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THE FELLOWSHIP OF OUR SONSHIP
In this study we’ll take a look at the difference between being a son of God, and being in fellowship with God. We’ll see that how we walk at any given moment in time can affect our fellowship with God, but it cannot change our sonship with God. We’ll see that walking as a Christian entails growing and learning, not “being a good Christian.”
One day in the past you chose to believe that this entity you may have called “God,” that you didn’t know, but had heard of and had thoughts of….that He raised Jesus the Christ (messiah) from the dead. Something wonderful happened. You had the Holy Spirit of God birthed within you, making you a son of God.
John 20:31 But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.
I John 5:12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.
I John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.
Romans 10:9 That if you shall confess with your heart the Lord Jesus, believing in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him (Jesus) in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the believing in the working of God, Who has raised him from the dead.
O M Y G O D !!!! How simple is that? We all believe. Everyone of us. You opened this e-mail because you believed. You make the sandwich you do because of what you believe. You go to school, study for tests, talk to friends, go to bed……..all because of what you believe. It’s not difficult to believe.
The Word of God says that God raised this man, Jesus, a Jew from Nazareth, who was born through the act of God Himself impregnating a Jewish woman named Mary, from the dead. It also says that God then made this man, who’d been raised from the dead, Lord of all of creation…..both heaven and earth.
I chose to believe the record that God gave of His Son. And though I’d been searching for God for almost 2 years……I only came into actual contact with Him at that moment I believed what He said about raising His Son from the dead.
I John 5:10, 11 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself (that “witness” is the spirit of God); he that believes not God has made Him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Let me emphasize that this making us sons of God, this giving to us eternal life…..is a free gift!
I John 3:1, 2a Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God………
Okay, we believe and receive the spirit of God Himself (called Holy Spirit). Because this life is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, this spirit is also called the spirit of Christ, or simply Christ.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Christ in you is your Sonship. God makes you His son by birthing the spirit of His Son, Jesus Christ, within you.
You in Christ is your Fellowship with God. This is you walking in the spirit (or not) of which you are born.
Colossians 1:28 Whom (Christ in you, the hope of glory) we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (fully mature) in Christ. (the King James adds the word “Jesus” after Christ, but this word is not in the majority of Greek texts…..so you can just leave it out).
Colossians 1:27 talks of your sonship. Colossians 1:28 talks about your fellowship.
Christ in you is your sonship. You in Christ is your fellowship.
Christ in you is your standing before God. It is eternally locked into place in the heart of God.
You in Christ is the state of your relationship (or lack thereof) with God.
Christ in you is a one time placement of the spirit of Christ into you by God Himself.
You in Christ is your ongoing growth, by your free will choices, to walk in and by, and thus grow by, that spirit of Christ within you.
Paul’s desire is that believers (in whom the spirit of Christ dwells) grow and mature in that spirit. This only happens as we walk in fellowship with it. The word fellowship (koinoneo) simply means a full sharing….give and take, open to give, open to receive. We present our hearts and thoughts to that spirit, and we gladly receive into our lives and practice the things which that spirit imparts to us.
Soooooo, you can have Christ in you, but not be in Christ. Then that spirit is of little benefit. Like, you could be the prince of England, heir to the throne and all the wealth, power & prestige that goes with it…….but you can choose not to walk in that prince-dom, and thus not enjoy the benefits of it. (King of England, Edward VIII actually did abdicate the throne of England in 1936……thus walking away from the benefits of his sonship).
Let’s take a look at a few more verses, in order to see the truth of this.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom (Christ) you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom (Christ) also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (sonship). (Sealed with the spirit = Christ in you…….sealed….a one time deal).
II Corinthians 5:17, 18a Therefore if any man be in Christ (fellowship), he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things (in Christ) are of God…….
When and as you choose to walk in the spirit of God of which you are born, you have a growing, rich relationship with God Himself. The more you walk in the life of Christ within you, the more you take on the qualities of Christ.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
The moment you first believed, the “seed” of Christ is placed within you. Now the only thing remaining is to grow and develop in that spirit, by walking in fellowship with it. The more you walk in it, the more it develops within you, the more you become like Christ.
II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Read the first chapter of Ephesians, taking note of how often the term “in Christ” or “in him” (referring to Christ) is used. Take note of what is obtained by our walking in the fellowship of the spirit of Christ.
Now we’ll look at Philippians 3:8-10. Paul has just finished laying out his earthly “pedigree.”
Philippians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I regard all things but loss for the excellency of the intimate knowing (by personal relationship) of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do regard them dung….., that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; That I may intimately know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made like he was unto his death;
My final exhortation to you is the same as Paul’s in
Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (sonship), so walk you in him (fellowship);
You believed. Once. You were born. Now learn to walk, faithfully and fully, in that same spirit of which you are now born. The spirit of Christ within you. Walk in fellowship with God, and you will grow more and more into the very image of Christ himself.
I John 1:2- 4 For the life (of God) was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us (in the life of His Son); That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
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See related studies:
How to be Saved ….. X 3
True Christianity – in a Nutshell
On Becoming Perfect
Dying to Self
