Where the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments rightly administered, there the true Church is at work. Yet even in the visible church, signs of the true, invisible church can been seen. (ὑποκριτής = hypocrite = Greek word for actor) We take people at their word when they say they believe, but there are many that are just acting. In the visible church, both the save and the lost live together. And in the hearts of every Christian living in this world, sin itself still lives and pollutes hearts and minds. There are religions that pretend to be Christian, but in truth, are far from it. There are evil people who pretend to be holy in their midst. ” Tho’ with a scornful wonder, men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed ” ( The Church’s One Foundation, Stanza 3) There are thousands of denominations, theological positions, opposing camps. Yet the church does not look like it is one at all. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god. Martin Luther puts it this way: “these two belong together, faith and God. Only God, who can see what is in a person’s heart knows that. Augustine came up with the term because we really do not know absolutely for sure who is a Christian and who is not. Theologians call the church catholic (the Latin word for universal - that word is for yet another post!) Another term we use for this Church is the invisible Church. Paul described this church as ” one body and … you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ( Ephesians 4:4-6) In many other places and using many metaphors, Scripture is clear that there is only one Church and that it lasts forever. Encore Post: Jesus told Peter that he would “build church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ( Matthew 16:18) St.
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