Catechism #55-58

I've gotten behind in posting.

Question #55: What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?

Answer: First, that believers one and all, as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts. Second, that each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members (Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 John 1:3; Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil. 2:4-8).

Question #56: What do you believe concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?

Answer: I believe that God, because of Christ's atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life. Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment (Ps. 103:3-4, 10, 12; Mic. 7:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7; 2:2; Rom. 7:21-25l John 3:17-18; Rom. 8:1-2).

Question #57: How does "the resurrection of the body" comfort you?

Answer: Not only my soul will be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head, but even my very flesh, raised by the power of Christ, will be reunited with my soul and made like Christ's glorious* body (Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:21-23; 1 Cor. 15:20, 42-46, 54; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2)

*The first edition had here the German word for "holy." This was later corrected to the German word for "glorious."

Question #58: How does the article concerning "life everlasting" comfort you?

Answer: Even as I already now experience in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, so after this life I will have perfect blessedness such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human heart has ever imagined: a blessedness in which to praise God eternally (Rom. 14:17; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:9).