## Lord’s Day 21
### 54. Q. What do you believe concerning “the holy catholic church”?

**A**. I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word,<sup>1</sup> out of the entire human race,<sup>2</sup> from the beginning of the world to its end,<sup>3</sup> gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life<sup>4</sup> and united in true faith.<sup>5</sup> And of this community I am<sup>6</sup> and always will be<sup>7</sup> a living member.

<sup>1</sup> [John 10:14–16](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John10.md#14); [Acts 20:28](/References/Bible/44%20-%20Acts/Acts20.md#28); [Rom. 10:14–17](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans10.md#14); [Col. 1:18](/References/Bible/51%20-%20Colossians/Colossians1.md#18)
<sup>2</sup> [Gen. 26:3b–4](/References/Bible/01%20-%20Genesis/Genesis26.md#3); [Rev. 5:9](/References/Bible/66%20-%20Revelation/Revelation5.md#9)
<sup>3</sup> [Isa. 59:21](/References/Bible/23%20-%20Isaiah/Isaiah59.md#21); [1 Cor. 11:26](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians11.md#26)
<sup>4</sup> [Matt. 16:18](/References/Bible/40%20-%20Matthew/Matthew16.md#18); [John 10:28–30](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John10.md#28); [Rom. 8:28–30](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans8.md#28); [Eph. 1:3–14](/References/Bible/49%20-%20Ephesians/Ephesians1.md#3)
<sup>5</sup> [Acts 2:42–47](/References/Bible/44%20-%20Acts/Acts2.md#42); [Eph. 4:1–6](/References/Bible/49%20-%20Ephesians/Ephesians4.md)
<sup>6</sup> [1 John 3:14, 19–21](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John3.md#14)
<sup>7</sup> [John 10:27–28](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John10.md#27); [1 Cor. 1:4–9](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians1.md#4); [1 Pet. 1:3–5](/References/Bible/60%20-%201Peter/1Peter1.md#3)

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### 55. Q. What do you understand by “the communion of saints”?

**A**. First, that believers one and all, as members of Christ the Lord, have communion with him and share in all his treasures and gifts.<sup>1</sup> Second, that each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and joyfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Rom. 8:32](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans8.md#32); [1 Cor. 6:17](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians6.md#17); [12:4–7, 12–13](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians12.md#4); [1 John 1:3](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John1.md#3)
<sup>2</sup> [Rom. 12:4–8](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans12.md#4); [1 Cor. 12:20–27](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians12.md#20); [13:1–7](/References/Bible/46%20-%201Corinthians/1Corinthians13.md); [Phil. 2:4–8](/References/Bible/50%20-%20Philippians/Philippians2.md#4)

<hr>

### 56. Q. What do you believe concerning “the forgiveness of sins”?

**A**. I believe that God, because of Christ’s satisfaction,
will no longer remember any of my sins<sup>1</sup> or my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life.<sup>2</sup> Rather, by his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ that I may never come into judgment.<sup>3</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ps. 103:3–4, 10, 12](/References/Bible/19%20-%20Psalms/Psalms103.md#3); [Mic. 7:18–19](/References/Bible/33%20-%20Micah/Micah7.md#18); [2 Cor. 5:18–21](/References/Bible/47%20-%202Corinthians/2Corinthians5.md#18); [1 John 1:7](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John1.md#7); [2:2](/References/Bible/62%20-%201John/1John2.md#2)
<sup>2</sup> [Rom. 7:21–25](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans7.md#21)
<sup>3</sup> [John 3:17–18](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John3.md#17); [Rom. 8:1–2](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans8.md)
