In a previous post, I discussed how the Kingdom of God is both "now" and "not yet." The most important way we can experience it now, is in the context of the Christian congregation. The congregation is a visible manifestation of the work of the Holy Spirit. Some important characteristics of the congregation are:
- It is comprised of believers in Christ
- It offers spiritual resources (the means of grace) and spiritual gifts
- It seeks salvation and eternal blessings for all people
The means of grace we receive as members of the congregation are:
- Baptism
- Communion
- The preaching of God's Word
If we neglect our congregation, or try to be a Christian without a congregation, we are denying ourselves the grace of God. We are also not using the spiritual gifts we have been given to bless others, we are not fulfilling our God-given task to further His Kingdom here and now.
The congregation is the body of Christ on earth. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?
For more about the church see these posts:
7 marks of a church by Martin Luthe
United with Christ through His Church
What is a Church?
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