The Communion of Saints
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 1/9/2011 PM |
Text: | Ephesians 4; Lord's Day 21 |
Psalters: | 227, 51, 348, 369 |
- The meaning.
- Sin disrupted and destroyed the unity of mankind as God created it (Acts 17:26).
- God re-created a positive spiritual unity in Jesus Christ.
- This unity involves, not all men, but only (and all) those in Christ.
- They are “saints” because they are sanctified in Christ.
- There is diversity in this unity: “many members,” “Jews or Gentiles,” “bond or free”
- The diversity consists of natural differences, diversity of gifts and difference in the measure of the gifts.
- The diversity is manifested in each member of the Body having their own place.
- The purpose of the diversity is to manifest the greatness of God’s grace and the breadth of His love.
- We are to practice our faith in this blessed truth: serve Christ (the Head) by serving the other members.
- The first duty is to partake of Christ and of the blessed friendship with God.
- Be consciously aware of this communion by serving (edifying) the other members (4:12b,16).
- Be conscious of Satan’s efforts to separate.
- We are to serve “to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them” (Belgic, Art. 28).
- Delight in the assembling of the saints together (Hebrews 10:25).
- No saint will want to exalt himself above others because of lowliness of mind (Phil. 2:2-5; Eph. 4:2).
- The more excellent way to exercise the communion of saints is to love.
- Every conflict is to be siezed as a God-given opportunity to serve God and the body.
- Great blessing and edification arises from the proper exercise of the communion of saints.