Faith Concerning the Communion of Saints

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Corinthians 12; Lord's Day 21
Psalters: 228, 333, 168, 371
  1. The beautiful truth.
    1. God establishes this unity, first a unity of mankind in Adam (Acts 17:26), but sin destroyed it.
    2. God re-created a positive spiritual unity in Jesus Christ.
      1. First, in election God united to Christ all the elect.
      2. Second, in redemption God took away that which divides and separates, making peace.
      3. Third, God sends the Spirit of Christ to communicate to each member the life of Christ to each of the elect (Eph. 4:3b).
    3. They are all "saints", i.e., justified in Christ's righteousness and sanctified in Christ.
    4. There is diversity in this unity: "many members", "Jews or Gentiles", " bond or free" (13).
      1. The diversity consists of:
      2. The diversity is manifested in each member of the Body having their own place.
      3. The purpose of the diversity:
  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).
      1. The size of a spring determines the size of the stream, and without the spring there is no stream.
      2. The more I am in fellowship with God in Christ, the more I am willing to serve Him and my fellow-members in love.
    2. Second, consciously strive to serve (edify) the other members (4:12b,16).
      1. Know that Satan is always striving to separate and destroy the unity.
      2. A reason we are bound to join the true church is "as mutual members of the same body" we serve (Belgic, Art. 28).
      3. Delight in the assembling of the saints together (Hebrews 10:25).
      4. No saint will want to exalt himself above others because of lowliness of mind (Eph. 4:2; I Tim. 1:15).
    3. The more excellent way to exercise the communion of saints is to love.
    4. What are we to do when there is conflict?
    5. Great blessing and edification arises from the proper exercise of the communion of saints.