Jesus' Church Is Here to Stay

The famously influential Nicene Creed contains a line that modern Christians sometimes misunderstand: "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church." The word "catholic" can be a source of confusion for those who think it is referring to the Roman Catholic Church, but the word simply means "universal." This leads us, then, to consider the important theological concept of the "universal church."

The term commonly used for the church in the New Testament is the Greek word ekklesia. Jesus is the first to use the word ekklesia in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18), but it is used in various ways with various meanings. As theologian Louis Berkhof explains, ekklesia can have the following meanings:

-A specific local group of Christians or a local church (Acts 11:26; 1 Cor. 11:18; Gal. 1:2).
-A house church (Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col 4:15).
-A group of churches in a region (Acts 9:31).
-All those throughout the world who profess to be Christians and organize for worship (1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 12:28).
-All those throughout history who have been or will be united to Christ as their savior (Eph. 1:22; 3:10, 21; 5:23-25, 27, 32; Col. 1:18, 24).
The last two definitions are explained by John Calvin in his treatment of the visible and invisible church. The "visible church" describes Christianity that can be measured and counted externally:

"The whole body . . . scattered throughout the world, who profess to worship one God and Christ, who by baptism are initiated into the faith; by partaking of the Lord's Supper profess unity in true doctrine and charity, agree in holding the word of the Lord, and observe the ministry which Christ has appointed for the preaching of it."

However, Calvin recognized that not all who profess to be Christians and outwardly take part in church practices are truly united to Christ.

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Evermyrtle

You the word "Catholic" alone does not mean the the Roman Catholic but the "Universal Church of GOD." This should be explained to the Christian society to prevent any misunderstandings.
- Pastor Dwayne
  
  There was a huge church in syria and to the east many years before the RCC emerged
- Pastor Dwayne
  
  There was a huge church in Syria and to the east , well before the RCC was established
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-C-Dines/1547798249 Linda C. Dines
  
  In the sense you used the word is spelled with the lower case "c".
John Munro

Then why did the verse also include luthern apostalic?
- Evermyrtle
  
  I am not familiar with that verse, where do you find it?
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
    
    I don't know either, but the one time I attended a Lutheran service, they recited the Apostle's Creed, except they substituted Christian for catholic.
- Wesley
  
  luthern was added by luthern long after 325AD for lutherns did not exist until the 16th century. there is but one holy catholic and apostolic Church. not two, not three, not twenty just one church made up of many local congregations.
Wesley

throughout history many have tried to destroy the church; Trajan, Diocletian, Adolf Hitler, the unconverted Saul, Caesar Nero, Domitian, etc. Saul was converted on the road to Damascus and the rest have died. when Jesus told Peter that on this rock he would build his church and the gates of hell would be able to prevail he was standing in front of the cave called the Gates of Hell. the only thing that is defeating the church is the church itself by its ever weakening theology (what it believes about God) starting with corrupted doctrine. all the essential doctrines of the faith are found in the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasius' creeds. the church needs to stop trying to make converts, but instead focus on discipleship for stronger converts will be the result.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  "Go and make disciples of all nations," says the Lord. We cannot possibly neglect evangelization, even while we must purge from our ranks the lukewarm among us.
far2right

"
However, Calvin recognized that not all who profess to be Christians and outwardly take part in church practices are truly united to Christ."

If Calvin died believing what he wrote, this is a scathing indictment on himself.
Chris

So why are there so many churches? If you think you have it all worked out – why can you not convince all the different churches to join in common thought? Should be easy with that inerrant bible.
- Evermyrtle
  
  Are you really that out of it are do you just pretend??
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
    
    It's a valid question, since 1 Corinthians condemns as a grave sin dividing the Church into factions. Protestants have a lot of explaining to do about why they divided the Church. Catholics don't have to explain that, because we are not a denomination, but rather the original Church from whom the factions split off.
    - AldoToo
      
      I'm not a Protestant but Why are there many Catholic churches, Roman & Greek Orthodox Russian Orthodox, etc? Mt 7:14* "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
      leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." That's what Jesus
      said when you translate it to English. Do we believe him or the
      Trinitarians? Besides you are RC, were not the original church. It is the Apostasy or Man of SIn which was prophesied.
    - Evermyrtle
      
      Perhaps, you are right if you are depending the denomination to save you. In many communities you have to attend a church of some denomination, if you even attend church. There in nothing else for many miles around. There is not one church that is completely in line with "GOD'S WORD". Many churches, instead of putting GOD at the helm, it is the denomination, and will critize people severely who leave that denomination and attend a church of another denomination, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc, etc, ………….
      
