The Communion of Saints

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Corinthians 12; Lord's Day 21
Psalters: 228, 168, 348, 371
Applicatory to the Lord's Supper
  1. The beautiful truth.
    1. This is a unity which is unique among all the fellowships in the world.
    2. God re-created a positive spiritual unity in the seed of the woman, against first with Himself and thus with each other.
      1. First, God put enmity (hatred) between the seed of the woman and the serpent and his seed, dividing mankind.
      2. This unity involves, not all men, but only (and all) those in Christ (the one salvation makes for unity in Christ).
    3. They are “saints” because they are justified and sanctified in Christ (cf. Canons V-1).
      1. What they all have in common is the spiritual life of God’s Son.
      2. They share one life, one faith, one love; they are fellow-servants of their one Lord and are fellow-children of the one Father.
    4. In the unity there is diversity, i.e., “many members” (I Cor. 12:12): 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).
      1. Without the spring there is no stream; the vertical must be first, then the horizontal.
      2. Remember that to partake of Christ is to be forgiven and righteous, so we can and must practice these.
    2. Be consciously aware of this communion by serving (edifying) the other members (I Cor. 12:25,26; Eph. 4:12b,16).
    3. The more excellent way to exercise the communion of saints is to love (I Cor. 13).
    4. In every conflict remember that each other’s names are in the book of life, let the peace of God rule, and think of the things which are good in the other (Phil. 4:3b,7,8).
    5. Great blessing and edification arises from the proper exercise of the communion of saints.