点击用繁体中文浏览
《比利时信条》第廿七条 论人公的基督教会
我们相信并宣告一个圣而公之教会或普世的教会1,是圣洁的会众和真基督徒的聚集2,他们都因基督的宝血得了洁净,又藉着圣灵成圣受了印记3,盼望在基督里得着完全地救赎4。
教会从世界的起初就存在并直到世界的末了,因为基督这永远的君王不可能没有百姓5。虽然有时教会看似非常渺小或在人的眼中像要绝迹6,但是神会一直保守这圣教会抵挡世界狂潮的吞噬7。就是在亚哈统治时期,神还为自己保守了七千未曾向巴力屈膝的百姓8。
此外,圣而公之教会并不受制局限于某一特定的地方或某些人,而是遍布全世界9。不管怎样,圣而公之教会是藉着信心的能力,因同一位圣灵,以心灵和意志联合10。
1.创22:18; 赛49:6; 弗2:17-19.
2.诗111:1; 约10:14, 16; 弗4:3-6; 来12:22, 23.
3.弗1:13; 弗4:30.
4.珥 2:32; 徒2:21.
5.撒下7:16; 诗89:36; 诗110:4; 太28:18, 20; 路1:32.
6.赛1:9; 彼前3:20; 启11:7.
7.诗46:5; 太16:18.
8.王上19:18; 罗11:4.
9.太23:8; 约4:21-23; 罗10:12-13.
10.诗119:63; 徒4:32; 弗4:4.
英文对照:
We believe and profess one catholic or universal Church, which is a holy congregation and assembly of the true Christian believers, who expect their entire salvation in Jesus Christ, are washed by His blood, and are sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
This Church has existed from the beginning of the world and will be to the end, for Christ is an eternal King who cannot be without subjects. This holy Church is preserved by God against the fury of the whole world, although for a while it may look very small and as extinct in the eyes of man. Thus during the perilous reign of Ahab, the Lord kept for Himself seven thousand persons who had not bowed their knees to Baal.
Moreover, this holy Church is not confined or limited to one particular place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world. However, it is joined and united with heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.