      I believe there was very good reasons why the Protestants refused to go along with the Catholic Church, back then as well as today. The WORD OF GOD and protestants tell us we are to call nobody "FATHER" BUT GOD. This is only one point.
      
      JUST FORGET THE DENOMINATION AND WORSHIP GOD, PUT HIM FIRST IN YOUR LIFE.
- allen
  
  One problem with that thought Chris, it is called the free will of man
aldotoo

Catholic could only mean the Catholic church because that is who made up the Nicene creed. Of course the Nicene creed tried to define their false concept of God, His Son Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit as a trinity. Anyone who believes in a trinity will not find it in God's word. Unfortunately most who claim to be christian today do believe in this false doctrine not to be found in the Bible.
Mt 7:14* "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." That's what Jesus said when you translate it to English. Do we believe him or the Trinitarians?
- Wesley
  
  Jesus tells his disciple in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples of all peoples baptizing them in the name (singular) of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.
  - AldoToo
    
    Wesly that verse was added by Constantine to give power to the Trinitarians.
    http://www.jesus-messiah.com/apologetics/catholic/matthew2819.html
    - Wesley
      
      why would an Arian change the verse to support the Trinitarians? Constantine's son was big in Arianism. stop reading Dan Brown for his book Da Vince Code was built on forged documents to start with.
  - Ruth
    
    I was baptized in the name of the "Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" at 12 yrs old, and was raised on a church pew….But it wasn't until I was baptized in the name of "Jesus" according to Acts 2:38 and was filled with the Holy Ghost that I began to be led of the Spirit of God in my life at age 32, I'm now 60. All of this discussion is wonderful…But I just saw that Atheist Paul Ryan was just added as VP to the Mormon Romney presidencial ticket…Ryan can claim he is a Catholic on TV to deceive the masses…But google "Ayn Rand" and you willsee that he has been listed as one of her followers, She still has her liberal and atheist church in Washington,DC, even though she has passed away….And Ryan has been know to be an active member for yrs..this has been stated for sometime on the Jack Van Impe Presents show…Now, we as Christian believers had better get in prayer and ask the Lord to protect our families and friends from the wrath of God that surely IS Coming…Because of the Non-believer candidates that this country has chosen…especially after God has blessed this nation sooo abundantly…I won't be voting for either Democratic or Republican tickets….I value my soul more than that…Nothing is going to change in this country because we have turned our faces from God…Our only HOPE is that true conservatives like Sarah Palin, continue to work hard to get good senatorial candidates in position to run in November as she single handedly did in 2010 for the house….It will then be the American voter's responsibility to vote them in….God Help Us they make the right choice this time…It's America's Only Hope !
- millergroup2
  
  John 1
  New International Version (NIV)
  
  The Word Became Flesh
  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
  
  9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  - millergroup2
    
    Old Testament Trinity Proof Texts
    
    Genesis 1:26
    
    "Let US make man in OUR image": Three plural pronouns, (We, Us, Our) used 6 different times in four different passages: Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isa 6:8. The unanimous opinion of the apostolic Fathers was that the Father was talking to Jesus.
    
    Genesis 19:24
    
    "Then Yahweh [on earth in human form] rained on Sodom and Gomorrah
    brimstone and fire from Yahweh [in spirit form in heaven] out of heaven.
    Genesis 19:24. In this text Abraham is visited by three individuals,
    one being Yahweh and the other two angels. Here we have God on the earth
    (Jesus) and God in heaven (father) sending down fire from heaven. This
    incident when Abraham met with Yahweh God, is what Jesus referred to
    when he said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." (John 8:56) The unanimous opinion of the apostolic Fathers was that Jesus visited Abraham in Genesis 18 and 19.
    
    Isaiah 6
    
    Isaiah saw the glory of Yahweh, but John says that Isaiah really saw
    the glory of Christ. This proves Jesus is Yahweh. Combine this with the
    fact the Yahweh said, "Who will go for US" is a plural pronoun
    indicating more than one person in the Godhead.
    
