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Religion of Sunday, 22 December 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Christmas brought the Saviour to atone for the sins of mankind - Bishop Aryee

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Bishop Aaron Abeiku Apem Aryee, the Senior Pastor of the Christianborg Baptist Church, Osu, says no one is beyond salvation only if one believes in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the saviour of the world.

He said the birth of Jesus Christ brought grace and salvation to mankind because he made reparation for the sins of the world.

“Jesus Christ died to atone for the sins of the world. Who told you that you cannot be saved? No one is beyond salvation, for the grace of God has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas Day,” Bishop Aryee said.

Bishop Aryee said this during an exhortation at this year’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, organised by the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, held at the forecourt of Parliament House, in Accra.

He used the life of Rahab, a harlot from Jericho, who was treated with scorn by the society, but by the grace of God, she was saved after the Israelites invaded Jericho and taken to Canaan because she placed her faith in the coming Messiah.

Interestingly, he said, Rahab was part of the family tree of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world and made reference to the Book of Genealogy of Jesus Christ from Matthew 1:1, 5 and 6 to explain his point.

Bishop Aryee led intercessory prayers for the nation, President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, as well as the three arms of government, Mrs Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, to ensure a peaceful election next year.

The event was graced by President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Rev. Mike Aaron Oquaye, the outgoing Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Sophia A.B Akuffo, the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament, Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Mr Haruna Iddrisu respectively, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, former First Lady, members of Parliament, the Clergy and the Diplomatic Community.

The gathering was entertained with medley of melodious corals and hymns from choirs and singing groups including Voices of Democracy, Gbawe-McCarthy Hill Methodist Church Choir, Ga West Presbytery Choir and Sowutuom Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Choir.

President Akufo-Addo read the ninth lesson from the Book of John 1:1-14 while Vice President Bawumia read the eighth lesson from Matthew 2:1-12.

Prof. Oquaye, in brief remarks, outlined the relevance of the occasion, saying that, it provided the opportunity for the members of the House to read the scriptures and praise God for His abundant grace and blessings.

He lauded President Akufo-Addo and his Vice for their presence, which gives meaning to the religious freedom and tolerance prevailing in the country and urged all and sundry to take inspiration from them.

“We must renew our pledge to resolve our differences peacefully and progress as one nation, one people with one common destiny,” the Speaker of Parliament added.