Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 26: Communion of the Saints

Order of Service

• Sermon

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Sermon Notes: Communion with Christ and with One Another

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Text: Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 26 — Communion of the Saints

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I. Union and Communion with Christ

A. Union with Christ in Eternity Past

1. Ephesians 1:4 — God chose us in him before the foundation of the world; election is grounded in our mysterious union with Christ from eternity
2. Ephesians 1:7 — redemption through his blood is ours because we were united to Christ at the cross
3. Romans 6:8 — if we have died with Christ, we will also live with him
4. Galatians 2:20 — "I have been crucified with Christ"; Christ's death was effectual because we were united to him in it
5. John 10:15 — Jesus lays down his life for the sheep, showing the personal nature of this union

B. Union with Christ in the Present

1. Ephesians 1:13 — in him believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit at the moment of faith
2. Our "existential union" — the union we become aware of at faith — does not begin at faith; it flows from the union established in eternity and at the cross
3. Faith is not what produces union with Christ; union with Christ produces faith; faith is a spiritual blessing that flows from Christ

C. Union with Christ in the Future

1. Ephesians 1:11 — in him we have obtained an inheritance; our future glorification is grounded in union with Christ
2. Romans 8:30 — those predestined are called, justified, and glorified — all in Christ
3. Every saving benefit (justification, sanctification, glorification) belongs to us only in union with Christ; we cannot speak of any saving benefit apart from him
4. Galatians 2:20 — "Christ who lives in me" summarizes the whole doctrine

D. The Confession's Qualifier (WCF 26.3) — Union with Christ Does Not Make Us Equal with Christ

1. We do not share in the substance or being of Christ's Godhead; we are united to him only as Mediator
2. This guards against the Eastern Orthodox doctrine of theosis (deification) — the error that union with Christ means sharing in his divine qualities or being
3. Psalm 45:6-7 (quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9) — "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever" is said of the Son alone; the Father calls Christ God, a designation given to no one united to Christ

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II. Union and Communion with the Saints

A. Communion with the Saints in Worship

1. Isaiah 2:2-3 — prophecy of the latter days: the nations stream to the house of the Lord, saying "Come, let us go up"; corporate worship is the eschatological gathering of God's people
2. We are currently living in the latter days (1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3:1)
3. Acts 2:42, 46 — the early church devoted itself to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers; a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy as multitudes gathered to worship
4. Hebrews 10:24-25 — the saints are commanded not to neglect meeting together; mutual edification and stirring one another to love happens in corporate gathering
5. Application: The current inability to gather together should move us to lament what has been lost and to value corporate worship, not taking it for granted when it is restored

B. Communion with the Saints in Giving

1. Acts 2:44-45 — believers shared possessions and distributed to any who had need
2. 1 John 3:17-18 — closing one's heart to a brother in need calls into question whether God's love abides in that person; love must be expressed in deed and truth
3. Application: As a body, believers are to care for one another physically and financially, not only spiritually, because of shared union with Christ

C. The Confession's Qualifier (WCF 26.3) — Communion of Goods Does Not Destroy Private Property

1. Generosity is not the same as collectivism; Scripture commands sharing but does not require communalism
2. Ephesians 4:28 — the thief is to work with his own hands so that he has something to share; Christians own what they give
3. Acts 5:4 — Peter tells Ananias that both before and after the sale the property was his own; even in the radical sharing of the early church, ownership rights were not abolished
4. 2 Corinthians 9:7 — "God loves a cheerful giver"; compulsion (collectivism) destroys the joy that is to characterize Christian giving
5. The proper order: immersion in the grace and spiritual blessings of union with Christ causes hearts to overflow in cheerful, generous giving to brothers and sisters in need