    Isaiah 40-55
    
    Jesus echoes the "I AM" statements in Isaiah chapters 40-55. This
    spectacular link explores over 20 different passages in Isaiah and John.
    
    Isaiah 45:23-24
    
    I
    have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in
    righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow,
    every tongue will swear allegiance. "They will say of Me, 'Only in the
    Lord are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who
    were angry at Him shall be put to shame.
    
    Micah 5:2
    
    But
    as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of
    Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His
    goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.
    
    New Testament Trinity Proof Texts
    
    Mark 2:5-12
    
    Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?
    
    John 1:1
    
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
    
    John 5:18
    
    For
    this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him,
    because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God
    His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
    
    John 8:58
    
    "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.
    
    John 10:33
    
    "I and the Father are one." The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. … Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?"
    
    John 12:41 + Isaiah 6
    
    A simple reading of the context of John 12 makes it clear that John
    is saying that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus Christ himself in Isaiah 6.
    This proves Jesus is Yahweh.
    
    John 19:7
    
    The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God."
    
    The Jehovah's Witnesses explanation of John 19:7 is so bad, we awarded them the STINCS Trophy.
    
    Romans 14:11
    
    For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God."
    
    2 Corinthians 13:14
    
    Philippians 2:1-2
    
    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
    
    Philippians 2:9-11
    
    "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
    
    Revelation 22:3
    
    "And there shall no longer be any
    curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His
    bond-servants shall [latreuo] serve Him."
    
    Jesus worshipped in the highest sense of "latreuo"
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  Thou Arian, it was precisely those who followed the same heresy as you that the Council of Nicea was called in order to rebuke. The orthodox, whom you call Trinitarians, are faithful to the words of Christ, Who said of Himself, "The Father and I are One," and "Before Abraham was, I AM."
  - AldoToo
    
    Andrew I expected better of you. YOu could not answer my question so you start ad hominem tactics.
    I'm not an Arian. I read the Bible. So you don't understand that this means "one in purpose", not one person. Are you claiming to be part of the trinity or do you just ignore
    Joh 17:11* And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
    Joh 17:21* That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
    
    Of course God had a plan to reconcile the world to Himself long before Abraham but it was just a plan until Jesus was born to Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit .
    Lu 1:35* And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
    
    Or are you going to tell me that the Holy Spirit the third person of the trinity had sex with Mary to produce the second person of the trinity?
    
    I can prove by quotations from John that there is no trinity in this exulted gospel.
    
    It's not imagination. It’s God's word.
    Jesus is no more God than you or I as I proved by quoting John 17:11,21,22
    which you totally ignored.
    
    A consideration of all of the chapters in
    John's gospel proves that Jesus is never shown = to his Father, but always a
    subordinate.
    
    1 Jesus is described as "the Son of
    God" v.34 Was A SON EVER A S OLD AS HIS FATHER?
    
    2 Jesus says the temple is 'My Father's
    house. v16
    
    3. Jesus is described as God's only Son,
    whom God sent into the world. 16, 17 If God sent Jesus who is the greater?
    
    4 Jesus is weary v6 God is never weary.
    
    5 Jesus says "my Father works (19) the
    son can do nothing of himself. 19
    
    ch6. Jesus gave thanks to God for food v11.
    
    ch7 "My doctrine is not mine but His
    that sent me v. 16
    
    ch 8 "The Father that sent me beareth
    witness of me" v. 18
    
    ch 9 "Do you believe on the Son of
    God? v. 35
    
    ch10 "Him hath God sanctified" v.
    36.
    
    ch11 "Father I thank thee that thou
    hast heard me" v. 41
    
    ch. 12 "I have not spoken of myself…
    the Father gave me a commandment what I should say v. 49
    
    ch13 "Now is the son of man
    glorified" v31
    
    ch14 "The word which ye hear is not
    min, but the Father's which sent me v. 24 "my Father is > than I"
    v. 28
    
    ch15 "I have kept my Father's
    commandments. v10
    
    ch16 "Whatsoever ye shall ask the
    Father in my name he will give you" v23. ch17Jesus Christ who thou hast
    sent" v. 3
    
    ch18 "my Father" v. 11
    
    ch 19 Jesus died v. 30 God cannot die 1 Tim
    6:16
    
    ch20 "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
    God" v31.
    
