Q&A 54 What do you believe concerning "the holy catholic church"?

I believe that the Son of God

through his Spirit and Word,¹

out of the entire human race,²

from the beginning of the world to its end,³

gathers, protects, and preserves for himself

a community chosen for eternal life⁴

and united in true faith.⁵

And of this community I am⁶ and always will be⁷

a living member.

 

¹ John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 10:14-17; Col. 1:18

² Gen. 26:3b-4; Rev. 5:9

³ Isa. 59:21; 1 Cor. 11:26

⁴ Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-14

⁵ Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6

⁶ 1 John 3:14, 19-21

⁷ John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5

Q&A 55 What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?

First, that believers one and all,

as members of this community,

share in Christ

and in all his treasures and gifts.¹

 

Second, that each member

should consider it his duty

to use these gifts

readily and cheerfully

for the service and enrichment

of the other members.²

 

¹ Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3

² Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8

Q&A 56 What do you believe concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?

I believe that God,

because of Christ's atonement,

will never hold against me

any of my sins¹

nor my sinful nature

which I need to struggle against all my life.²

 

Rather, in his grace

God grants me the righteousness of Christ

to free me forever from judgment.³

 

¹ Ps. 103:3-4, 10, 12; Mic. 7:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7; 2:2

² Rom. 7:21-25

³ John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1-2

 

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