DG10_CR7_The ChurchDG10_CR7_The Church

Dogma for Pr-Servants

Oct 1, 2011

The CreedThe Creed

CR1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who CR1 & 2: We believe in One God, God the Father who created heaven and earth:created heaven and earth:

God (CR1)God (CR1) Trinity (CR2)Trinity (CR2)

CR3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only CR3: We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before Begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten not made, One essence with the Father :Begotten not made, One essence with the Father :

Divinity of ChristDivinity of Christ

CR4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from CR4: Who for us all and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of heaven and was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became Man.the Virgin Mary and became Man.

Incarnation of ChristIncarnation of Christ

The Creed The Creed “Cont’d”“Cont’d”

CR5: And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, CR5: And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the heavens; and sat at the right hand ascended into the heavens; and sat at the right hand of His Father and also He is coming again in His glory of His Father and also He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom has to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom has no end:no end:

Christ RedemptionChrist Redemption

CR6: Yes we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver CR6: Yes we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophetsspoke by the prophets

The Creed The Creed “Cont’d”“Cont’d”

CR7: “And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess one Baptism for the remission of sins”

The ChurchThe Church

1)1) IntroductionIntroduction

2) The word “Church” in the Bible2) The word “Church” in the Bible

3) The Essence of the Church3) The Essence of the Church

4) Distinctions applied to the Church4) Distinctions applied to the Church

5)5) Attributes of the ChurchAttributes of the Church

6)6) The Church and Sacraments The Church and Sacraments

1)1) IntroductionIntroduction

+ + The Apostolic Church satisfies 3 conditionsThe Apostolic Church satisfies 3 conditions• Founded by God not a manFounded by God not a man• Unbroken historical connection with the Apostolic Unbroken historical connection with the Apostolic ChurchChurch• Teaches the Christian, Apostolic, and truly the Teaches the Christian, Apostolic, and truly the word of Godword of God

+ + The Church todayThe Church today• The early churchThe early church• 11stst division at 451 AD (the nature of Christ) division at 451 AD (the nature of Christ)• 22ndnd division at 1054 AD (proceeding of the Holy division at 1054 AD (proceeding of the Holy Spirit)Spirit)

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Oriental Orthodox Church (Coptic, Ethiopian, Antioch, Armenian, Indian,…)

Eastern Orthodox Churches (Constantinople, Greece, Russia,…)

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Fig. (1): Time Line History of Church Denominations

2) Meaning of the word “Church” in the Bible2) Meaning of the word “Church” in the Bible

The Church is the presence of God among peopleThe Church is the presence of God among people1) The Church in the Old Testament:1) The Church in the Old Testament:

• Arc of covenant in the tabernacleArc of covenant in the tabernacle• Arc of covenant in the Temple (of Solomon) Arc of covenant in the Temple (of Solomon)

2) The Church in the New Testament:2) The Church in the New Testament:• Local congregation; Acts 5:11Local congregation; Acts 5:11• Church in a house; Romans 16:4Church in a house; Romans 16:4• The Body of Christ; Ephesians 5:23The Body of Christ; Ephesians 5:23

3) The Essence of the Church3) The Essence of the Church

• The Church is the Kingdom of GodThe Church is the Kingdom of God

• The Church is the kingdom of HeavenThe Church is the kingdom of Heaven

• The Church is the Arc of SalvationThe Church is the Arc of Salvation

4. Church Distinctions4. Church Distinctions• The Struggling and Triumphant ChurchThe Struggling and Triumphant Church““lay aside every weight, the sin which so easily lay aside every weight, the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Heb 12:1 race that is set before us” Heb 12:1

• Visible and Invisible ChurchVisible and Invisible Church+ Invisible in her spiritual nature+ Invisible in her spiritual nature+ Visible in ministering the bible and sacraments+ Visible in ministering the bible and sacraments+ Visible in communal life and the clergy+ Visible in communal life and the clergy

5. The Attributes of the Church5. The Attributes of the Church

• One: One: ““One body, one Spirit …one hope…one Lord…one faith…one One body, one Spirit …one hope…one Lord…one faith…one baptism…one God and Father of all” Ephesians 4:4-6baptism…one God and Father of all” Ephesians 4:4-6

• Holy:Holy:““Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her that He Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her that He might sanctify and cleanse her…..that should be holy and might sanctify and cleanse her…..that should be holy and without blemish” Ephesians 5:25-27without blemish” Ephesians 5:25-27

• Catholic:Catholic:““Neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, Neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free..” Colossians 3:11barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free..” Colossians 3:11

• ApostolicApostolic

• Christ is the High Priest Christ is the High Priest + according to the order of Melchizedek; Heb 7:20-24+ according to the order of Melchizedek; Heb 7:20-24

6. The Church and Sacraments6. The Church and Sacraments

The Church is the Body of Christ that is constituted The Church is the Body of Christ that is constituted through:through:+ Baptism; Matthew 28:19: grafted in the Body+ Baptism; Matthew 28:19: grafted in the Body+ Chrism; Acts 8:17: sealed with the Holy Spirit+ Chrism; Acts 8:17: sealed with the Holy Spirit+ Eucharist, John 6:27-69: renewed in the Unity of + Eucharist, John 6:27-69: renewed in the Unity of ChristChrist+ Repentance and Confession; John 20:20-23+ Repentance and Confession; John 20:20-23+ Priesthood; 1Tim 4:14, 2Tim 1:6, Heb 6:1-2+ Priesthood; 1Tim 4:14, 2Tim 1:6, Heb 6:1-2+ Marriage or Matrimony; Matt 5:32, 19:4-6+ Marriage or Matrimony; Matt 5:32, 19:4-6+ Unction of the sick; James 5:14-15+ Unction of the sick; James 5:14-15

Christ’s Foundation of Church Sacraments

• Baptism: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19

• Confirmation: “And behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” Luke 24:49

• Repentance and Confession: “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” Luke 24:47

Christ’s Foundation of Church Sacraments

• Eucharist: “He took bread, blessed, and broke it and gave it to them and their eyes were opened” Luke 24:30-31

• Priesthood: “As My Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; and if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” John 20: 21-23

• Anointment of the Sick: “they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” Mark 16:18