    ch21Jesus was seen of men v. 1 God cannot
    be 1 Tim 6:16
    - Wesley
      
      thanks for proving that anyone can twist scripture to promote heresy. you claim to not be protestant, arian, mormon, and by you own admission cannot be a nestorian, so that would make you an ebionite. so why don't you just convert to islam like muhammad and other ebionites.
      - Evemyrtle
        
        He is trying to prove something, I can't quite figure it out, but it has backfired on him. He has only proved that he has no idea what he is talking about.
Wayne

Forget men's fancy words and always go with THE WORD, Christ Himself. Accept the free gift of salvation only found in Jesus Christ. Keep it simple, He did. The trouble with intellectuals is that they can't see the common factor. Everything must be deeply explored and exploited until meaning is eradicated by polluted idealogical mumbo-jumbo. (See what I mean?) Go to God as a child and tell Him you want to be His Child, that you accept the grace He gives in Jesus Christ, and that you desire the Holy Spirit then to guide you into wisdom. Stay focused on that, stay in prayer, study-not just read-the Holy Bible with those who believe and teach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again.
No matter what you've done, Christ overcame it at the cross.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
  
  Yes, keep it simple: you must eat Christ's Flesh and drink His Blood in order to have Life. Whoever does not eat Christ's Flesh and drink His Blood has no life in him, but whoever eats Christ's Flesh and drinks His Blood remains in Him and He in him.
  - AldoToo
    
    What are you? a cannibal? These tokens represent his life and poured out blood. They are not actual. John expected his readers to understand what he meant.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-C-Dines/1547798249 Linda C. Dines
      
      I believe he was refering to transubstantiation, a Roman Catholic concept which non-Roman Catholic catholics understand to be representational in the use of either wine or grape juice and wafers of unlevened bread or any type of bread available when giving communion to the "two or more gathered in my his/my name" as a commeration of his life and teachings.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
        
        I really should have followed up on this, but please keep your mouth shut about things you know nothing about. Catholics believe that only wheat bread and grape wine are valid matter for consecration, and that once consecrated cease to be bread and wine and become wholly and entirely the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Wesley
  
  the creeds simple statements of faith containing all the essentials of the faith to keep a Christian from being led astray from false prophets who lead people away from God into the gates of Hell. David Carresh, Jones, John Smith, etc. it does make a difference for each of those leaders convinced others that they were leading their followers to life.
- AldoToo
  
  The Holy Spirit does not guide us into wisdom. Most churches either claim their leader is receiving revelation from God (Catholics Mormons) or it comes to the individual (evangelicals). Nice idea but the confusion cannot possibly be from God. God is not the author of confusion. 1 Cor. 14:33. The Holy Spirit gifts ceased in the first century as the apostle Paul said they would. Christ did not overcome the behaviour of Judas so Wayne you need to do more study, and blog less (i.e. no) false assumptions.
  - Allen
    
    I don't think the Apostle Paul meant what think about the Gifts of The Spirit, Read 1co 1:7 " And you do not lack any of His gifts but wait for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ"
  - Wesley
    
    the spiritual gifts have ceased and neither has the book of The Acts of the Holy Spirit ended for it is still being written to this day for Luke never really ended it. all Luke did was stop writing. The Holy Spirit will lead us into wisdom for He speaks to us helping when we need help understanding and communicating what the Lord wants us to say.
    - allen
      
      ICor;13 speaks of the imperfectness of man, Vs.10 When that which is perfect is come, is not the Word of God, if it were, there would only be one Church! But, since man is imperfect, when his mortal body is changed in a moment and twinkling of an eye, then , that which is perfect has come.
      1Cor. 1 : 7 says all gifts are to be in operation til the Lord is mannifested!
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-C-Dines/1547798249 Linda C. Dines
    
    Perhaps the confusion comes from our being imperfect in many ways.
gladdrial

I owe my allegiance only to the Son of YHWH, Christ! He the Son of God and talked about the Church being one as the Father and he are one. This is why Christianity is going down hill because of this type of bickering and no unity of beleivers in CHRIST.