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The one true church is the assertion by a number of Christian churches that they alone represent the church to which Jesus gave his authority in the Great Commission. The Catholic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches each view themselves as the one and only original church. The mainstream Protestant view is that all Christians are members of the Christian Church. This belief in "an invisible church" arose in the 4th and 5th centuries in the Novatianist and Donatist schisms, both of which were condemned by the Bishop of Rome and the church throughout the Roman Empire. A number of groups, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), say apostolic succession is an essential element in constituting the one true church, ensuring it has inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority and responsibility that Jesus Christ gave to the Apostles, while others, such as Iglesia ni Cristo, believe in a last messenger doctrine, where no such succession takes place. A few believe they have restored the original church, in belief or practice. The claim to be the "one true church" is related to the first of the Four Marks of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed: "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church". ==Catholic Church== The Catholic Church teaches that it is the "one true Church",〔http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html, B) (Caput I in genere: Act Syn III/II 297-301 )〕 "the universal sacrament of salvation for the human race"〔http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html〕 and the "true religion".〔 In responding to some questions regarding the doctrine of the Church concerning itself, the Vatican's Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated, "''Clarius dicendum esset veram Ecclesiam esse solam Ecclesiam catholicam romanam...''" ("It should be said more clearly that the Roman Catholic Church alone is the true Church..")〔http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html, C) (Caput I in genere: Act Syn III/II 296s )〕 And it also clarified that the term "subsistit in" used in reference to the Church in the Second Vatican Council's decree ''Lumen gentium'' "indicates the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church". One of the earlier councils (the Fourth Lateran Council) declared that: "There is one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which there is absolutely no salvation",〔(Fourth Lateran Council, canon 1 )〕 a statement of what is known as the doctrine of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. The Church is further described in the papal encyclical ''Mystici corporis Christi'' as the "Mystical Body of Christ".〔Pius XII, Encyclical ''(Mystici corporis Christi )'', Vatican City, 1943. Accessed Aug 20, 2011〕 According to the Catechism, the Catholic Church professes to be the "sole Church of Christ", which is described in the Nicene Creed as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.〔''CCC'', (811 ).〕 This teaching was originally formulated at the Council of Nicea (AD 325) at which time the Apostle's Creed (the basis for the Nicene Creed) had been ratified. The church teaches that only the Catholic Church was founded Jesus Christ, who appointed the Twelve Apostles to continue his work as the Church's earliest bishops.〔Kreeft, p. 98, quote "The fundamental reason for being a Catholic is the historical fact that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ, was God's invention, not man's ... As the Father gave authority to Christ (Jn 5:22; Mt 28:18–20), Christ passed it on to his apostles (Lk 10:16), and they passed it on to the successors they appointed as bishops."〕 Catholic belief holds that the Church "is the continuing presence of Jesus on earth",〔Schreck, p. 131〕 and that all duly consecrated bishops have a lineal succession from the apostles.〔Barry, p. 46〕 In particular, the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), is considered the successor to the apostle Simon Peter, from whom the Pope derives his supremacy over the Church.〔''CCC'', (880 ). Accessed Aug 20, 2011〕 The Church is further described in the papal encyclical ''Mystici corporis Christi'' as the Mystical Body of Christ.〔Pius XII, Encyclical ''(Mystici corporis Christi )'', Vatican City, 1943. Accessed Aug 20, 2011〕 Thus, the Catholic Church holds that "the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic ... This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him."〔(Second Vatican Council, ''Lumen gentium'', 8 )〕 In the encyclical ''Mortalium animos'' of 6 January 1928, Pope Pius XI wrote that "in this one Church of Christ no man can be or remain who does not accept, recognize and obey the authority and supremacy of Peter and his legitimate successors" and quoted the statement of Lactantius: "The Catholic Church is alone in keeping the true worship. This is the fount of truth, this the house of Faith, this the temple of God: if any man enter not here, or if any man go forth from it, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation."〔(''Mortalium Animos'' )〕 Accordingly, the Second Vatican Council declared: "Whosoever, () knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved.〔(''Lumen gentium'', 14 )〕 In the same document, the Council continued: "The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter."〔''Lumen gentium'', 15〕 And in a decree on ecumenism, ''Unitatis Redintegratio'', it stated: "Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments from our common heritage which are to be found among our separated brethren. It is right and salutary to recognise the riches of Christ and virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even to the shedding of their blood. For God is always wonderful in His works and worthy of all praise."〔(Decree on Ecumenism ch.1.4 )〕 The Church teaches that the fullness of the "means of salvation" exists only in the Catholic Church, but the Church acknowledges that the Holy Spirit can make use of ecclesial communities separated from itself to "impel towards Catholic unity" and thus bring people to salvation in the Catholic Church ultimately. It teaches that anyone who is saved is saved through the Catholic Church but that people can be saved ex voto and by pre-baptismal martyrdom as well as when conditions of invincible ignorance are present, although invincible ignorance in itself is not a means of salvation. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「one true church」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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