恩典藉由十字架而得。

耶稣基督的十字架并非令人感到舒适的概念,它直面我们,动摇我们对自身和上帝的固有认知。坦白地说,我们大多数人更倾向于这样一种说法:我们本质上是好人,只是需要一些改进、一些道德上的鼓励,或许还需要一些属灵的指引。但十字架拒绝支持这种错觉。十字架讲述了一个关于人类境况更为严肃的故事,以及一个关于上帝恩典更为荣耀的故事。

福音的核心在于一个简单却震撼人心的真理:我们因着恩典得救。使徒保罗写道:“你们得救是本乎恩,也因着信;这并不是出于自己,乃是神所赐的。”(以弗所书 2:8)恩典意味着不配得的恩惠。这意味着上帝对我们施行恩典,并非因为我们赢得了什么,并非因为我们提升到足以配得的程度,更不是因为我们在宗教方面取得了什么成就。恩典意味着上帝先出手。

十字架揭示了人类自我救赎的彻底失败。无论多么努力地追求道德,都无法弥合圣洁的上帝与罪恶的人类之间的鸿沟。如果我们能够自救,髑髅地就不会存在。然而,被钉在罗马十字架上的上帝之子却告诉我们一个令人深感不安的事实:我们的处境远比我们想象的糟糕,上帝的怜悯也远超我们敢于奢望的。

在髑髅地,基督承担了我们应得的罪孽,使我们得以领受我们从未配得的救赎。我们的罪孽归于祂,我们的审判临到祂,我们的定罪由祂承担。无辜者代替了有罪者。然而,这公义的举动也是世上最伟大的爱的彰显。保罗写道:“惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死,上帝的爱就在此向我们显明了。”(罗马书 5:8)请注意这节经文没有说什么。它并没有说基督是在我们悔改之后才为我们而死的。它也没有说上帝等到人类足够优秀,配得上救赎才肯为我们而死。十字架的降临,发生在我们还是罪人,人类悖逆、破碎、灵性迷失之时。恩典始于神的爱,而非我们的良善。

这正是福音如此震撼人心之处。神并非高高在上,等待我们攀登到祂面前。相反,祂降临到我们破碎的境地,拯救我们。十字架揭示了一位走向罪人而非远离罪人的神。

透过这牺牲,非凡之事成为可能,真正的赦罪成为可能。保罗写道:“我们藉着爱子的血,得蒙救赎,过犯得以赦免,乃是照他丰富的恩典。”(以弗所书 1:7)我们现代的文化常常倾向于淡化罪的含义。我们谈论错误、软弱或糟糕的选择。但十字架告诉我们,罪是极其严重的。它摧毁生命,腐蚀人心,使人与神隔绝。

然而,恩典成就了一件非凡的事。它并不假装罪无关紧要;它彻底地解决了罪的问题。基督承担了罪的代价,使我们得以从罪的刑罚中得释放。救赎意味着用代价换来的自由。饶恕意味着曾经定罪我们的罪不再能辖制我们。十字架宣告,过去并非最终的定论。羞耻并非最终的定论。失败并非最终的定论。恩典才是。而伴随着饶恕而来的,是更深远的意义——与神重建关系。保罗写道:“我们既因信称义,就藉着我们的主耶稣基督得与神相和。”(罗马书 5:1)

与神和好不仅仅是内心的平静,更是破碎关系的修复。罪所带来的敌意已被除去。藉着基督,那扇曾经关闭的门再次敞开。恩典不仅拯救我们脱离审判,更引领我们回家。十字架不仅改变了我们在神面前的地位,更改变了我们的生命。耶稣曾明确地表明这一点,他说:“若有人要跟从我,就当舍己,天天背起他的十字架来跟从我。”(路加福音 9:23)

恩典重塑我们的生命。蒙受怜悯的人开始怜悯他人。被赦免的人学会饶恕他人。经历过舍己之爱的人开始活出舍己的生命。因此,十字架既是我们的救赎,也是我们生活的榜样。当我们站在十字架前,我们便在那一刻看到了关于神和人性的最深奥的真理。我们看到了神恩典的深邃、祂爱的力量、饶恕的真实以及关系的修复。

