done to be saved, but is actually a participation, a sharing, in the saving death of Jesus Christ so that we can share in his new life (verses 3-10). It is sharing in what Christ has done, through our faith, that allows us to receive the grace of God already provided for us in the death and resurrection of His Son.

We would love to have you be a part of our Southgate church family. If you are a Christian, please let us know you want to join with us as we serve each other and our community. If you are not a Christian, then we encourage you to contact us so we can share with you more about the hope and joy found only in the Lord. Simply call the church office (740-522-1717), e-mail us at southgatecofc@alltel.net. At your request, one of our ministers or any of our elders would be willing to visit with you at your convenience.

God bless you as you seek to honor Him with your life!

We hope this is the question you want to ask. In the Licking County area, where there are so many opportunities and so many needs, we can use all the help we can get to do the Lord's work.

If you are already a Christian, all you need to do to be a part of the Southgate church family is to let us know of your desire to work with this congregation and to serve the Lord with us. By doing this, you also show your willingness to minister and to worship and work under the spiritual guidance of our shepherds. You can do this in one of the following ways: during one of our Church assemblies, come to the front during our invitation song and let us know of your desire to be a member at Southgate; speak to one of the shepherds and let them know personally of your desire; or you may simply write that you want to be a member on the guest side of an attendance card and give it to one of our ministers or shepherds. We would love to have you join your talents with ours, and grow spiritually with us.