Deepening Our Fellowship with Christ
As believers, we are called to have a deep and intimate relationship with Christ. This fellowship is rooted in our union with Him, which is a monergistic act of divine grace that calls, covenantally binds, and applies all of Christ’s redemptive work to us. But what does it mean to have authentic fellowship with Christ?
A Union Like No Other
Our union with Christ is not just a superficial relationship; it’s a binding union that cannot be changed. At the moment of conversion, we become forever the adopted sons and daughters of God through Christ. This union is grounded in divine election and the salvific work of Jesus.
The Privilege of Fellowship
Paul reminds us that we have been given the privilege of fellowship with Christ by the Father: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship (koinonia) of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). This koinonia is a sweet and intimate type of fellowship in which our lives are necessarily interwoven with Christ.
Seeking First the Kingdom
As King Jesus builds His kingdom, part of our communion with Him is our joining with Christ to seek and pursue His kingdom. This requires us to put away the normal worries of this world and “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
Loving Christ Above All
The greatest command in Scripture is to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind” (Matt. 22:37). This command certainly applies to our love of Jesus Christ. Our love for Christ must be our greatest desire as we live out our communion with Him.
Obedience and Fellowship
Jesus points out that our love for Christ is displayed in our obedience to God. He says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our obedience is a demonstration of our love for Christ and is essential to deepening our fellowship with Him.
Sin and Fellowship
While our union with Christ cannot be hindered or broken, the sweetness and intimacy of our fellowship with Christ can be hampered through sin. Each moment of willful sin can erode and chip away at our communion with Christ.
Repentance and Restoration
However, when we authentically repent of our sin and seek forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive us. This repentance is not the initial repentance of sin that takes place in our union with Christ, but rather the repentance of sin that understands that our continued iniquities hurt our communion with Christ.
Knowing Christ Through Scripture
We cannot love that which we do not know. Therefore, it is essential to study God’s Word to deepen our understanding of Christ. The Bible communicates who Christ is, and as we grow in our understanding of Him, we also grow in our fellowship with Him.
Demonstrating Love for Others
Our communion with Christ is not just a private matter; it is also demonstrated publicly by our love for others. Jesus says that loving God and neighbor are the two commandments which the entire law and prophets depend upon.
Suffering and Perseverance
Every authentic believer will face suffering and persecution because of Christ. However, when we suffer, we have a choice to make. We can suffer with a hard heart and complain against God, or we can cry out to God, lean upon Him, trust Him, and depend upon Him to deliver us from or persevere us through our sufferings.
Prayer and Fellowship
Prayer is our opportunity to communicate with God through Christ. While forsaking prayer does not break our union with Christ, it certainly harms our fellowship with Him. When we pray, we tend to feel more connected to Christ, and our communication with Him strengthens our communion with Him.
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