### 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](/get-passage/John+10:14-16); [Acts 20:28](/get-passage/Acts+20:28); [Rom. 10:14-17](/get-passage/Romans+10:14-17); [Col. 1:18](/get-passage/Colossians+1:18)
<sup>2</sup> [Gen. 26:3b-4](/get-passage/Genesis+26:3-4); [Rev. 5:9](/get-passage/Revelation+5:9)
<sup>3</sup> [Isa. 59:21](/get-passage/Isaiah+59:21); [1 Cor. 11:26](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+11:26)
<sup>4</sup> [Matt. 16:18](/get-passage/Matthew+16:18); [John 10:28-30](/get-passage/John+10:28-30); [Rom. 8:28-30](/get-passage/Romans+8:28-30); [Eph. 1:3-14](/get-passage/Ephesians+1:3-14)
<sup>5</sup> [Acts 2:42-47](/get-passage/Acts+2:42-47); [Eph. 4:1-6](/get-passage/Ephesians+4:1-6)
<sup>6</sup> [1 John 3:14](/get-passage/1+John+3:14), [19-21](/get-passage/1+John+3:19-21)
<sup>7</sup> [John 10:27-28](/get-passage/John+10:27-28); [1 Cor. 1:4-9](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+1:4-9); [1 Pet. 1:3-5](/get-passage/1+Peter+1:3-5)