Topical Bible: Communion of Saints in Mutual Sympathy and Kindness

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The concept of the "Communion of Saints" is a profound and cherished doctrine within Christian theology, emphasizing the spiritual solidarity and fellowship among believers, both living and departed. This communion is not merely a mystical union but is manifested through mutual sympathy and kindness, reflecting the love and unity that Christ Himself prayed for among His followers.

Biblical Foundation

The foundation for the Communion of Saints is deeply rooted in Scripture. The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, frequently emphasizes the interconnectedness of believers. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the Church, stating, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ" . This passage underscores the idea that each believer is an integral part of the whole, contributing to the well-being of the entire body through acts of kindness and mutual support.

Furthermore, in Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul exhorts believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" . This call to unity and love is a direct reflection of the communion shared among the saints, characterized by mutual sympathy and kindness.

Expressions of Mutual Sympathy and Kindness

The early Church exemplified this communion through practical acts of kindness and support. In Acts 2:44-45, we read, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need" . This passage illustrates the tangible expression of mutual sympathy, where the needs of one were met by the generosity of others, fostering a community of care and compassion.

The epistle to the Hebrews further encourages believers to "consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). This exhortation highlights the active role that each member of the communion plays in encouraging and uplifting one another, ensuring that kindness and sympathy are not passive but dynamic and intentional.

The Role of Prayer and Intercession

Prayer is a vital component of the Communion of Saints, serving as a means of expressing mutual sympathy and kindness. Believers are called to pray for one another, as seen in James 5:16: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail" . Through prayer, the saints participate in each other's struggles and triumphs, offering spiritual support and intercession.

The Example of Christ

The ultimate example of mutual sympathy and kindness is found in Jesus Christ Himself. His life and ministry were marked by compassion and selfless love, setting a standard for His followers. In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" . This commandment encapsulates the essence of the Communion of Saints, where love is the defining characteristic of the community.

Conclusion

The Communion of Saints in mutual sympathy and kindness is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. It is a living expression of the unity and love that Christ envisioned for His Church, where believers are bound together in a spiritual fellowship that transcends time and space. Through acts of kindness, prayer, and a shared commitment to one another's well-being, the saints embody the love of Christ, serving as a beacon of hope and compassion in a world in need of His grace.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 4:32
And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of Preparation.
... act of receiving: as if, by a mutual relation, they ... termed the beds and dormitories
of the saints (Isaiah 26 ... to God before the receiving of the Holy Communion. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/i of preparation.htm

we have not only so high a pattern, but so excellent a motive
... be moved, it moves itself through comfort and sympathy. ... to Christian affection and
communion, which puts ... is a public interest of saints, mutual edification in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter ii i .htm

Counsels and Reminiscences of Soeur Therese, the Little Flower of ...
... At the moment of Communion I sometimes ... From above, the Saints encourage me, saying:
'So long as thou art ... one of the Mothers was struck by the mutual and tender ...
/.../therese/story of a soul/counsels and reminiscences of soeur.htm

The Beloved Pastor's Plea for Unity
... than you know me; but I came to the communion-table to ... These saints, also, had the
same grace ... the bonds of that grace, be knit together in mutual affection the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the beloved pastors plea for.htm

Bands of Love; Or, Union to Christ. "I Drew them with Cords of a ...
... He awaits the glorious hour when their mutual bliss shall ... if we do not live in habitual
communion with Him! ... the life which grace confers upon the saints at the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/bands of love or union.htm

Letter ix. Meditation.
... Heb.12:22-24. [5.] The immediate presence of God, and such communion and fellowship ...
(5.) To whom the saints will ascribe ... John 1:1, 14. The mutual friend of both ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter ix meditation.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... when he excommunicates or admits to communion in the ... who take a fond delight in the
mutual narrative of ... as we everywhere read that the saints received their ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

From his Return from Russia to his Last Journey.
... another to the numberless testimonies of the saints' experience, that ... have been the
seasons of sweet communion I have ... grant that it may tend to mutual comfort. ...
/.../chapter xx from his return.htm

A Canticle of Love
... I have heard it said that her splendour eclipses that of all the Saints as the ... the
happy day of her death, she was unable to receive Holy Communion, because of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/martin/the story of a soul/chapter xi a canticle of.htm

Book I.
... appearance of each other fashioned for mutual love; for ... time Lucifer had withdrawn
from our communion, and although ... been denied to many, even saints, when thou ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book i.htm