“I Believe in the Communion of the Saints”

TRANSCRIPT

Date: June 7, 2026 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

When the writers of the Apostle’s Creed referred to “the holy catholic or universal church,” they were not referring to any of the churches today, whose membership includes both believers and unbelievers, but rather to “the communion of the saints,” all those who have, or will receive Christ as their Savior from Pentecost to the Rapture. To quote J.I. Packer, the author of “Knowing God, “The communion of the saints confirms the real union in Christ of the Church militant here on earth; i.e., those believers who are still in a spiritual battle against sin, temptation, and the forces of evil , with the Church triumphant in glory, those who fought the good fight and have achieved their position of victory in Jesus.” The title of this Sunday’s sermon is: “I Believe in the Holy Christian Church; the communion of the Saints.” We encourage you to review the attached study guide and share it with others who may benefit. Thank you for your continued support. Please share these guides with anyone who may find them helpful.

When the writers of the Apostle’s Creed referred to “the holy catholic or universal church,” they were not referring to any of the churches today, whose membership includes both believers and unbelievers, but rather to “the communion of the saints,” all those who have, or will receive Christ as their Savior from Pentecost to the Rapture.

To quote J.I. Packer, the author of “Knowing God, “The communion of the saints confirms the real union in Christ of the Church militant here on earth; i.e., those believers who are still in a spiritual battle against sin, temptation, and the forces of evil , with the Church triumphant in glory, those who fought the good fight and have achieved their position of victory in Jesus.”

The title of this Sunday’s sermon is: “I Believe in the Holy Christian Church; the communion of the Saints.” We encourage you to review the attached study guide and share it with others who may benefit.

Thank you for your continued support. Please share these guides with anyone who may find them helpful.

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

Old Testament Reading – Psalm 133:1-3 New Testament Reading –Ephesians 4:1-16

The ninth statement in the Apostle’s Creed reads, “I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of the saints.”

None of today’s churches can trace their historical roots back to that first Church in Jerusalem, which means none can honestly say that Jesus founded their church.

The Catholic Church was first recorded by St. Ignatius of Antioch in circa 107–110 AD. The Church as a distinct, organized institution with a centralized Roman papacy took shape after the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. Protestantism: A diverse tradition that originated in the 16th-century Reformation, emphasizing salvation by faith alone. Major denominational families include: Lutheran, Reformed/Calvinist, Presbyterian, Anglican/Episcopalian, and Congregational. Later movements such as Baptists, Quakers, and Methodists also trace their foundational roots to the theological principles established during this era. Pentecostals, The Assembly of God, and Holiness churches began in the 1900’s, with the non-denominational churches starting in the 1990’s. All of these movements were established by men.

Some denominations believe this clause validates their belief in the intercession of the glorified saints in heaven, that we can ask them to pray for us or to intercede on our behalf before God the Son and God the Father.

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