The Church: The Habitation of God

Scriptural Text:

Communion of Saints

What the circulation of the blood is to the human body, that the Holy Spirit is to the body of Christ which is the church. Now, by virtue of the one life-flood, every limb of the body holds fellowship with every other, and as long as life lasts that fellowship is inevitable. If the hand be unwashed the eye cannot refuse communion with it on that account; if the finger be diseased the hand cannot, by binding a cord around it, prevent the life-current from flowing. Nothing but death can break up the fellowship, you must tear away the member, or it must of necessity commune with the rest of the body. It is even thus in the body of Christ; no laws can prevent one living member of Christ from fellowship with every other, the pulse of living fellowship sends a wave through the whole mystical frame; where there is but one life, fellowship is an inevitable consequence. Yet some talk of restricted communion, and imagine that they can practise it. If they be alive unto God they may in mistaken conscientiousness deny their fellow Christians the outward sign of communion, but communion itself falls not under any rule or regulation of theirs. Tie a red tape round your thumb and let it decree that the whole body is out of fellowship with it; the thumb’s decree is either ridiculously inoperative, or else it proves injurious to itself. God has made us one, one Spirit quickens us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus; to deny fellowship with any believer in Jesus is to refuse what you must of necessity give, and to deny in symbol what you must inevitably render in reality.

Feathers for Arrows Communion of Saints

COMMUNION OF SAINTS

WHAT the circulation of the blood is to the human body, that the Holy Spirit is to the body of Christ which is the church. Now, by virtue of the one life-flood, every limb of the body holds fellowship with every other, and as long as life lasts that fellowship is inevitable. If the hand be unwashed the eye cannot refuse communion with it on that account; if the finger be diseased the hand cannot, by binding a cord around it, prevent the life-current from flowing. Nothing but death can break up the fellowship, you must tear away the member, or it must of necessity commune with the rest of the body. It is even thus in the body of Christ; no laws can prevent one living member of Christ from fellowship with every other, the pulse of living fellowship sends a wave through the whole mystical frame; where there is but one life, fellowship is an inevitable consequence. Yet some talk of restricted communion, and imagine that they can practise it. If they be alive unto God they may in mistaken conscientiousness deny their fellow Christians the outward sign of communion, but communion itself falls not under any rule or regulation of theirs. Tie a red tape round your thumb and let it decree that the whole body is out of fellowship with it; the thumb’s decree is either ridiculously inoperative, or else it proves injurious to itself. God has made us one, one Spirit quickens us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus; to deny fellowship with any believer in Jesus is to refuse what you must of necessity give, and to deny in symbol what you must inevitably render in reality.

 C. H. Spurgeon, Feathers for Arrows (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1870), 42.

What is the church? The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”

The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people.

“The Church was never intended to be a natural and intellectual organization, but a supernatural instrumentality wholly dependent upon the power of God.” (In Step with the Spirit 029)

“The Church was never intended to be a natural and intellectual organization, but a supernatural instrumentality wholly dependent upon the power of God.” (In Step with the Spirit 029)

“The Church was never intended to be a natural and intellectual organization, but a supernatural instrumentality wholly dependent upon the power of God.” (In Step with the Spirit 029)

“The Church was never intended to be a natural and intellectual organization, but a supernatural instrumentality wholly dependent upon the power of God.” (In Step with the Spirit 029)

Jesus Christ Is the Head and Absolute Authority of the Church. (, , , ; cf. 2:10)

The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. ()

As the supreme authority in the church, Jesus has all power. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given me’ ” ().

As head of the church Christ has all legislative power. Christ has the power to enact laws to govern His church and its activities.2

He has enacted the following laws and they are incorporated in the constitution:

Qualification of citizenship. ; ; Qualifications of officers of the kingdom. ; ;

Qualification of citizenship. ; ; Qualifications of officers of the kingdom. ; ;

Qualifications of officers of the kingdom. ; ;

Duties of citizens. ; ; Duties of officers. ; ; ;

Duties of officers. ; ; ;

Laws of finance. ; ; ; Laws of discipline. ; ; ; Laws for the reinstatement of the backslider. ; .

Laws of discipline. ; ; ;

Laws for the reinstatement of the backslider. ; .

“The Church is found wherever the Holy Spirit has drawn together a few persons who trust Christ for their salvation, worship God in spirit and have no dealings with the world and the flesh.” (God Tells the Man Who Cares 024–025)

“The Church is found wherever the Holy Spirit has drawn together a few persons who trust Christ for their salvation, worship God in spirit and have no dealings with the world and the flesh.” (God Tells the Man Who Cares 024–025)

Our passage comes from the following section: The Steps to Correcting Offending Brothers ()

Step 1: attempt reconciliation (v.15-17)[, , , 4)

Step 2: discipline the brother (v.17-18)[, , , , 1John 2:10]

Step 3: the essential step-bathe the matter in prayer (v.19-20)[, , , ]

Seek agreement

Seek God’s will & approval

Seek unity in His name

Result: His presence

7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

(NKJV) 7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

(NKJV) 22And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

22And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

(NKJV) 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

(NKJV) 11Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

11Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

“According to the Scriptures the Church is the habitation of God through the Spirit, and as such is the most important organism beneath the sun. She is not one more good institution along with the home, the state and the school; she is the most vital of all institutions—the only one that can claim a heavenly origin.” (Tozer)

“According to the Scriptures the Church is the habitation of God through the Spirit, and as such is the most important organism beneath the sun. She is not one more good institution along with the home, the state and the school; she is the most vital of all institutions—the only one that can claim a heavenly origin.” (Tozer)

She is not one more good institution along with the home, the state and the school; she is the most vital of all institutions—the only one that can claim a heavenly origin.” (Tozer)

She is not one more good institution along with the home, the state and the school; she is the most vital of all institutions—the only one that can claim a heavenly origin.” (Tozer)