LESSON 35.
The Third Article.
The Holy Christian Church.
Which is the Third Article?
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.
What does this mean?
I believe that ... the Holy Ghost has called me, ... even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
1. God the Holy Ghost has called me to Christ, sanctified me, and kept me in the true faith. The Holy Ghost, however, has performed this work of His grace not only on me. Besides me He has called, and still calls, many poor lost sinners to Christ, enlightens them with His precious gifts, with faith in their Savior. All these the Holy Ghost also "gathers," as our Catechism states. The Holy Ghost does not suffer those who have been converted by the Gospel to be separate, but adds them to His disciples, as on that first Pentecost all those were added to the congregation of the disciples who had been converted by Peter's sermon. Acts 2,41. All true believers are Christ's own; through faith in Him they are closely united as brethren and sisters in the one Lord. All true believers, taken together are the holy Christian Church on earth, which the Holy Ghost sanctifies and keeps in the one true faith.
2. The Third Article calls the Christian Church the communion of saints. It is a communion, a congregation, of saints, that is, of holy people. They are not holy in themselves, but the Holy Ghost has sanctified them, or made them holy, through faith in Christ. In Christ they have forgiveness of all their sins and are holy in the eyes of God. Only true believers in Christ therefore belong to the Christian Church; only they, but all of them. Instead of the communion of saints we might also say the communion of true believers.—The Church is the communion of saints. All believers in Christ are a communion, a congregation; they form, as it were, one body. They do not all live together at one place, in one city, or in the same country,—we find them scattered over all the earth,—but they are closely bound together by one and the same faith in Christ. They belong to one family, of which Christ is the Head and Master, and all are members. The Church is the communion of saints; for believers only, but all believers, are members of it.
3. We believe that the holy Christian Church is here on earth, but we do not see it; it is invisible. Only true believers belong to the Church, and no man can look into another's heart and see his faith. Only One really knows who the members of the Church are. "The Lord knoweth them that are His." 2 Tim. 2,19. We cannot see the Church, but we believe that it is here on earth; for holy Scripture assures us that the Holy Ghost by the Gospel at all times calls men to Christ and keeps them in the true faith to the end of the world. Our Lord says: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 16,18.—The Church is holy because all its members are holy by faith in Christ and in the strength of the Holy Ghost lead a godly life and serve their Lord in His kingdom in righteousness.—It is called the Christian Church because it is built on Christ. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3,11. And He is not only its Foundation, but also the Head and King of the Church.
4. We do not see the Church, but we know where it is, where we can find it. The Holy Ghost calls and keeps the Church only by the Gospel. God has promised us that, where His Gospel is preached, it shall not remain without fruit; some of those who hear it will come to Christ and believe in Him. Wherever the Word of God is preached, and only where it is in use, the holy Christian Church is to be found.