The Communion of Saints

All saints are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit and faith. They are not made one person with him but do have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.¹ They are united to one another in love. They have communion in each other’s gifts and graces² and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as to bring about to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.³

Saints by profession are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God and in performing such other spiritual services as to care for their mutual edification.⁴ They are also to aid each other in outward things according to their various abilities and necessities.⁵ This communion, according to the rule of the gospel, 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, but especially in the relationships within their families⁶ or churches⁷ of which they are a part, as God offers opportunity. Nevertheless, their communion with others as saints does not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man has in his goods and possessions.⁸

1. 1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  John 1:16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  Philippians 3:10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.  Romans 6:5–6 If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ↩︎
2. Ephesians 4:15–16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  1 Corinthians 3:21–23 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. ↩︎
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  Romans 1:12 That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.  1 John 3:17–18 If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  Galatians 6:10 As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. ↩︎
4. Hebrews 10:24–25 Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  Hebrews 3:12–13 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ↩︎
5. Acts 11:29–30 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. ↩︎
6. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ↩︎
7. 1 Corinthians 12:14–27 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
   The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
   Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ↩︎
8. Acts 5:4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”  Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ↩︎