H C question 54. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Catholic Church”?
That out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, the Son of God, by His Spirit and Word, gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself unto everlasting life a chosen communion in the unity of the true faith; and that I am and forever shall remain a living member of this communion.
Many in the church today teach that the church began with Pentecost, but Scripture plainly teaches that the church began at the time of the fall when God first promised to fallen Adam that the “Seed of woman would bruise the Serpents head”. This promise has properly been called the first evangelical proclamation for it clearly points to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary. As time passed once again God promised that of Abraham there would be born a Seed in whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Paul clearly reveals to us in His letter to the church at Galatia that this was indeed Jesus, the Christ. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ”. (Gal 3:16-17) Paul also teaches us that the Gentiles were not a new communion but that they; “being a wild olive tree, were grafted in” and thereby have become partakers “of the root and fatness of the olive tree”, that is, one with the Old Testament saints of Israel. (cf. Rom 11:17) Simply stated this means that the church today shares in all the blessing and promises of the covenant God made with Abraham. Again Paul makes this plain when he writes to the Gentile saints at Ephesus that although at one time they were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, without God and without hope he tells them that they, being in Christ Jesus, are now one with Isarel, even though they were once far off have now become a part having “been brought near by the blood of Christ”. (Eph 2:13) Thus we rejoice that by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, God from the beginning of time to the end of the world God, by His Spirit and Word, gathers, defends and preserves for Himself a chosen communion, an elect body that is called the Church. We have been gathered, are daily defended by our Advocate at the right hand of the Father, and are kept by His power, grace and love both now and for all eternity.
55. What do you understand by the “communion of saints”?
First, that believers, one and all, as members of the Lord Jesus Christ, are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts; second, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members.
Bound to use our gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members – It has been said that the purpose of the church is not only perpendicular, that is, it was established by God to provide for the worship and adoration of God, but it is also horizontal, for God also ordained that it is to be a place where saints meet to encourage, exhort and build up one another even as we read in the Book of Hebrews; “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:24-25) Jesus said that one of the evidences of our Christian faith would be this; “All will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Paul writes, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil 2:1-4) Paul then adds that by serving in lowliness of mind and by esteeming others better than themselves, by looking out for the needs and necessities of others; that by so doing we would have the mind of Christ. And we know that our Lord set aside His glory; who being rich became poor for our sakes that we through His poverty might become rich. (cf. 2 Cor. 8-9) It might be said this way, do not ask what the church can do for you, but what can I do for the church. Indeed let our love for God and our love for one another be our greatest desire in our service in the church; for “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own.” (1 Cor 13:4-5) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps 133:1
55. What do you understand by the “communion of saints”?
First, that believers, one and all, as members of the Lord Jesus Christ, are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts; second, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members
What a blessing the church is. Sadly some think of the church as a building, a place where one meets each Lord’s Day. But our catechism teaches us concerning the church by asking, what do you understand by the “communion of saints”? For the church is a place of communion, a place of fellowship with God and with God’s people. The Apostle John writes, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3) You see, it may be under a tree in Africa, or as in history in the catacombs, or in a building designed for that purpose, or you may be part of a mission work meeting in a rented conference room, but wherever God’s people meet for worship, there is the church of the Living God. Not only is it a blessing that God meets with us wherever we meet, but that the Most High, Most Holy God desires to meet with mankind, with sinners who have been redeemed by the blood of our Redeemer and Lord; therefore we are members of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth instructs us; “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:12-14) And are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts. Not only have we been made an heir of God but a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Rejoice Christian for “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) Always remember as you prepare to attend Church each Lord’s Day you are going there to have communion with the Most High God, for by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Let this be the cry of your heart, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Ps 122:1)