Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Grace and Peace Episode 27
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 21, 2021
Grace and Peace Episode 27
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 21, 2021
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Heidelberg Catechism
54Q. What do you believe concerning “the holy catholic church”?
A. I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself, a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.
A. I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself, a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.
Colossians 1:15-19 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.
In ancient times the holiest place on earth was thought to be the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem
temple. Here God was thought to live and since God is holy the temple he lives in must also be holy. As pilgrims came to the temple they would take a series of ceremonial baths, cleansing sin from their bodies, so that when they arrived at the temple they too would be holy. In the same way, the Holy Spirit resides with us in the church making the church holy. And as we come to church we become more and more holy. As we pray every day, as we study scripture, as we worship the Holy Spirit will transform us. Through this transformation, our desire for sin decreases and we find ourselves more and more morally pure. Moral perfection is only achieved after a lifetime of transformation. In other words, the church is holy because it is a hospital for sinners, where the Holy Spirit heals our sin-stained souls and restores within us the image of God. The church is holy because the Holy Spirit is present, making us increasingly holy.
temple. Here God was thought to live and since God is holy the temple he lives in must also be holy. As pilgrims came to the temple they would take a series of ceremonial baths, cleansing sin from their bodies, so that when they arrived at the temple they too would be holy. In the same way, the Holy Spirit resides with us in the church making the church holy. And as we come to church we become more and more holy. As we pray every day, as we study scripture, as we worship the Holy Spirit will transform us. Through this transformation, our desire for sin decreases and we find ourselves more and more morally pure. Moral perfection is only achieved after a lifetime of transformation. In other words, the church is holy because it is a hospital for sinners, where the Holy Spirit heals our sin-stained souls and restores within us the image of God. The church is holy because the Holy Spirit is present, making us increasingly holy.
The church is also catholic. There is a lot of confusion about this. The word catholic may refer to particular churches in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. These churches are called Roman Catholic churches, Catholic with a capital C. But the creed is not talking about a particular denomination. The word catholic means “universal”. And so it refers to all churches of all places and of all times. This would include every church that professes the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So our church is holy, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and we are part of the catholic or universal church which professes the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.
Heaven Father, we thank you for forming and sustaining this church. Fill our church with your Spirit. Give us the gift of faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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