I Believe in the Church

Introduction

The Holy Spirit precedes the confession of the church because the Holy Spirit is the one who founded in the early church in Acts 2.

The church precedes the blessings of salvation in the Creed because it is through the ministry of the Church that these blessings are received and enjoyed.

The Church means it is not “me” but “we”. . . not “I,” but “us.”

Key Point: Through faith in Jesus we have been made One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic people, who have unity with one another in order to be a witness for God to the world.

Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

I Believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

One

As the church we have one head. . . Jesus Christ. . . and one body. . . believers in Jesus.

In Christ Jesus we have been brought near to God (v. 13).

Jesus is our peace (v. 14).

Jesus’ one body is what reconciles us to God and to one another (v. 16).

Jesus gives us access to the Father in one Spirit (v. 18).

There is only one household of God (not “households” v. 19)

The church is founded upon and grows in Jesus who is the only cornerstone (v. 21).

We grow together as believers and as a dwelling place for God in Jesus (v. 22).

Believing the church is one in Christ means that we believe repentance and faith in Jesus is the only way for entrance into the his church.

There are no other paths.

Being apart of the one church means we are united by one body and one Spirit, we have one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. . . and we worship one God and father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Eph. 4:4-6)

Holy

We were once called “uncircumcised Gentiles” (v. 11). . . “strangers and aliens” to God. . . but now we have been brought near by the blood of Jesus (v. 13).

The blood of Jesus has reconciled us to God and made us citizens of heaven. We are now called “saints” which means we are “holy ones.” (v. 19).

The blood of Jesus has made us members of his house. In Christ, we are now sons and daughters, adopted into his family.

In Christ, we have been made holy to be a dwelling place for the Holy God! (v. 22).

Now being set apart and made his sons and daughters, we must imitate our Father as his beloved children and be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).

The church’s holiness is fundamentally Christ’s holiness but Christ’s holiness will be reflected by the church.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus prayed that we would be holy and sanctified (John 17:17).

Catholic

“Catholic” means Universal, it embraces all Christians everywhere throughout history.

The church is both inclusive and exclusive.

Inclusive: The gospel is for all people and all people are welcome to join the church.

Exclusive: It is only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

The church consists of more people than those in Cleveland, TN in 2024. . . but peoples throughout history from every tribe, people, and language!

Revelation 7:9–10 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

But the “local” church makes up the universal church.

When the Bible talks about “the church” it almost always is referring to local congregations.

Every local church is part of the universal church. . . but it cannot be said that one local church constitutes the entire universal church.

It is hard to tell if someone is part of the universal church who is not invested in the local church.

It is hard to say you love Jesus but do not love the local church.

Apostolic

The church is founded upon the teachings of the apostles in the New Testament (Eph. 2:20-22).

The church is to be “sent out” like the apostles to make disciples for Jesus.

Two Marks of a True Church (founded upon the teachings of the NT teaching of the apostles)

Right Preaching of the Word of God.

This implies proper use of church government where the leaders of the church are elders/pastors/overseers who are qualified men (Titus 1; 1 Timothy 3).

Right Administration of the Ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).

This implies proper church membership (regenerate) and discipline.

Communion of Saints

Christian Fellowship.

Communion in holy things

The Word, Sacraments, Worship, Prayers (Acts 2:42).

Union in Christ of the church.

As believers, we are all one in Christ Jesus and should be unified.

v. 14 “Made us both one.”

v. 15 “Created us one new man.”

Being apart of the church means there must be no divisions between us.

No cliques, no favoritism.

Our unity in the gospel is the greatest witness we have to the world.

John 17:20–23 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

“Jesus is always being falsely accused, and there is never a time when he is not being accused. . . He is still silent in the face of this and does not answer with his own voice. But he makes his defense in the lives of his genuine disciples, for their lives cry out the real facts and defeat all false charges.” -Origen

Response

Be members of the universal and local church.

Dangers of “I”

Get involved, serve. The church is not about you!

Love the church. . . the church is the vessel in which God will complete his mission.

Be One in Christ.

Hebrews 10:24-25. . . encourage one another, lift one another up, bear one another’s burdens.

Be Holy and Set Apart.

Be Apostolic in Your Life and Witness.