Christ is the Source of Genuine Relationship and Fellowship

The Father has sent the Holy Spirit to birth Christ in us and us in Christ. Christ is the source of "genuine relationship and fellowship" to the Father and the expression of love to and for others in us. What about the thinking and teaching about getting our relationship with God right first, then we can get our relationships right with others? Is that what the Word of God teaches? Also, is not the "focus" in Ephesians chapter 5 on "Christ and the Body of Christ" (vs. 32)? . . .Then would not the emphasis in Eph. 5:18 strongly imply in context, being "filled with the Spirit of Christ" to the church for "fellowship" with the Father and others? Let us look objectively into God's Word.

 

RELATIONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

"That which we have (already completely) seen and we have (already completely) heard, we also (continually) announce unto you, in order that you also may (continually) have fellowship with us: and indeed, our fellowship [is] with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:3, author's translation).

 

First, The Father Sends the Holy Spirit to Rebirth Eternal Sons in Christ

The Father wanted to have eternal Sons in a "relationship and fellowship." How can the Father have this come to pass? Paul says, "There is none righteous" (Rom 3:10). "There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God" (Rom. 3:11). John tells us, "No one can come to Me (Christ) unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). So the Father sends the Holy Spirit to convict of us sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). This is why Jesus clearly warned the multitudes (Luke 12:10) and the Pharisees (Matt 12:32). Jesus told them that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven anyone during this time or the age to come. Why? If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, you cut off the Divine Source of conviction and wooing to Christ for Salvation and Eternal life. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into one body – the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit rebirths every son by implanting the incorruptible Seed of Christ in fullness within them (I Pet. 1:23). This Seed contains the Person, Nature, and Eternal Life of Christ (Gal. 2:20; II Pet. 1:4; I John 5:11,12). The "rebirthing" provides an eternal relationship with the Father.

Second, Christ is our Relationship and Fellowship Link with the Father

We are literally "saved by His (Christ's) life" in us (Rom. 5:10). We can have a "relationship" with the Father as a son, because we have the fullness of the righteousness of Christ "imputed to us who believe in Him (the Father) who raised up our Lord from the dead" (Rom. 4:24). We now know and believe that Christ is our righteousness (I Cor. 1:30). Everything that provides us a rebirthed son relationship and fellowship with our Father is in, by, and through Christ. In fact, the only connection that we can have with the Father is through the Son. The Son states that He is the one that has seen the Father (John 6:46). The only way we can know or see the Father is in and through the Son (John 14:7). We will never know the Father except the Son in us reveals Him (Matt. 11:27). Christ as our justification and righteousness with His finished work on the cross is the only way to the Father (Rom. 4:24,25; 5:1,2; John 14:6).

Third, True Fellowship with God is Mirrored in our Fellowship with Others

"Truly our fellowship is with the Father and in His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:3). There is a "thinking" and a "teaching" that if you get your vertical relationship (meaning with God) right, then you can get your horizontal relationships (meaning earthly relationships) right. John throughout I John chapters 1 and 4 doesn't appear to confirm that thinking or teaching. In fact, John declares that you "will be having fellowship" with one another in right relationships, if indeed you have your relationship right with God (I John 1:5-7). You either have them both of them in proper fellowship, or you have none of them in proper fellowship.

Fourth, Fellowship is the Expression of Christ for Others that Cleanses Us

There is a tendency to focus on "sin" in general in this passage (I John 1:5-10). However, the focus of this passage is on specific "sin" related to "fellowship with others." John is telling us that God is absolute purity and there is no darkening impurity ever in Him (John 1:5). Christ gave His life for others. That is His Person, Spirit, Nature and Life now rebirthed within us. If we are not letting Christ be expressed in and through us to others, we are walking in darkening impurity. We are continually living a lie, and are continually not practicing the truth (I John 1:6). Christ is ever illuminating purity and ever lives in us to be expressed to and for others. Allowing Christ to live in and through us in His illuminating purity for others is considered fellowship with others (I John 1:7). This follows with a declaration, "and the blood of Jesus His Son (continually) cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7). Perhaps we need to "focus" on the truth and reality of Christ living and expressing His life through us for others, for that is a mirrored expression of the reality of our fellowship with the Son and the Father. We are told when the "Christ-life" is expressed through us for others, that His blood is continually cleansing us from all sin. That is a very important statement!

Fifth, Being Filled with the Spirit of Christ Flows in a Love Fellowship

If the "Christ-life" is being expressed in and through us to and for others, there will be no place for the world, the flesh, and the devil. Paul said, we "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Eph. 5:11). All things are manifest, as the "light of Christ" flows in and through us to others (Eph. 5:13). Christ shall hereafter shine upon you (Eph. 5:18). We are filled with "Spirit of Christ," when He lives in and flows through us with His full expression to and for others (Eph. 5:18, Rom. 8:9). Again, when Christ is fully expressed in His Spirit and life for others through us, a love fellowship in the Son and the Father transpires with a love response to each other (Eph 5:19-21).

Sixth, Genuine Fellowship Focuses on Christ in Us and Us in Christ

Genuine fellowship is in and around "the mystery" of Christ in us the hope of glory (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:27). Rebirthed sons now have Christ living in us as our very life (Rom. 5:10). Man has a tendency from all background teaching that he has heard in the natural to "focus" upon the Holy Spirit. The truth is that the Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Truth" (John 15:26). However, the Holy Spirit will not speak or "focus" on Himself (John 16:13). That is an area where the Body of Christ needs clear discernment. The Holy Spirit has been sent by the Father to convict men of their need of Christ as Savior and Lord (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit has come to speak of and glorify Christ. The Holy Spirit has come to birth Christ – "the Person of Truth" within us. The Holy Spirit will teach and lead men that Christ is their life, their only life, and apart from Christ in them and them in Christ they can do nothing (Gal. 2:20; John 15:5).

Seventh, Christ in Us is the Way for Genuine Fellowship with the Father

Man erroneously teaches and focuses in on the Holy Spirit. The Father clearly sent the Holy Spirit who teaches, reveals and focuses in on Christ – the Person of Truth, who lives in us and is expressed through us for others. Christ then in turn teaches and focuses us in on the Father. This is the true Divine teaching flow. Christ is the only way to the Father. Christ is the truth of the Father and the Life in the Father. Christ in us is the way for genuine fellowship with the Father.