Topical Bible: Communion of Saints: God Marks, With his Approval

Bible > Topical > Communion of Saints

◄ Communion of Saints: God Marks, With his Approval ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

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 deceased, who are united in Christ. This communion is not merely a human construct but is divinely ordained and marked with God's approval, as evidenced throughout Scripture.

Biblical Foundation

The Communion of Saints finds its roots in the New Testament, where the unity of believers is a recurring theme. In Ephesians 4:4-6 , the Apostle Paul writes, "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 passage underscores the unity of the Church as a single body under one God, highlighting the spiritual connection among all believers.

Furthermore, Hebrews 12:1 speaks to the continuity of this communion, stating, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us." The "cloud of witnesses" refers to the faithful who have gone before, indicating that the saints in heaven remain in communion with those on earth, encouraging and interceding for them.

God's Approval and Blessing

God's approval of the Communion of Saints is evident in His desire for unity among His people. In John 17:20-23 , Jesus prays for all believers, saying, "I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." This prayer reflects God's will for a profound unity among believers, mirroring the unity within the Trinity itself.

The Apostle Paul further emphasizes this divine approval in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 , where he 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." Here, the metaphor of the body illustrates the interconnectedness of believers, each playing a vital role in the life of the Church, with God Himself orchestrating this unity.

Practical Implications

The Communion of Saints has practical implications for the life of the Church. It calls believers to live in harmony, support one another, and bear each other'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 mutual support is a tangible expression of the spiritual communion that exists among the saints.

Moreover, the Communion of Saints encourages believers to seek the intercession of those who have gone before, recognizing that the saints in heaven continue to play an active role in the spiritual life of the Church. Revelation 5:8 depicts the heavenly scene where the elders hold "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints," symbolizing the ongoing intercessory role of the heavenly host.

In summary, the Communion of Saints is a divinely approved fellowship that transcends time and space, uniting believers in a spiritual bond that reflects the unity of the Godhead. Through this communion, God manifests His approval and blessing, calling His people to live in unity and love, as a testament to the world of His redemptive work in Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought on his name.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Scotch Confession of Faith. AD 1560.
... Congregation at Geneva,' 1558, consists only of four articles: 1, of God the Father;
2 ... 3, of the Holy Ghost; 4, of the Church and the Communion of Saints. ...
/.../ 89 the scotch confession.htm

Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance.
... after these are elapsed, admit them to communion in Gospel ... victim to expiate the
transgressions of saints (this the ... cannot be the least doubt that God will be ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 regeneration by faith.htm

An Exhortation to Theodore after his Fall. Letter I.
... Did Paul cut him off from the communion of those ... being enrolled in the company of
the saints, ought we ... which angels and archangels minister to the God of all. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/an exhortation to theodore after.htm

Introduction
... often saw her writing, generally after Holy Communion, her face ... as are to be found
in the saints; and because ... her entering upon the journey towards God at a ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/introduction.htm

The Augsburg Confession, 1530.
... greater still whenever the Spirit of God moves it ... on the marriage of priests, the
communion of both ... ordination, monastic vows, invocation of saints, faith and ...
/.../ 41 the augsburg confession.htm

The Great Awakening.
... on, and the number of true saints multiplied, soon ... the leader of the rapidly growing
communion of Presbyterian ... Talcott, at New Haven, gave God thanks, after ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xi the great awakening.htm

The Brethren at Home.
... rebuked before the Elders, and excluded from the Holy Communion until he ... "It is to
know God, to know ... but not worship, the Virgin Mary and the Saints, and they ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vii the brethren at.htm

Post-Nicene Mothers
... individual mention of some of these early saints, we will ... confession of faith, yet
he held communion with those ... she told them to strike up: "Let God arise and ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/v post-nicene mothers.htm

The Puritan Innovations
... in Pliny's time sang "to Christ as GOD," we have ... At the Second Revision seven Saints'
Days were added ... Creed, Homily and Exhortation to Holy Communion, if there ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter ii the puritan innovations.htm

Hypocrisy
... Do I live by private communion near to the side of ... You are one of the brightest of
the saints; it is ... the very thing which makes the child of God tremble, puffs ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/hypocrisy.htm