"I believe one holy catholic and apostolic church." In these words of the Nicene Creed, Christians of every era and every land have articulated a dimension of their faith that seems to invite cynicism. Through the years unity and universality, holiness and faithfulness to the apostolic tradition have not been overwhelmingly obvious as attributes of the Church. G.C. Berkouwer is not content to explain these shortcomings as though what has traditionally been confessed about the Church refers to an ideal, not the actual Church in its historical manifestations. On the contrary, Berkouwer argues, to the extent that the Church fails to display unity, catholicity, apostolicity, and holiness, it is failing to be itself. --From publisher's description.