The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“Relationship and Fellowship”
One of the most important distinctions in the Bible involves the difference between relationship with God, and fellowship with Him.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (I John 3:1-2).
“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
Through the Lord Jesus Christ, God spiritually births all who believe with eternal life, defined as knowing Him (John 17:3). We become His risen sons and daughters, alive in the life of Christ Himself, and called to see ourselves as no less beyond the possibility of spiritually dying than our blessed Lord. “Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more… Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be alive unto God” (Romans 6:9-11). Once alive, forever alive declares the Apostle Paul in terms of the relationship with God that defines eternal life.
Our fellowship with God, conversely, refers to our response to God and His truth. Presently, this shared participation with Him and His involved presence in our lives ebbs and flows. We may or may not walk closely with Him, although superabundant enabling always lies close at hand, and even closer in heart, for every believer. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8). How we respond to the relationship of God as our perfectly providing Father determines how we walk in the fellowship of His grace received by faith.
Understanding this dichotomy enables us to rightly and effectually interpret Scripture, rejoicing in its promises of secure relationship, while taking solemn account of the seriousness of consistent and growing fellowship with Him. Our Father would surely have us rejoice in the gift of a justification so complete that He will not impute sin to the account of His sons and daughters in Christ (Romans 4:8). However, He would also have us “perfect holiness in the fear of God,” recognizing that He loves us far too much to allow us to take advantage of grace by blithely ignoring His glory and will. “The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” was written not to unbelievers, but to God's sons and daughters in Christ (II Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 10:30-31).
Relationship and fellowship. Maintaining and growing in the understanding of both Biblical truths greatly empowers our rejoicing in the former, while availing ourselves of the latter. Our Father would have us walk in the peace of an assured relationship, while remembering the seriousness of a fellowship that presently must flow rather than ebb. Grace provides for both, the gift of freely given sonship and daughterhood in the Christ who purchased our bond with God, and the power to walk accordingly…
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
(Romans 5:1-2)
“Let us have grace, that we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.”
(Hebrews 12:28"
Weekly Memory Verse
We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
(II Peter 1:19).
7772
7771
No comments:
Post a Comment