Make Us One - Mining the Catechism

“Our World Belongs to God” is our church’s Contemporary Testimony, taking the timeless truths of the Bible and applying them to our 21^st century context.

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39. The church is a gathering

of forgiven sinners called to be holy.

Saved by the patient grace of God,

we deal patiently with others

and together confess our need

for grace and forgiveness.

Restored in Christ’s presence,

shaped by his life,

this new community lives out

the ongoing story of God’s reconciling love,

announces the new creation,

and works for a world of justice and peace.

On the church as a forgiven community called to be holy, see Ephesians 1:3-7; on dealing with one another patiently, Galatians 6:1-5 and Colossians 3:12-14; on the need for confession and restoration, 1 John 1:8-2:6; and on living out God’s reconciling love as part of a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and 1 John 3:16-17.

40. We grieve that the church,

which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,

and spans all time, place, race, and language,

has become a broken communion in a broken world.

When we struggle

for the truth of the gospel

and for the righteousness God demands,

we pray for wisdom and courage.

When our pride or blindness

hinders the unity of God's household,

we seek forgiveness.

We marvel that the Lord gathers the broken pieces

to do his work

and that he blesses us still

with joy, new members,

and surprising evidences of unity.

We commit ourselves to seeking and expressing

the oneness of all who follow Jesus,

and we pray for brothers and sisters

who suffer for the faith.

On the unity of the church, see John 17:20-23 and Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-16.

Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 54

Q. What do you believe
concerning “the holy catholic church”?

A. I believe that the Son of God

through his Spirit and Word,¹
out of the entire human race,²
from the beginning of the world to its end,³

gathers, protects, and preserves for himself

a community chosen for eternal life⁴

and united in true faith.⁵

And of this community I am⁶ and always will be⁷

a living member.

¹ John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 10:14-17; Col. 1:18
² Gen. 26:3b-4; Rev. 5:9
³ Isa. 59:21; 1 Cor. 11:26
⁴ Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-14
⁵ Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6
⁶ 1 John 3:14, 19-21
⁷ John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5

Q & A 55

Q. What do you understand by
“the communion of saints”?

A. First, that believers one and all,
as members of this community,
share in Christ
and in all his treasures and gifts.¹

Second, that each member
should consider it a duty
to use these gifts

readily and joyfully
for the service and enrichment

of the other members.²

¹ Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3
² Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8