BC 7.1

7.1. The Holy Catholic Church

We believe and confess one single catholic or universal church- a holy congregation and gathering of true Christian believers, awaiting their entire salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by his blood, and sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit. This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects. And this holy church is preserved by God against the rage of the whole world, even though for a time it may appear very small to human eyes- as though it were snuffed out. For example, during the very dangerous time of Ahab the Lord preserved for himself seven thousand who did not bend their knees to Baal. (1 Kings 19:18) And so this holy church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or certain people. But it is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world, though still joined and united in heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.

Proof texts

• Gen. 22:18 — [18] and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
• Isa. 49:6 — [6] he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
• Eph. 2:17-19 — [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
• Ps. 111:1 — [1] Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
• John 10:14, 16 — [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
• Eph. 4:3-6 — [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
• Heb. 12:22-23 — [22] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• Joel 2:32 — [32] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
• Acts 2:21 — [21] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
• Eph. 1:13 — [13] 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,
• Eph. 4:30 — [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
• 2 Sam. 7:16 — [16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
• Ps. 89:36 — [36] His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.
• Ps. 110:4 — [4] The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
• Matt. 28:18, 20 — [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
• Luke 1:32 — [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
• Ps. 46:5 — [5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
• Matt. 16:18 — [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
• Isa. 1:9 — [9] If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
• 1 Pet. 3:20 — [20] because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
• Rev. 11:7 — [7] And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,
• Matt. 23:8 — [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
• John 4:21-23 — [21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
• Rom. 10:12-13 — [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. [13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
• Ps. 119:63 — [63] I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
• Acts 4:32 — [32] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
• Eph. 4:4 — [4] There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call —

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Gen. 22:18 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 27 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. HC Q54 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q55 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

HC Q54 · HC Q55