LEARNING DAILY

 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.   The Apostle’s Creed

 

Martin Luther defined the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints as, “the total number of those who believe in Christ, All believers in Christ, but only believers, are members of the church (invisible church).”  He used Ephesians 2:19-22; John 10:16; Romans 8:9 to support this definition.  He went on to write that the requirement to become part of this church was faith in Jesus Christ.  It is an invisible church because it cannot be seen with the human eye.   In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said this, “The kingdom od God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed. The kingdom of God is within you.”  It is important to remember the last page of the blog at this point.  The Holy Spirit continues to convict people of their sin, convince them that Jesus Christ is the narrow gate to eternal life, and add to this church.  Just going to a church does not mean one is a Christian.

 

Why is this church called holy? Luther continues that this church is made up of only those who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and serve Him in Holy living.  Jesus talked about this when He talked about the “narrow way” that leads to the kingdom of God and eternal life.

 

The phrase, the Communion of Saints, has caused some confusion.  This does not refer to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  Instead, it refers to the fellowship of believers where they encourage one another, help one another, pray together, study God’s Word together, doing so not out of any compulsion but out of a willingness to do so.  In Romans 12:4-13, Paul explains that all members of this church have different gifts that are to be used to benefit the church.  He is saying that the Communion of Saints is based on Christian fellowship.  The writer of Hebrews supports this concept of Christians gathering together; in 10:24-25, we are told, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”.  So, we gather together with other Christians to be encouraged, to help or share with those in need.

 

With the fellowship of Believers being so important, is it any wonder that the enemy would want to shut churches down, to keep Christian fellowship from happening?  What has happened during this pandemic?  Stay home, social distancing, no more that ten gathering together.  I have always believed in the concept that there is strength in numbers.  Jesus said where two or more are gathered in His name, there He would be.  Christians need to be with Christians.  There is unity not only with others but with the Father. Son and Holy Spirit.  There the darkness cannot be (2 Corinthians 6:14); there the Word of God is lived and shared.  There is where we share what we have to help those who are less fortunate or in need.  It is in the fellowship of believers that food is passed out to those who have lost jobs due to a government shutdown, water is passed out due to an unusual winter storm that broke water pipes.  It is there that the love of God is extended to those who need to see it lived out and not just talked about.

 

You and I have been given a gift(s) to be used in the body of Christ.  All the different parts work together to form this invisible church for the glory of God.  Those not a part of it need to see the light of those who are shining to draw them to this wonderful the Communion of Saints.

 

 

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