Lesson 201. The Church

There was a time when I understood the church to be a place where people could come to watch a service, listen to singing, and pray before icons. And a church absolutely had to have domes, preferably gilded ones. I associated the concept of the church with a religious building. I could not imagine anything else bearing this name. I regarded any religious gathering of people outside a church building as a sect, and the people in those gatherings as sectarians. But the Lord decided to reveal to me the true meaning of this term and establish me upon the foundation of His Church.

For the first time in my life, I crossed the threshold of a church when I was fifteen. When my classmates and I were skipping classes, they suggested that we go into the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and look at the believers. I thought that there were no such people in our country, but I went with them. I was very surprised that admission was free and that no one checked us or drove us out. I walked around the church and looked at the icons, trying to understand where God was depicted on them. I did not intend to believe in anything, but I began to treat this place with reverence. There was a theological seminary nearby, and its students wore clothing that was strange for that time, which made us laugh.

But the time came when my understanding of the church changed radically. I began studying the Bible and understood that the church is an assembly of people united by faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding was revolutionary for me. I suddenly realized that the church is not tied to a particular building, but exists wherever like-minded believers in Jesus Christ gather. Yet as I continued studying the Word of God, I saw that Christ had a plan to establish His worldwide Church, of which He Himself would be the Head. In His love for this people, the Church is even compared to the Bride of Christ, which speaks of a very close relationship with the Lord.

By virtue of having been baptized, I was an Orthodox Christian, but I did not understand what that meant. My mother told me that she had baptized me in infancy and that from then on I was a believer. I found this amusing, and until the age of twenty-one I considered myself an atheist and was proud of it.

But a life of sin brought no peace, and I began to wonder whether God existed. Fortunately, I learned that He does and that He has a plan for me as well.

When I was starting a family, I decided to go through a church wedding ceremony. I was surprised by the minister’s requirements, but I fulfilled all of them, and we were married in the church. I had never experienced a more boring and incomprehensible event, although I understood that it was better to have it than not to have it. In the movies, everything had been different.

While attending Orthodox churches, I did not even understand that the Church is a family and that it means very personal and spiritual relationships with fellow believers. I did not see this in the places I attended, and it never even occurred to me that I had brothers and sisters in the faith. No one tried to get acquainted with me, much less become my friend.

But the Lord sent me light. I received the book The Great Controversy as a gift and learned what the true Church is, as well as its history, its apostasy, and its reformation. I understood that God has a people who are very close-knit, have close relationships, and love one another. This was very strange for me to learn, because my stereotypes about the church were firmly established and I did not want to change anything. Nevertheless, I decided to find these people and see whether this was really so, and I began searching.

By that time, in 1993, I had come to believe in Christ as my Savior, and I rejoiced greatly in this, but I did not know what to do with it or how to live from then on. I began asking God to show me the community in which I could find like-minded believers. I met people who, like me, studied the Bible, although they did not obey everything written in it, despite being very close-knit. After three months of fellowship, I could no longer attend that gathering, because I saw that they did not live according to the commandments and sometimes behaved as if possessed during their meetings. I could not share their teaching, which contradicted the Word of God, and I left them.

I wanted to find the community that keeps God’s commandments and has faith in Jesus. I already knew where they gathered, but I was very cautious because I did not want to fall into another sect. During this period of searching, my wife and I moved to Germany, where we live to this day.

In search of my spiritual family, I visited every place of worship in my area. When I found those who showed an interest in us, I began attending their worship services. A year later, I decided to be baptized so that I could become a full member of the Body of Christ.

From Scripture, I already understood that the Church is the Body of Christ and that we are all its members, each having a particular duty and function. Every member does his or her part, building this temple and being a living stone in this structure. Even in conducting this School, together with my brothers and sisters, I am participating in our common work—fulfilling Christ’s mission and preparing a people for His Second Coming. He will come for His Bride, who is all of us, friends, united by love for one another, faith in Jesus, and biblical truth, and forming the living Body of Christ.

And now we unite with our brothers and sisters in the faith for worship, fellowship, the study of the Word of God, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, service to all humanity, and the proclamation of the Good News throughout the world. This is the Church of Christ in all its varied functions and expressions. We understand in Whom we believe, Whom we serve, and Whom we worship. We are all different, but in Christ we are one. We have a common mission, but each person contributes according to his or her understanding and abilities. Some grow quickly, while others have stopped growing, but we are alive, and God accepts us when we come to Him.

The Church of Christ is the most stable unit of society. It has passed through every earthly crisis, regime, and trial and has preserved its purity and its teaching. During this time, it experienced many divisions and apostasies, and the enemy of souls created many counterfeits that possess part of the truth and their own version of what is right, but mix these with errors. They have a form of godliness, but they do not have love.

The Church of God is the foundation of faith and the home for the soul of a follower of Christ who will meet the Lord at His triumphant return. It will stand before Him as a glorious Church that has remained faithful throughout all ages, redeemed by His blood, having neither spot nor blemish—holy and blameless.

I am very glad that God has placed me upon the foundation of this faith and established me in this understanding.

I also understand that love is the most beautiful adornment of the Church of Christ and the finest testimony about God to this world and to all Heaven.

Agape love for God and for one another is what binds us together into one living organism that lives, breathes, and acts in this world according to God’s will and God’s plan.

God did not intend for me to be alone in my spiritual growth and development. We are God’s garden; we are branches on His vine and olive tree. We are all nourished by Him; in Him we live and exist. We have fellowship and relationships with our Lord and with one another. And this plan of God is at work.

Eternity has its own laws, and they are already at work in God’s Church. When we come to Heaven, we will not be surprised by the new order, but will continue to love and know our Lord and one another, rejoicing in salvation on every eternal day, and God Himself will be our God. His love will be our eternal adornment.

1. Please read Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:3–7; Matthew 16:13–20; 18:18; 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–42; 7:38; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22–23; 2:19–22; 3:8–11; 5:23–27; Colossians 1:17–18; and 1 Peter 2:9 in the light of this lesson.

2. What was revealed to you in this lesson?

3. How do you understand the term “Church”? What is it?

4. Why did God decide to unite His children? What is the Church needed for?

5. What does the Church give me?

6. Can I be saved on my own? After all, so much useful material can be found on the internet, and there is no need to go anywhere.

7. Why are believers called brothers and sisters?

8. God is our Heavenly Father. Does He have grandchildren?