Apostles Creed, #23

Continuing in the Apostles Creed... I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit;

"The holy catholic church;"

"Holy" means set apart, "catholic" means worldwide, and the "church" is the assembly of those who worship God. I believe in a worldwide assembly of people set apart for the worship of Israel's God.

It has always been the Lord's intention to save not only Jews, but also Gentiles. From the time of God's call to Abram, the Lord indicated this wonderful plan. Through this father in the faith all the family groups of the earth would be blessed.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures God revealed that He would gather a group of worshipers from all over the earth. God is doing this even now. The church throughout the world is the congregation of those who worship God through Jesus the Messiah, the perfect descendant of Abram.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Psalm 22:22, 27-28 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:... 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

Psalm 66:1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth...

Psalm 86:9-10 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Psalm 117 1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 145:9-10 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!

Isaiah 11:10 ... the root of Jesse ... shall stand as a signal for the peoples- of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved....