Церковь ХВЕ Херсон

The question concerning the Church is extremely relevant for our salvation. Having made sure that in the Universe there is a Living, Almighty and full of love God, we begin to search for the true Church of Christ. What are its symptoms? If you were deceived by paying fake money instead of genuine money; if instead of real oak furniture they sold you a fake “under the oak”, this is not the biggest trouble. But if you were deceived in the matter of the true Church - this is a real tragedy. Although all faiths in our world claim to be true, there is only one Church of Christ. What is she, according to God's Word? Church, its purpose in the world The Greek word Church - “ecclesia” means a community of people called and separated for a special purpose. The Lord Himself clarifies on this occasion: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people, people taken as an inheritance, in order to proclaim the perfection of He who called you from darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2: 9). “The church is a spiritual hospital, and those who come to it should receive funds for healing, apply to their wounds and with this leave from here” (Ephraim the Syrian). “The church is the salt that salifies the whole earth, protecting it from decay” (Ephraim the Syrian). “For the seafarers, God intended the islands to be a refuge, and for the world overwhelmed by sin, he granted holy churches in which the teaching of truth is observed. The church is not walls and roof, but faith and life ... The church is not church walls, but church laws ”(John Chrysostom). A true Christian goes to the Church not only to endure something instructive for himself. He goes to join his prayers with the prayers of others. He goes to join his voice with other voices praising the Lord. He goes to add the power of his prayer for God's blessing and his voice to the testimony of the possibility of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He goes to unite with others in worship of God, in reverence for His infinite love and mercy. We cannot be happy Christians without remaining faithful to the Church. Jesus visited the Church every week: “And he came to Nazareth, where he was raised, and entered, as usual, on the Sabbath day into the synagogue, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). The purpose of the Church of Christ in the world is to: 1. Calling other people to repentance and reconciliation with God: “So we are messengers on behalf of Christ, and as though God himself exhorts through us, on behalf of Christ we ask: reconcile with God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 2. To provide an opportunity for those who come to the Church to grow spiritually, achieving perfection: “To present it to Myself as a glorious Church without a spot or vice ... but that it be holy and without blame” (Ephesians 5: 26-27). 3. To show the celestials and all sinless worlds the action of the love and grace of Christ in those who accepted Him as their Savior: “So that the manifold wisdom of God will be made known through the Church to the authorities and authorities in heaven” (Ephesians 3:10).