SD 27.1

27.1. Of the Communion of Saints

All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by his Spirit and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection and glory: and being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

Proof texts

• John 1:3 — [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• Eph. 3:16, 17, 18, 19 — [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
• John 1:16 — [16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
• Eph. 2:5, 6 — [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
• Phil. 3:10 — [10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
• Rom. 6:5, 6 — [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] 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 Tim. 2:12 — [12] if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
• Eph. 4:15, 16 — [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] 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 Cor. 12:7 — [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
• 1 Cor. 3:21, 22, 23 — [21] So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, [22] whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, [23] and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
• Col. 2:19 — [19] and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
• 1 Thess. 5:11, 14 — [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. [14] And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
• Rom. 1:11, 12, 14 — [11] For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you — [12] that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. [14] I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
• 1 John 3:16, 17, 18 — [16] By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But 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? [18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
• Gal. 6:10 — [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited John 1:3 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 15 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WCF 25.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. 1689 26.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WCF 25.1 · 1689 26.1