“We believe…In Christ’s holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins.”
How to live with God’s people
- Honor the Church because it is His Church
“In Christ’s holy Church…”
“I will build My Church…” Matthew 16:18
The universal church
The local church
His Church is a family
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 NLT
His Church is a body
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12:4-5 NLT
His Church is a bride
Revelation 21, Ephesians 5
- Walk in love and strive for unity
“The communion of saints…”
Love
“…love the family of believers…” 1 Peter 2:17 NIV
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT
“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John Vs 6 NIV
Unity
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:21 NLT
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:3-6 NIV
- Remind yourself daily of how much you have been forgiven
“the forgiveness of sins…”
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 NIV