Our Faith Concerning The Communion of Saints

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Corinthians 12; Lord's Day 21
Psalters: 227, 335, 170, 370
  1. The meaning.
    1. God establishes this unity, first a unity of mankind in Adam (Acts 17:26).
    2. Sin disrupted and destroyed the unity, making every human self-centered and independent, hateful and envious.
    3. God re-created a positive spiritual unity in Jesus Christ.
      1. This unity involves only (and all) those in Christ.
      2. In election God united the elect to Christ, and in redemption He died for them.
    4. They are “saints” because they all justified in Christ’s righteousness and sanctified in Christ.
      1. The have in common the spiritual life of God’s Son.
      2. 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.
    5. There is diversity in this unity: “many members,” “Jews or Gentiles,” “bond or free”
  2. Our calling is to practice our faith in this blessed truth by serving Christ (the Head) by serving the other members.
    1. The first duty is to partake of Christ (His riches and gifts) and of the blessed friendship with God (covenant).
    2. Be consciously aware of this communion by serving (edifying) the other members (4:12b,16).
    3. The more excellent way to exercise the communion of saints is to love.
    4. In every conflict remember that each other’s names are in the book of life (Phil. 4:3b,7,8).
    5. Great blessing and edification arises from the proper exercise of the communion of saints.