The Four Marks of the True Church

 The Four Marks of the True Church

(1) The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)

…  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Rom. 12:5

Since there is one ^[bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. – 1 Cor. 10:17

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. - 1 Cor. 12:13

The Church is One from the Catechism CCC813-822

(2) The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. -Eph. 5:25–27

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. - Rev. 19:7–8

The Church is Holy from the Catechism CCC823-829

(3) The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matt. 28:19–20

 And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” - Rev. 5:9–10

The Church Is Catholic from the Catechism CCC830–856

(4) The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone - Eph. 2:19–20

The Church Is Apostolic from the Catechism CCC857–865

Image Credit Waiting for theWord

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