Communion of the Saints (Part 2)

Romans 1:8-15

March 20, 2022

God created each person as a unique individual; however, He created His children to be part of a community of believers. Perhaps the greatest petition in Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 is that His church would be unified in the same way that He and The Father are unified. The church of Jesus Christ does not consist of a collection of individuals; it is a communion of saints. We in America treasure our freedom; it is a gift from God which most people around the world do not enjoy. A drawback of our affluence and individual freedom is that the modern church in America has lost sight of the idea of community. Our brothers and sisters who live with less affluence and freedom are forced to live in greater communion, with their hearts and lives knit together. The unity that Jesus prayed for is expressed well in the hymn, Bless be the tie that Binds, by John Fawcett in 1782. The first verse is: “Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, Paul emphasizes the importance of individual members of the church being a unified body. He points out that we serve different functions in the church, just like different parts of the body serve different functions, but all parts fulfilling their role are necessary for the body to be healthy. No part is to be honored above another. All members are to have equal care for one another. We are to share our joys and sorrows with one another; if one member suffers all suffer; if one member rejoices all rejoice together. We might be tempted to think we are not equipped to serve one another but, what did God say to Moses when he complained that, due to his slowness of speech, he wasn’t able to lead the Israelites out of Egypt? God asked, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11). God has made you just the way He wants you and, if you are a believer in Christ, He has equipped you for service in the church.

This section of Romans is divided as follows: the Communion in Faith (v. 8), the Communion in Prayer (v.9), the Communion in Work (vv. 10-12), the Communion 

in the Harvest (v. 13) and the Communion in the Gospel (vv. 14-15).

1. Communion in Faith (v.8)

Last week we took an in-depth look into Communion in Faith in verse eight. Truly any person being born again is a miracle of God. Paul not only recognized the miracle, but he marveled and rejoiced in the salvation of every believer. He never lost his gratitude to God for each person He saved. Paul understood the miracle that was required to change him from someone who hated Christ and His church to a man who dedicated his life fully to planting and maturing churches while boldly proclaiming the Name of Jesus. 

1. Communion in Prayer (v. 9)

Prayer is worship. We worship God for what He has done and what He is doing. As we see in all of Paul’s letters, he was a man of prayer. In verses nine and ten of this section, he declares, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers”. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul exhorts us to pray without ceasing. This doesn’t mean we spend 24/7 in our prayer closet, but it does mean we pray persistently and regularly (John MacArthur). Since prayer is worship, and our every thought and action is to reflect the worth-ship (worship) of God, this is by extension, prayer.

Paul worked tirelessly for the sake of Christ and His church, serving with his spirit in the gospel of Christ (v. 9). In Philippians 1:21, Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul found joy in being poured out as a drink offering for the sake of the gospel (Philippians 2:17). The Greek word that Paul used for to pour out was “spéndomai”, meaning to pour out as a drink libation, i.e. to devote one’s life or blood as a sacrifice. Paul was certainly aware of what Jesus had said regarding the duties of a servant. After the servant worked in the fields all day, then prepared supper for his master, Jesus asked, “Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded”? When we have served faithfully, our attitude should reflect an understanding that we are unworthy servants and have only done what was our duty (Luke 17:9-10). Paul poured himself out in preaching, praying, and suffering for the gospel. Paul’s suffering is vividly described in 2 Corinthians 11:12b-29 where he experienced beatings, stonings, imprisonments, etc. Paul held back nothing for himself; he willingly poured himself out completely. The church at Rome understood what Paul had sacrificed and they, too, poured themselves out, resulting in the mutual praise of God. Considering what God has done to save us, we too should praise God if we have our entire life poured out for Him.

Paul was not planning to go to Rome with an attitude that they were immature and needed him to impart to them his vast knowledge. He would go with an attitude that we will learn from each other, encourage each other, serve each other and, together, worship God. Paul was not a prideful man, and no true servant of God is allowed by God to be prideful. Roughly fourteen years before writing this letter, Paul had been caught up to the third heaven, had seen things too wonderful to describe and had been given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. If we are a humble disciple of Jesus, we each have things to contribute to the body of Christ. To serve each other in this way is mutually edifying and encouraging, a blessing needed by all. There are some things we can learn from each other and that is because there is communion in the work of the church.

1. Communion in Work (vv. 10-12)

• Expressed in Service

Paul eagerly desired to visit the church in Rome but, since he had not heretofore been able, he understood that God would have to make a way, hence the fervent prayers. He desired to visit them, not for a social visit but to strengthen them in their faith as he imparted some spiritual gift to them. Paul’s desire was for them to be

• strengthened in their walk

• strengthened in their faith

• strengthened in holy living

• strengthened in protection from the evil one

Paul wanted the Romans to know the truth of the gospel and the certainty of their conversion. Paul was most concerned that people who professed Christ actually possess Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Paul said, “we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith”. Paul wanted to impress upon the Romans the importance of a holy living. In Romans 12:1, he said, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” In his second epistle, Peter said in 1:5, “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…” Paul wanted the church at Rome to also understand that, if they remained true to their faith, they would be protected from Satan. In 2 Thessalonians 3:3 he had written, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” As we interact with our fellow worshippers at Southside and encourage each other in these matters, our mutual walk, faith, sanctification, and assurance are strengthened, a communion in the work leading to a communion in the harvest.

1. Communion in the Harvest (v. 13)

• The harvest is spiritual fruit

Being able to share in a spiritual harvest was one of the driving forces for Paul’s desire to go to Rome. He had a great anticipation of the work that God was going to do at Rome, for the experience of three missions trips had convinced him that an abundant spiritual harvest would result in Rome also. Jesus had told His disciples that He chose them to go and bear fruit (John 15:16); that’s what we are supposed to do! After the coming of The Holy Spirit, the disciples produced spiritual growth as seen in sanctification, service, making disciples, baptizing, teaching, etc. We need to pray that we, as a church at Southside, will participate in the spiritual harvest of making disciples, not only in sharing the gospel but also in helping one another reach maturity. Paul was looking forward to celebrating the harvest together with the Roman believers.

 The harvest is a mutual work

The importance of working together is clearly stated in1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” God did bring a great harvest in Rome to which Paul testified when he wrote to the Philippians while in a Roman prison. He said, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household” (Philippians 4:22). This harvest was a source of immense joy to Paul, and they had shared in the work together. We all rejoice together when a person is baptized at Southside; it is the result of a communion in the work producing the harvest.

1. Communion in the Gospel (vv. 11-15)

• We share a debt because of the gospel (v. 14)

Paul was truly indebted to God for what He had done in saving him and in using him so powerfully. We need to recognize just how indebted we are to God for what He has done in our life. The best possible news is that the debt has been paid in full by Jesus! We have a double indebtedness: we are indebted to Christ for what He has done for us and we are indebted to one another to use the gifts that God has given us.

• We share a stewardship in the gospel (v. 15)

God holds us accountable as stewards of the gifts He has given us. We are to take the message of the gospel, the testimony of our changed life, and our experiences then go into the world in anticipation of a harvest. Donald Gray Barnhouse chides us in very harsh words when he said we have no right to hear the gospel a second time until the world has heard it once. He points out that we have probably heard the gospel innumerable times and yet have not allowed it to motivate us to share with those around us who are in darkness. Jesus stated, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). How much have you been given?

Selah:

1. What is the focus of most of your prayers?

2. What gifts do you use most effectively in the common work of the church?

3. What is your part in the community of the harvest?

4. What is your plan to share the gospel with those around you who live in darkness?