Devotional #54

Please note: beginning Monday I am on vacation.  Devotionals will resume when I return – SDW

Question 54. What do you believe concerning the “holy catholic church” of Christ?
Answer: That the Son of God (a) from the beginning to the end of the world (b), gathers, defends, and preserves (c) to himself by His Spirit and word (d), out of the whole human race, (e) a church chosen to everlasting life (f), agreeing in true faith (g); and that I am and forever shall remain (h), a living member thereof (i).

(a) Ephesians 5.26-27: Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 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.
(b) Psalm 71.17-18: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.  So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
(c) John 10.28-30: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.
(d) Isaiah 59.21: And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD: My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring, says the LORD, from this time forth and forevermore.
(e) Genesis 26.4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.
(f) Ephesians 1.8-13: making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
(g) Acts 2.46: And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts 
(h) 1 Peter 1.5:  Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 
(i) 2 Corinthians 13.5: Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

For your personal reflection:
Note that it is Jesus that builds the church.  We must never lose sight of this, especially in the face of distressing divisions.  That does not mean that we should neglect other matters and make visible unity the only principle that directs our actions.  Fidelity to Christ and His Word is essential.  In His Word we see, also, that we are called to be holy.
What value do creeds, statements of belief, have for us today?
Is the church a mystical, invisible body to which we belong regardless of any actual connection with a particular congregation?  What Scripture would you use to support your thinking?