1. Is there a church on earth?

Yes; for I agree neither with those Epicureans who dream that God does not trouble himself about human affairs, nor with other sophists and scoffers, who say that the whole world is the church of God, and impiously assert, that every one can be saved in his own faith and religion. Nor do I fancy to myself a Platonic state, but maintain that there truly is a church, and that it shall remain, namely, some true believers and righteous people, who are scattered throughout the whole earth.

“And we do not speak of a fancied church, which is nowhere to be found, but we say and we know of a truth, that this church in which saints live, truly does exist, and shall remain upon earth, that is to say, that there are some children of God, scattered throughout the world, in all kingdoms, islands, countries, and cities, from the rising to the setting of the sun, who have obtained the right knowledge of Christ and the Gospel.” (Apology, Art. iv.)

2. Have you a sure foundation upon which to base this assertion?

I have, namely, the promises of God, which cannot be shaken, e.g., Isa. 55:10, 11. “For as the rain cometh down from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Chap. 59:21. “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever.”

3. What does the word Church denote?

It really means nothing else than an assembly. But in our Apostolic Symbol it is explained by the “communion of saints,” i.e., such a community or congregation, in which there are saints, or still more significantly, “a holy congregation or community,” but not a “communion of saints.” (Larger Catechism.)

4. Is the church one, or is it manifold?

It is one; for thus says Paul: “One body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.” Eph. 4:4-6. (Augsburg Confession, Art. vii.)

5. The church, then, cannot be distinguished into species or kinds?

According to its essence the true church is always but one, and cannot be distinguished into species or kinds. But since many things happen to the true church in this life, a distinction may be made, in regard to that which is accidental and circumstantial, and even in regard to the external form, but this distinction is only accidental.

6. Will you not mention these distinctions?

Since the Holy Ghost has foretold that false prophets shall come, Matt. 24, the church is distinguished into the true church and the false, or the church of the wicked. Ps. 26:5. “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”

7. Are the wicked, then, members of the true church?

They are indeed members of the church, according to the external communion of the signs of the church, that is, of the Word, of the confession of faith, and of the sacraments, especially if they have not been excommunicated. But since the true church does not consist in the society of outward signs alone, like other organizations, but is a communion of faith and the Holy Ghost, in reference to which communion this church alone is called the body of Christ: it follows that those in whom Christ does not work are not members of Christ, and therefore not members of the true church. (Apology, Art. iv.)

8. Can you not mention still another reason?

Yes; for inasmuch as the true church is the kingdom of Christ, distinct from the kingdom of the devil, and as it is certain that the wicked are in the power of the devil and members of his kingdom, as Paul teaches, when he says, Eph. 2:2, that “the devil worketh in the children of disobedience:” it certainly follows that the wicked, since they belong to the kingdom of the devil, are no members of the true church. (Apology, Art. iv.)

9. Is there still another distinction in the true church?

Yes, if we contemplate the true church in regard to place and condition; for in this respect it is distinguished into the church triumphant, comprehending the elect of God, who are already partakers of life everlasting; and the church militant, which comprehends the elect, who are still on this earth, and under the banner of Christ, contend against the devil, the world, and the flesh. (Dr. Hunnius.)

10. Of the church triumphant I will make no mention; but in regard to the church militant I ask, whether it does not admit of yet another distinction?

Yes; and this already follows from the above. For as regards the external communion of the signs and usages of the church, the church militant is called visible, and includes all those who are members of the congregation of the called, whether they be pious or wicked, elect or reprobate. But if we consider the church in so far as it is the communion of faith and the Holy Ghost, who dwells in the hearts of believers, it is called invisible and the real church of the elect. (Apology, Art. iv.)

11. May the visible church be subdivided?

Yes; it may be divided into particular or local, and universal or catholic. A particular church is that which is found at a certain place only; the universal or catholic is that which is scattered throughout the whole earth, and comprehends within itself all men, who are called to the kingdom of Christ through the Word and sacraments. (Apology, Art. iv.)

12. Is the church, then, called catholic in this one respect?

No; it is also called catholic in regard to unity in faith and religion; but in such a manner that those are called the catholic church, who, although they live, scattered to and fro, throughout the whole earth, yet, are of one mind in the doctrine of the Gospel, having the same Christ, the same Holy Ghost, the same sacraments, the same faith, and the same pure and undefiled religion, whether their ceremonies differ or not. (Apology, Art. iv.)

