Catholic
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell
The third day he rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints
Apostles Creed
I am a Catholic. There it is. I’ve said it. Oh wait a moment. Did you think I meant Roman Catholic? Were you getting nervous? Oh no. Because actually, Catholic and Roman Catholic are two different things (in this Protestants opinion).
What is the difference? Well, ‘Catholic’ simply means universal. I believe in the holy universal church. We could put it another way, I believe in the invisible assembly of all the saints who are in Jesus. Let’s come at it from another angle.
What is the Church? Is it, all the people who meet together on a Sunday across the world? Is it a group of people who meet together in one place? Is it a building? Not exactly. I think Ephesians 2 and 3 helpfully show us that actually, the Church is all those who are in Christ. The Church is everyone who truly trusts in Jesus by His Spirit.
We are the temple of God, made up of Jew and Gentile, and people from (one day) every tribe and nation. That is the Catholic Church. And if you trust in Jesus, then you are a part of it too.
Then what is the local church?
Well, the local church is an expression of the catholic church. A branch of the tree. When we meet together on a Sunday we are pointing to the universal church. We are one little dot but one little dot that makes up the greatest artwork in history.
Might do a part two on this one, keep an eye out for that on Saturday.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that made us to be a people for His Son. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who brings us together in Himself to be His Church. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to keep growing His Church!
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell
The third day he rose again from the dead
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints
Apostles Creed
I am a Catholic. There it is. I’ve said it. Oh wait a moment. Did you think I meant Roman Catholic? Were you getting nervous? Oh no. Because actually, Catholic and Roman Catholic are two different things (in this Protestants opinion).
What is the difference? Well, ‘Catholic’ simply means universal. I believe in the holy universal church. We could put it another way, I believe in the invisible assembly of all the saints who are in Jesus. Let’s come at it from another angle.
What is the Church? Is it, all the people who meet together on a Sunday across the world? Is it a group of people who meet together in one place? Is it a building? Not exactly. I think Ephesians 2 and 3 helpfully show us that actually, the Church is all those who are in Christ. The Church is everyone who truly trusts in Jesus by His Spirit.
We are the temple of God, made up of Jew and Gentile, and people from (one day) every tribe and nation. That is the Catholic Church. And if you trust in Jesus, then you are a part of it too.
Then what is the local church?
Well, the local church is an expression of the catholic church. A branch of the tree. When we meet together on a Sunday we are pointing to the universal church. We are one little dot but one little dot that makes up the greatest artwork in history.
Might do a part two on this one, keep an eye out for that on Saturday.
For Today:
- Are you a Catholic?
- Do you believe in the Catholic Church?
- Pray for someone who attends a different church to you.
Pray: Praise the Father that made us to be a people for His Son. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who brings us together in Himself to be His Church. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to keep growing His Church!
Posted in Apostles Creed
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