Article XXVII
The Nature of the Universal Church
The Church is defined as a holy assembly of believers who find their complete salvation in the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We believe and confess one catholic, or universal, Church: a holy congregation and assembly of true Christian believers who look to Jesus Christ for their entire salvation, having been washed by his blood and sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
The Eternal and Preserved Kingdom
God sustains His Church throughout all history, protecting it from worldly opposition even when it appears small or nearly destroyed.
This Church has existed since the beginning of the world and will continue to the end, as is clear from the fact that Christ is an eternal King who cannot be without subjects. And God preserves this holy Church against the fury of the whole world, even though for a time it may appear very small in human eyes and nearly extinguished—just as, during the dangerous days of Ahab, the Lord kept seven thousand people for himself who had not bowed the knee to Baal.✦
A Global Fellowship of Faith
The Church is not limited by geography or human boundaries, but is united globally through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This holy Church is not confined, tied, or limited to any particular place or group of people; rather, it is spread and dispersed throughout the world, yet joined and united in heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.
Read the original Latin
Nous croyons et confessons une seule Église catholique ou universelle, laquelle est une sainte congrégation et assemblée des vrais fidèles Chrétiens, attendant tout leur salut en Jésus-Christ, étant lavés par son sang, et sanctifiés et scellés par le Saint-Esprit. Cette Église a été dès le commencement du monde, et sera ainsi jusqu'à la fin, comme il appert en ce que Christ est Roi éternel, qui ne peut être sans sujets. Et cette sainte Église est maintenue de Dieu contre la rage de tout le monde, encore que pour quelque temps elle soit bien petite en apparence, aux yeux des hommes, et comme éteinte; comme le Seigneur pendant un temps si dangereux qu'était celui d'Achab, s'est réservé sept mille hommes, qui n'ont pas ployé le genou devant Bàal. Aussi cette sainte Église n'est point située, attachée ni limitée en un certain lieu, ou à certains personnages; mais elle est répandue et dispersée par tout le monde, étant toutefois jointe et unie de cœur et de volonté, en un même esprit par la vertu de la foi.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Kgs.19.18;Rom.11.4 — Yet I will leave in Israel seven thousand—all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. Rom.11.4 — but what does the divine answer say to him? 'I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.'
The Belgic Confession companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit