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Lord's Day 21
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54   Q. What do you believe
concerning "the holy catholic church"?
A. I believe that the Son of God
   through his Spirit and Word,1
   out of the entire human race,2
   from the beginning of the world to its end,3
gathers, protects, and preserves for himself
   a community chosen for eternal life4
      and united in true faith.5
And of this community I am6 and always will be7
   a living member.

1 John 10:14-16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 10:14-17; Col. 1:18
2 Gen. 26:3b-4; Rev. 5:9
3 Isa. 59:21; 1 Cor. 11:26
4 Matt. 16:18; John 10:28-30; Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-14
5 Acts 2:42-47; Eph. 4:1-6
6 1 John 3:14, 19-21
7 John 10:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 1:3-5
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55   Q. What do you understand by
"the communion of saints"?
A. First, that believers one and all,
   as members of this community,
   share in Christ
   and in all his treasures and gifts.1

Second, that each member
should consider it a duty
to use these gifts
   readily and cheerfully
   for the service and enrichment
      of the other members.2

1 Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3
2 Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8
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56   Q. What do you believe
concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?
A. I believe that God,
   because of Christ's atonement,
will never hold against me
   any of my sins1
   nor my sinful nature
      which I need to struggle against all my life.2

Rather, in his grace
   God grants me the righteousness of Christ
   to free me forever from judgment.3

1 Ps. 103:3-4, 10, 12; Mic. 7:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7; 2:2
2 Rom. 7:21-25
3 John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1-2
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