6.4 Belief in the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church

6.4 Belief in the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church The Apostles have been sent to all nations in order to teach and baptise them. They call upon all human beings, both non-Christians and the baptised who believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him as their Lord, to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and be prepared for the return of Christ. The Apostles testify of Jesus Christ as the One who is and was and who is to come. They thereby also disclose future events in the history of salvation. The focus on a future in direct fellowship with God represents an important element of the nature of the church of Christ. It is the primary task of the Apostles to proclaim the imminent return of Christ and to lead the bride to the Lord (see 10.1.2). The bride of the Lord—also known as the “community of the saints” in the narrower sense—are those believers who have been reborn of water and the Spirit, who have allowed themselves to be prepared by the Apostles of Jesus Christ for the day of the Lord, and who have been accepted by Him. The original ministry is the Apostle ministry. Only this ministry was instituted by Jesus Himself. All other ministries have come forth from the Apostle ministry. Concerning this, the Fifth Article of Faith states: “I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that authority, blessing, and sanctification for their ministration come forth out of the Apostle ministry.” SUMMARY Jesus Christ rules His church. At the time of its establishment and in the time in which the bride of the Lord is being prepared for His return, He has sent Apostles. Their primary tasks are to proclaim the imminent return of Christ and lead His bride to Him. (6.4.3) The Apostle ministry has been given for the church as a whole with the com- mission to work its way into all parts of the church. (6.4.3) The original ministry of the church is that of the Apostle. It is from this min- istry that all other ministries have come forth. (6.4.3) 271 6 The church of Jesus Christ 6.4.4 The church of Jesus Christ and the sacraments Wherever believing souls are properly baptised—that is in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—they can, through the grace of God, be incorporated into the body of Christ. Holy Baptism has been entrusted to the church as a whole. This is professed in the Sixth Article of Faith: “I believe that the Holy Baptism with water is the first step to a renewal in the Holy Spirit, and that the person baptised is adopted into the fellowship of those who believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him as their Lord.” The all-encompassing administration of the sacraments—the dispensation of Holy Baptism with water, Holy Communion, and Holy Sealing—is en- trusted to the Apostle ministry. The Apostles also dispense the three sacra- ments to the departed. The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated in proper fashion to- gether with the Apostles as a table fellowship in which the sacrifice of Christ, as well as the body and blood of the Lord, are present. Concerning this the Seventh Article of Faith states: “I believe that Holy Communion was insti- tuted by the Lord Himself in memory of the once brought, fully valid sacri- fice, and bitter suffering and death of Christ. The worthy partaking of Holy Communion establishes our fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is cele- brated with unleavened bread and wine; both must be consecrated and dis- pensed by a minister authorised by an Apostle.” The sacrament of Holy Sealing can only be administered by the Apostles, as is stated in the Eighth Article of Faith: “I believe that those baptised with water must, through an Apostle, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to attain the childhood in God and thereby the prerequisite for becoming a firstling.” SUMMARY Wherever baptism is properly performed, believing human beings can be in- corporated into the body of Christ. Holy Baptism with water is entrusted to the church as a whole. (6.4.4) 272