History of the Church #11. The Scriptures teach that the Church is the “Body of Christ” and the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”.

2. Willed by the Father, the Church founded by Jesus Christ enjoys the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It is through the Church that God carries out His plan of salvation for all people.

3. The teaching authority and sanctifying power of the Church serve to bring all men into greater union with God, through Sound Doctrine and the Sacraments.

4. The groundwork for the Church was already being laid down when God made a covenant with the Jews.

5. The Church’s foundation and goal is in Jesus Christ.

6. Through the Church, Jesus Christ unites Himself with all men and women of all times and places.

7. The Church has two dimensions: Visible and Spiritual .

The Church is a visible, hierarchical society like any other organization in the world (with “members”).

8. But, unlike other organizations, the Church also has a spiritual dimension.

The governing and teaching authority of the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit.

9. This is why we believe, as Catholics, that the Roman Catholic Church is infallible when it speaks on matters of faith and morals (it is guided by the Holy Spirit).

10. Also, the Church is the “Mystical Body of Christ”, a spiritual community which has the healing and sanctifying power of God’s grace.

11. The Church’s members are those people who are “born into” God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism.

12. In the Old Testament, God chose Israel to be His “Chosen People”.

“The Israelites”, “The Jews”, God’s “Chosen People”. [Explain].

But Christ institutes the new and eternal covenant by which the Church – the new “People of God” – enjoy the dignity and freedom of being the sons and daughters of God. Children of God by “adoption”.

13. This people is governed by the New Commandment: to love each other as Christ loves them.

By living this New Commandment, the Church (the People of God) bring the hope of salvation to the world until the Kingdom of God is established perfectly at the end of time.

14. The Church, through the work of the Holy Spirit, forms the Mystical Body of Christ.

Christ is the Head of the Mystical Body, we (the People of God) are its Body. The Holy Spirit is the Soul of this Mystical Body.

15. The Holy Spirit is the source of unity and life in the Church, just as a human soul gives unity and life to the body.

16. Although the members of the Church are in constant need of purification in order to attain holiness, the Church itself is guided by Holy Spirit.

17. Recall the Four Marks of the Church: the true Church of Jesus Christ are: ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC.

This Church of Christ will endure throughout all of time and last until the end of the world.

This is what Catholics mean when they say the Church is “indefectible”.