Our Faith Concerning The Communion of Saints
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 6/24/2012 AM |
Text: | I Corinthians 12; Lord's Day 21 |
Psalters: | 227, 335, 170, 370 |
- The meaning.
- God establishes this unity, first a unity of mankind in Adam (Acts 17:26).
- Sin disrupted and destroyed the unity, making every human self-centered and independent, hateful and envious.
- God re-created a positive spiritual unity in Jesus Christ.
- This unity involves only (and all) those in Christ.
- In election God united the elect to Christ, and in redemption He died for them.
- They are “saints” because they all justified in Christ’s righteousness and sanctified in Christ.
- The have in common the spiritual life of God’s Son.
- They share one life, one faith, love, knowledge of God, righteousness, and hope; are fellow-servants of their one Lord and are fellow-children of the one Father.
- There is diversity in this unity: “many members,” “Jews or Gentiles,” “bond or free”
- Our calling is to practice our faith in this blessed truth by serving Christ (the Head) by serving the other members.
- The first duty is to partake of Christ (His riches and gifts) and of the blessed friendship with God (covenant).
- Be consciously aware of this communion by serving (edifying) the other members (4:12b,16).
- The more excellent way to exercise the communion of saints is to love.
- In every conflict remember that each other’s names are in the book of life (Phil. 4:3b,7,8).
- Great blessing and edification arises from the proper exercise of the communion of saints.