Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints

PARA 1 – Basis and nature of Communion of Saints

1._____ All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
( 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5, 6; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17, 18; Galatians 6:10 )

OUTLINE

Basis of this communion is believer’s union with Christ.
- All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him.
Inestimable blessings of believer’s union with Christ
- have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and,
Horizontal obligation flowing from this vertical union with Christ
- being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

Comments: This is basis of all NT commands of ‘one another’- Love one another, pray for one another, forgive, bear, be gentle, speak truth, do good, etc. A correct understanding of union with Christ undergirds our duties to fellow believers.

PARA 2 – Duties flowing from Communion of Saints.

2._____ Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
( Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 3:12, 13; Acts 11:29, 30; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28 )

OUTLINE

1. Duties flowing from the communion of Saints:

Saints by profession are bound to

maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and
in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification;
as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities;

2. Rule of this communion

which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus;

3. Qualification of this communion

nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.

(Comments: This communion doesn’t allow a brother to infringe on the property of another and prevents one taking advantage of another.)