From Discipleship Weekly
(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)
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A Word from Our Sponsor
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them , and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." -- John 10:27-28 The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 2- Of Man's Redemption Week 21 54. Q. What do you believe concerning "the Holy Catholic Church"? A. I believe that, from the beginning to the end of the world, and from among the whole human race, the Son of God, by his Spirit and his Word, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself, in the unity of the true faith, a congregation chosen for eternal life. Moreover, I believe that I am and forever will remain a living member of it. [Ps. 23:6; 129:1-5; Is. 59:21; Matt. 16:18; John 10:11,27-30; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 1:16; 8:29; 10:14-17; I Cor. 1:4-9; 11:26; Eph. 1:3-14; 4:1-6; 5:26; I Pet. 1:3-5; I John 3:14,19-21] 55. Q. What do you understand by "the communion of saints"? A. First, that believers one and all, as partakers of the Lord Christ, and all his treasures and gifts, shall share in one fellowship. Second, that each one ought to know that he is obliged to use his gifts freely and with joy for the benefit and welfare of other members. [Rom. 8:32; 12:4-8; I Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13, 20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8; I John 1:3] 56. Q. What do you believe concerning "the forgiveness of sins"? A. That for the sake of Christ's reconciling work, God will no more remember my sins or the sinfulness with which I have to struggle all my life long; but that he graciously imparts to me the righteousness of Christ so that I may never come into condemnation. [Ps. Ps. 103:3-4, 10-12; Micah 7:18-19; John 3:17-18; Rom. 5:24; 7:21-25; 8:1-2; II Cor. 5:18-21; I John 1:7; 2:2] Suggestions for discussion and review:
1. What comes to mind when you hear the word church? 2. Is it possible to be a "Lone Ranger" Christian and not belong to a church? 3. Every week, as members of "the Holy Catholic Church", we pray, "Forgive us, as we forgive." What does that phrase tell you about our responsibility in the process of forgiveness?
We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus' claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of oneness of true Christians. -- Francis Schaeffer |