Topical Bible: Communion of Saints is With: Each Other

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The concept of the "Communion of Saints" is a profound and integral aspect of Christian theology, emphasizing the spiritual solidarity and fellowship among believers, both living and departed. This communion is not limited to the relationship between the saints and God but extends horizontally to include the fellowship among believers themselves. This entry explores the biblical foundation and theological implications of the communion of saints with each other.

Biblical Foundation

The New Testament provides a robust framework for understanding the communion of saints with each other. The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of the body to describe the Church, emphasizing the interconnectedness of its members. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 , Paul writes, "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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink."

This passage highlights the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, underscoring that each member is essential and contributes to the well-being of the whole. The communion of saints is thus a spiritual reality that transcends individualism, calling believers to live in mutual love, support, and accountability.

Fellowship and Mutual Edification

The early Church exemplified this communion through their communal life and mutual edification. Acts 2:42 states, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This verse illustrates the early Christians' commitment to fellowship, which was characterized by shared worship, teaching, and communal meals, including the Lord's Supper.

The epistles further encourage believers to engage in mutual edification. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This call to gather and encourage one another reflects the essence of the communion of saints, where believers are responsible for nurturing each other's faith and spiritual growth.

Bearing One Another's Burdens

The communion of saints also involves bearing one another's burdens, as instructed in Galatians 6:2 : "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This directive emphasizes the practical outworking of love within the community of believers, where members support each other in times of need, reflecting the love of Christ.

Unity in Diversity

The communion of saints celebrates unity in diversity, recognizing that believers come from various backgrounds and possess different gifts. Ephesians 4:4-6 declares, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." This unity is not uniformity but a harmonious diversity that enriches the Church and glorifies God.

Conclusion

The communion of saints with each other is a vital aspect of Christian life, rooted in biblical teachings and exemplified by the early Church. It calls believers to live in unity, love, and mutual support, reflecting the nature of the triune God and the transformative power of the Gospel. Through this communion, the Church becomes a living testimony of God's grace and a foretaste of the eternal fellowship that awaits in the kingdom of heaven.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they to the circumcision.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 1:3,7
That which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Communion of Saints.
... And this communion of saints will be real: not limited as in this earthly life,
where living together in the same city we meet each other at the utmost ten ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxv the communion of saints.htm

The Communion of Gifts.
... The Catechism confesses, therefore, very correctly that the communion of saints
consists first of ... Head and Body belong to each other, even tho the Head has ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxvii the communion of gifts.htm

The Communion of Goods.
... And, since body and soul in perfect and indissoluble union shall work upon each
other in a harmonious manner, the communion of saints must have two sides: a ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxvi the communion of goods.htm

I Believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the ...
... that the words Gemeinschaft der Heiligen (communion of saints ... group and congregation
of pure saints, under one ... that we forgive, bear with, and help each other. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/i believe in the holy.htm

Grace
... us off, as long as we give way to them, from the communion of saints. ... tempers which
make life graceful and pleasant, giving way to each other in everything ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xx grace.htm

All Saints' Day
... the bliss of that everlasting All Saints' Day which St ... they worship; and by worship
enter into communion and harmony not only with each other, not only ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon i all saints day.htm

The Necessity and Benefits of Religious Society
... blessing arising from religious society, that friends can hereby secure each other
from those ... utmost to suppress, and put a stop to the communion of saints. ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the necessity and benefits of.htm

Sponsorship
... would be done away, if people would but thus simply enter into that communion of
saints to which, by right, they belong, and bear each other's burdens, and so ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon v sponsorship.htm

What is the Christian Home?
... of nature and of life; and when it involves "the communion of saints," it reaches ...
is the circle of loving brothers and sisters,"happy in each other's love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter i what is the.htm

The Declaration of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. ...
... live together in Christian fellowship, and to maintain the communion of saints;
and that ... and worship of God, through Jesus Christ; and that each society of ...
/.../the declaration of the congregational.htm