The Church as One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic

The Church as One

Trinity - a perfect unity of father, son and holy spirit

Jesus - who came to reconcile and unite all humankind through his death on the cross

Soul - Holy spirit rests in our souls and unite them together

The church as one does not mean that everything has to be the same, rather oneness means there is room for many different people with different backgrounds, ethnicity who come together as one in Jesus

At the last supper, Jesus prayed to God about his followers that they ‘May all be one’ 

The Church as Holy

Jesus is the source of all holiness. The church makes people holy through its teaching, prayer, worship and good works. 

Catholics believe we are all called to holiness through baptism, removal of original sin, enter into God’s grace and become a member of the Holy people of God. 

The church is called a church for sinners, this is as Catholics recognise we are weak, and we fall shot of God’s plans for us. They are taught to ask for God’s forgiveness. 

SOW:

‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’

1 Timothy 1:15

‘Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church’

St Marks church

We are holy through activity in the Church/Baptism makes use holy. We are not perfect/forgiveness

The Church as Catholic

The word ‘Catholic’ means universal or whole. Christ is universally present (present everywhere). Jesus has given the Church the task of evangelising, telling the world about Jesus. Jesus gives the Church everything they need for people to be saved.

SOW: 

‘There were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven’

Acts

The key ideas express in the belief that the church is catholic are that:

  • Christ is universal

  • We must evangalise

  • Everything was given to us

The Church as Apostolic

Jesus gave authority to the 12 apostles and gave special authority to St Peter. Peter was told to act as Jesus’ representative on earth. Faith is now passed down through the apostles, and through the popes and bishops.

SOW: 

'And i tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church’

Mathew

The key ideas expressed in the belief as the Church as Apostolic:

  • Role of the Apostles in the Church 

  • Apostolic succession