The Catholic Church

The Apostle’s creed states, “I believe in . . . the holy catholic Church, . . .”

The adjective catholic comes from a Greek word that means whole or complete. So the catholic church referred to in the Apostle’s creed is not the Roman Catholic Church or any other denomination, but the complete Church of God, sometimes referred to as the universal church.

Of all the New Testament, the book of Ephesians is best at explaining the concept of the catholic church. Some of its lessons include: Jesus is the head of the church (1:22,23). Believers are, the church is, gathered together in Christ (2:4-10). We are citizens of God’s Kingdom (2:19). The church shows the wisdom of God (3:10). In the church, glory belongs to God (3:21). The church should strive for unity (4:2-6). God gives believers positions of service in the church for its growth (4:11-16). We are called out of the world and its dark actions (4:17-19).

So as the church, believers have been called out of the world. We are gathered together in Christ. God has a plan and a purpose for his people.

It is the church that is responsible for continuing the ministry that Jesus began. We are to continue to help the needy and to share the Gospel with those who are not yet Christian. This work will not finish until all those who will be saved have been reached.