我们还发现另一件事——恩典在我们初信之后,仍会持续地扶持我们。基督徒的生命始于恩典,也因恩典而延续。

正如主对保罗所说:“我的恩典够你用的。”(哥林多后书 12:9)恩典始于十字架,并且永不止息。 

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Planning your Visit

Why not plan a visit to try us out?


studentwelcomer 

Whether this is your first time visiting a church or you’ve attended another church for years, we understand that visiting a new church can be a bit overwhelming. To help make it a bit easier, we’ve done our best to answer some questions you may have, so your first experience is a little less overwhelming.

Runnymede Christian Fellowship is a church based in Egham but serving a much larger geographical area. Those who call us home come from EghamVirginia Water, Staines, Englefield Green, Egham Hythe, Pooley Green, Maidenhead, Ascot, Sunbury, Heathrow, Slough, Ashford, Thorpe, Windsor, Woking and beyond.

Our church is a community of believers who gather regularly to share life and demonstrate God's love. We do this by encouraging and serving each other and the community. We believe in the power of prayer and are always happy to pray for you.
 

Church - What to expect

Our Sunday service is available to stream online at 11 am. You can join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or X.

The Sunday Venue is Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane in Egham, open to all, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so. If you have any questions, please call us on 01784 637010.

We run a physical Sunday School most weeks. If you would like your children to receive a weekly Sunday School teaching pack that you can do from home, please email us at admin@e-runnymede.co.uk so that we can send you the materials.
 

Sunday Venue at Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham


 Prophetic word for students -

Our Sunday service starts at 11.00 and typically lasts about 90 minutes.

We begin each service with lively worship, featuring songs from around the world, followed by inspiring, Bible-based teaching. All our sermons are recorded and are available as a podcast after the service.

We have a monthly cycle of Sunday services, with our Communion Service on the first Sunday of each month and an All-Age All-Nation Service on the second. Our other Sunday services include Spirit-focused and teaching services.

We have consciously adopted being a blended church, that is, both online and face-to-face. You are welcome to join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or X, or catch up with the recordings later.
 

Joining us in person

Visiting a new and unfamiliar church for the first time can be intimidating, but we want to ensure you feel welcome and enjoy your time with us. A friendly face will be waiting to meet you at the entrance and welcome you. 

Doors open at 10:30 for coffee and prayer.
Our Sunday Service starts at 11:00 and typically runs for about 90 minutes, normally followed by tea and coffee.
 

Driving and Car Parking

Our Sunday Venue is Coopers Hall, Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham, TW20 9DR, which has ample parking. 
Click on the link for directions to RCF.

We have plenty of parking spaces right outside the building. Spaces are reserved near the entrance for anyone with mobility issues (those with a blue badge). Please let us know if you need to use one of these spaces, have any special needs, or require any assistance.

The car parking area is a public area, so please ensure that your children are under your control and that, for their safety, they do not run around in the car park.
 

Visiting with children?

Everyone is welcome at RCF. We encourage everyone, regardless of age, to join the service. We offer Sunday School, which begins after worship and runs concurrently with the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes, serving children aged 4 to 12. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a shorter All-Aged All Nations Service, where the children stay for the worship and the sermon.
 

After Church

We chat over coffee and biscuits after church on the first, third, fourth and fifth Sundays. If you want to get to know us better, why not join us for Sunday lunch with some of our members? The first meal is on us (Voucher provided).  Please contact us and let us know. We would love to share a meal and get to know you better!

Fellowship Feast  
 

Want to connect?

If you're interested in connecting with us, whether to join our online community or attend our Sunday gatherings, please use our connect card.
 

Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please review our FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to many common questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact us; we’d love to hear from you.
 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO RCF!!

 
To contact us or see a map, click here.

Our address is Virginia Lodge, Heritage Court, Egham
Virginia Lodge Ariel
13/02/2023
 
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