3.6 KiB
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,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
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.1 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.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
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 sins1 or my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life.2 Rather, by his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ that I may never come into 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