13. If I understand you correctly, you maintain that the church is and is called one, especially in regard to faith.

Your conclusion is perfectly correct; for agreement in the doctrine of the Gospel, and in the administration of the sacraments, is sufficient, for the unity of the church; in such a manner, however, as to comprehend in this unity all who are linked together by the bond of faith and the Holy Ghost. (Apology, Art. iv.)

14. But is not the unity of the church to be judged by likeness or similarity of usages and ceremonies?

No; for as the unity of the church is not destroyed by the circumstance that the days are naturally longer or shorter in one country, at one place than at another; the unity of the church in like manner is not destroyed, if such ordinances of men are regulated in different ways at different places. “No church too will condemn another, because of a difference of ceremonies not enjoined by God, if mutual unity is only maintained in doctrine and the articles thereof, and also in the right use of the holy sacraments, according to the well-known adage: ‘Inequality of fasting does not sever the unity of the faith.'” (Apology, Art. i; Form of Concord, Epitome, Art. x.)

15. In the Creed we confess that we believe in a holy church; in what does the holiness of the church consist?

It certainly does not consist in surplices, shaven heads, long robes, and other Romish ceremonies, invented without the authority of the Scriptures; but it consists partly in the holiness and righteousness of Christ, received by faith, and partly in the renewal and sanctification of the heart, through the Holy Ghost. The Apostle speaks of these two species of holiness, Eph. 5:25: “Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to him a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Smalcald Articles, xii; Apology, Art. iv.)

16. If the church is holy in the manner just described, then the acknowledgment which you made above, that there are many wicked and hypocrites in the church, must be false.

Christ teaches plainly enough that there are constantly many wicked people and hypocrites in the church, in the parable in which he compares the church to a net, wherein all sorts of fish are caught, whose assortment takes place on the shore, that is, at the end of the world. Matt. 13:17. But although these persons are members of the true and holy church, according to outward usages, yet they are not members of this church, as shown above. (Augsburg Confession, Art. viii; Apology, Art. iv.)

17. Be it so. Still, from the holiness of the church, it must follow that it cannot err.

The Papists draw such a conclusion, and wrongly refer to their own church that which belongs to the true church, namely, that it is a pillar of the truth, and infallible. (Apology, Art. iv.)

18. Can the church, then, err?

Yes; for although there are clear promises of God in Scripture, that the church is always to have the Holy Ghost, there are also serious threats in Scripture, that false teachers and wolves shall creep in, who, if this were possible, would even lead the elect into error. (Apology, Art. iv.)

19. Will you not explain this more clearly?

It must certainly be maintained that the church, namely, the entire universal or catholic church, cannot err. For the latter has the sure promise of the Holy Ghost, that he will lead it into all truth. John 16:13. Moreover, it has received the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Matt. 16:18; and that it is to be a pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15. But this or that local church, yea, even the greater part thereof, can err, and often has erred greatly. As for example, the church at the time of the deluge, at the time of the prophet Elijah, at the birth of Christ, and during the Arian heresy, which pervaded the whole church of the East.

20. Why do you maintain that the entire catholic, universal church cannot err at one and the same time?

Because, if the entire catholic church should err, it then would also perish, and thus the gates of hell would prevail against it, contrary to the promise of Christ, Matt. 16:18, where he says: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

21. Then you maintain that the church shall continue to the end of the world?

I maintain this. For although the multitude of the wicked in the church, who desire to oppress it, is infinite, still it must be firmly maintained, that the church will constantly remain, and that Christ will keep that which he has promised to the church, that he will forgive sins, answer prayers, and send the Holy Ghost, as he has promised, Matt. 16:18: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church;” and chapter 28:20: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” For as the church is the body, of which Christ is the head, Christ would cease to be the head of his church on earth, if it could perish entirely. (Apology, Art. iv.)

22. What are the characteristics by which the true church can be recognized?

These two: the pure Word of God, and the right use of the holy sacraments. (Apology, Art. iv.)

23. Furnish proof in behalf of both characteristics from Holy Scripture.

Of the first Christ says, John 10:16: “My sheep, hear my voice;” and John 8:31: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 15:3: “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” The Apostle mentions the latter, characterizing the sacraments as seals, of the righteousness of faith. Rom. 4:11.

24. What, therefore, is the true church?

The true church is the assembly of all believers, among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity, and the sacraments administered according to the Gospel. (Augsburg Confession, Art. vii.)

Or, the visible church in this life is the visible assembly of those who embrace the pure doctrine of the Gospel and use the sacraments aright, in which assembly the Son of God works and regenerates many unto everlasting life through the Word of the Gospel and the Holy Ghost. Yet there are in this assembly many others, who are not holy, but who nevertheless agree in doctrine and the external confession. (Melanchthon.)