Full Text for Dogmatics 4- Volume 44 - The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Doesn't the confession of these things relate to the church in some way? (Video)

No. 44. >> The Apostles' Creed also continues with: The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Doesn't the confession of these things relate to the church in some way? >>DR. KLAUS DETLEV SCHULZ: Yes, indeed, it does. And you are referring here to the confession of the Apostles' Creed, the statement there where we say: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church. And then it leads on the Communion of saints, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting. It seems almost as if the church is posited as a unit within this long statement, the Third Article as we call it. However, we need to clearly see that all of these various units, the reference to the Holy Spirit, to the church, to the resurrection of the body and also to the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting all form a solid unit that belongs together. So that when we speak of the Holy Spirit and his work, we immediately need to look to the church where that happens. And then in the church we look at the various activities that take place where he is at work. So the Holy Spirit as sanctifier as Luther would call him in the Third Article is defined on basis of what he does. Not just merely that he exists. But actually the way he deals with us Christians. And here, therefore, the Apostles' Creed is helpful to underscore the activity of the Holy Spirit by saying: The forgiveness of sins. This is where he is working. This is how he works. The resurrection of the flesh. Finally, when we all die, we will be resurrected. And we will be living with God in that kingdom. And also, life everlasting. That such a life will not cease. So these are the three elements you could say: Forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting that belong to the Holy Spirit. And they belong to the Christian Church. Obviously when we look at the church, we may forget that this is the most important component of it. As we drive along on a Sunday morning, we might notice that members enter into the church building and they leave it again. And we get this impression that the church is maybe something like a vendor machine. Something of choice. And for this reason I am highlighting here now the activity of the Holy Spirit. The activity of forgiveness being delivered. So that we all understand that people go to church for a specific reason. Not that they are there just to entertain themselves. But also to be served by the Holy Spirit. The important element I think here is that Christians need to understand themselves, first of all, in a passive capacity. They are there to receive. They are there to be given something in church. Rather than seeing them as those who have to launch an activity immediately once they enter the building. It's very important we say this. Because as Lutherans we define faith as one that is passive. That receives the gifts of God before we look at our activity. And for this reason, I would like you to look at church with a new look, as one that is the haven. The building. Or as I've said already from the parable of the lost sheep and as a pen. That the good shepherd works there through the Holy Spirit.