HEAVEN AND EARTH UNITED
The Apostle Paul teaches us that all true believers—those on earth and those already in glory—are united in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the Head of His Church. He speaks of our spiritual fellowship with “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb 12:23). This union is known as the Communion of Saints, a truth confessed in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic [that is, universal] Church, the communion of saints…”.
This communion is a real, spiritual bond between all who belong to Christ. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) expresses this beautifully: “The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof” (WCF XXV.1).
This means that every believer—from the beginning of time until the end—is part of one Family, one Body, one Church. This includes both the Church Militant, still battling sin and temptation on earth, and the Church Triumphant, now at rest in the presence of the Lord.
A Bond in Christ’s Love
Because we are united to Christ by faith and indwelt by His Spirit, we are also united to one another. As the Westminster Confession says: “All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head… are united to one another in love [and] have communion in each other’s gifts and graces” (WCF XXVI.1).
This means we are not alone. In life or death, we belong to a great fellowship that transcends time and space. Our brothers and sisters in Christ—whether on earth or in heaven—remain spiritually united with us. Their faithful ministry continues to encourage us to press on towards the same heavenly calling (Eph 4:16, Phil 3:14).
In Revelation 7:9, John saw “a great multitude… of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” gathered in worship. This vision reminds us that heaven is not empty or far off—it is full of life, full of worship, and full of those who have trusted in Christ before us.
Living Out This Communion
This truth has profound implications for how we live. Being united to Christ necessarily means being united to other believers. Therefore, our worship, fellowship, and mutual care must reflect that unity. As Hebrews 10:24–25 exhorts us: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.”
Church life is not optional. It is not a solo journey. We are part of a body, and we grow best when we gather, worship, serve, and care for one another in love.
In our worship, we experience something sacred—a foretaste of heaven. When we gather around God’s Word, pray, sing, and partake of the Lord’s Supper, we join, in spirit, with the worship of heaven. Though we cannot yet see them, we are surrounded by “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1). Their lives cheer us on, and their faith reminds us of the hope we share.
Do the Saints in Heaven Pray?
Some have asked whether the saints in heaven pray for us. Herman Witsius, the 17th century Dutch Reformed theologian, rightly observed that although the heavenly saints do not know us individually, do not pray for us personally, and do not intervene in our earthly affairs, they nevertheless share in the Lord’s longing for the full redemption of His Church. He wrote that the saints in heaven, “although entirely ignorant of the particular persons of believers on earth, yet by their earnest prayers unite with us in soliciting… the day of complete redemption” (Rev 6:10, 22:20).
In this way, we are one in heart, one in hope, one in prayer. But let us be clear: we do not pray to the saints in heaven. We do not ask for their intercession. The Bible gives no example or instruction to do so. Instead, we pray directly to God—through Jesus Christ our one Mediator, and in the Holy Spirit.
As John Calvin warned, to seek the intercession of saints is to dishonour Christ, who alone is our Advocate before the Father. Scripture says plainly, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).
The Joy of Reunion in Heaven
The doctrine of the communion of saints brings comfort and hope. It reminds us that death is not the end for those who are in Christ. Our loved ones in the Lord, who have gone before us, are with Him. One day, we too shall join them, and “so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:17).
Jonathan Edwards expressed this beautifully: “Every Christian friend that goes before us from this world is a ransomed spirit waiting to welcome us in heaven… the holy fellowship of the saints… shall be commenced again in the upper sanctuary, and then shall never end.”
Until that day comes, we live faithfully. We gather with God’s people. We rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, and bear one another’s burdens (Rom 12:15, Gal 6:2). As Acts 2:44–47 describes the early Church, “all that believed were together” sharing their lives, their goods, their prayers, and their worship.
One Body, One Lord
The communion of saints is not merely a doctrine to believe—it is a reality to live. Whether on earth or in heaven, we are one Church under one Head, Jesus Christ. He holds us together in His love, and nothing—not even death—can separate us from Him or from one another (Rom 8:38–39). This truth is not only deeply comforting—it is profoundly unifying.
Let us be comforted, encouraged, and strengthened to live as faithful members of His Body. For we are not alone. We are “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Eph 3:15), gathered under one name, one Saviour, and one eternal hope (1 Cor 12:27, Rev 14:13). To Him be all glory, honour, and praise. Amen. JK
RAISING A GOD-HONOURING FAMILY IN TODAY’S WORLD
Report by Judith D’Silva
and Joycelyn Chng
Organised by the Ladies’ and Family Bible Fellowships, and chaired by brother Timothy, this workshop held on 28 June 2025 was well attended by grandparents, parents and parents-to-be who were eager to learn from God’s messenger Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy what the Word of God tells us about how to raise a God-honouring family.
The three messages—“Parenting in the Strength of the Lord”, “Inculcating Godly Values” and “Serving the Lord as a Family”—were based on Psalm 127, Genesis 18:19, Joshua 24:15 and Psalm 128 respectively.
Running through them was the underlying admonition that we must fear the Lord, walk in His ways and submit to His direction. His Word, which is full of counsel, advice, warnings and promises, is the foundation of family life. We cannot build a family on our own. Our strength must be renewed through prayer as the Lord only is the true source of strength to build our house. We have to follow God’s instructions and hold them in high esteem. We must not make the mistake Lot did, allowing materialism to guide our choices in life. Fathers must take the lead and women must be submissive to God. Lastly, we must make sure God is always great in our heart. When God blesses us with riches, it is for us to serve Him. And we serve Him as He tells us to serve.
Rev Koshy addressed pertinent questions raised by the participants during the lively question-and-answer session facilitated by sister Judith. Many could relate to how the Christian family faced great temptation to bow to societal pressures such as the “need” for dual income to survive. However, we were reminded that we must trust the Lord that He is able to provide for all our needs as we walk in His ways. Our duty is simply to obey Him and submit to His will that is revealed in His Word. We were all much encouraged by Rev Koshy’s personal testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness to him and his family as he served Him. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Ps 37:25).
While the adults listened to Rev Koshy, the children were taught God’s Word by sister Sophia, who was assisted by sisters Celeste and Charlyn. They learned from the example of Isaac (Gen 22:1-18) to submit to their parents, as their parents seek to do God’s will in bringing them up in the Lord. From the example of Timothy (2 Tim 3:14-17), they were exhorted to persevere to do what they have been taught from God’s Word even as the world shall become more and more sinful. The children also made thank you cards for their parents during craft time.
We thank God for moving the hearts of the organisers to plan this workshop and for the good attendance. The Lord brought more than 60 to the workshop. We also thank God for a most blessed time of fellowship over dinner. Above all, we praise and thank the Lord for the many spiritual lessons learnt. We pray that we will not soon forget these important lessons but apply them to our lives that every family in our church may be God-honouring, shining as living testimonies for Christ in this sinful world.
International Covenant Christian College, under the leadership of Rev Dr Mark Kim, was granted accreditation by the authority of the Rwandan government on 30 July 2025.
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time” (Eccl 3:11)
