Communion with God

I have been reflecting lately on the nature of our relationship to God. Think about the way we often refer to ourselves. We say we are "saved." I think that term may even be more popular than the term "Christian." While this terminology is not deficient, I think it does indicated a weakness in our thinking. Yes, we are saved, but what our minds ought to be focus on is not just that we have been saved, but what we have been saved unto. We have been brought into new relationship to God. We once were enemies, we are now friends. We once were strangers, and now are children. We once were children of wrath, now we are objects of mercy. When we leave it at saved we can miss the vital part of our salvation - our communion with God.

We have started to look at this idea of communion or fellowship with God on Sunday evenings. Check out these verses.

1 Cor. 1:9 (ESV)
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Cor. 13:14 (ESV)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 John 1:3-7 (ESV) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Do we really see that the fundamental nature of our relationship with God has changed? We are saved to be in fellowship with God. Do we see the depth of the relationship? Closeness. Intimacy. Do we truly believe the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?

Something to think about until next time- how would our desire for fellowship with God change our approach to things like prayer, the scriptures, worship, the sacraments? Do we approach these means of grace expecting to meet with the living God, the risen Christ, and Spirit that raised Christ from the dead?

Pastor Howard