Communion of the Saints

 

Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:15b-16)

 

Union with Christ

·         The foundation of our faith begins in Christ and the eternal purpose of the Triune God. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, the Alpha & the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First & the Last (Heb 12:2, Rev 1).

·         Our union, joining, direct connectedness, with Christ is established and maintained by God through Christ by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the vine and we are the branches (Jn 15:5). He provides all our needs.

 

Communion with Christ

·         Being joined together with Christ, we have intimate fellowship, or communion, with Him. We are complete in Christ (Col 2:10). Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace (Jn 1:16).

·         We share in His experiences, inward and outward, in joys and victories, in labors, sufferings, temptations, and death. We are kings & priests, heirs of God and joint heirs & Christ (Rev 1:6; Ro 8:16-17; Phi 3:10; 1 Pet 4:13).

·         Christ has intimate fellowship with us. Christ died and rose and lived again that He would be our Lord, that we would walk in good works (Ro 14:8; Eph 2:10).

·         This intimate union and communion with Christ is a great mystery. But by faith we can, we must, believe them and obey. Our position in Christ is secure, let us not weary in our practice as we walk this walk of faith.

 

Union of the saints

·         If we are each united to Christ, the Source and Sustenance of life, then we are each intimately united together (Ro 12:4-5). We are joined to one another because we are all joined to the same vine, and share the life giving sustenance of the Holy Spirit.

·         The manifold wisdom of God is made known by the union of the church to Christ. God uses our redemption to enrich the praises of the angels (Eph 3:10).

 

Communion of the saints

·         Since we have union and communion with Christ, and we are joined to the same vine, we have fellowship with one another. Each of us rejoice together, suffer together. We are to grow up in Christ together, we are to edify - to build up, to instruct, to nourish one another, as members of the same body (Eph 4:15-16).

·         We have a common Head and a common life in Christ, we each have a special function in this body, and are obliged to perform certain duties for the good of all the members (1 Cor 12:23-24).

 

How are we then to live, the one-anothers

·         We must first examine individually our hearts and our relationship to God. We must first know God, love Him, and keep His commandments (1 Jn 5:2). We must keep our heart with all diligence (Pro 4:23; Phi 4:8). We must be in the word and in prayer (2 Tim 3:16-17; Phi 4:6-7).

·         We are to have kind affection toward one another and give others the position of preference (Ro 12:10).

·         We must love one another in active, tangible ways, meeting needs, providing hospitality (Ro 12:13). “It is not enough to draw out the soul, but we must draw out the purse.” (Matthew Henry)

·         We must labor to agree in our understanding while keeping the unity of the Spirit (Ro 12:16; Eph 4:3).

·         We are to admonish one another by encouragement, warning & advisement, with tender hearts (Ro 15:14).

·         We must have genuine concern for one another, spurring one another to live our lives faithfully (He 10:24-25).

·         We are to love one another to the extent that we have the ability to cover another’s sins (1 Pet 4:8). “Forgiveness is a promise in which one person goes on record as declaring he will never again bring up another’s offense and hold it against him.” (Jay Adams)

 

“One in the eternal electing love of God! -- one in the purchase of Christ's sacrificial blood! -- one in the [blessed] indwelling of the Holy Ghost! -- one in the eternal inheritance of glory! Surely we should be also one in all the charities, sympathies, and helpful offices possible, in these short and evil days of earthly pilgrimage.” (AA Hodge)

 

 

Gregg Kniss 6/25/06