THE BELIEVER'S FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, PART 1

In the Apostle John’s first epistle, he references that “indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). Fellowship is an essential aspect of the believer’s present spiritual position. Therefore, the importance of this concept of fellowship with God cannot be overstated and needs to be understood completely as we progress through John's first epistle.

Aspects of Our Present Spiritual Position “in Christ”

Examining the chart below, we should note the specific details of the believer’s present position as being in Christ. For demonstration only, the main circle bounded by solid yellow represents the entirety of the believer’s relational sphere with God. It is solid because once inside there is never the possibility for the believer to ever be outside of this eternal relationship.

There are two aspects of being in Christ: The inner realm of fellowship and the outer realm of carnality. Throughout the believer’s life we occupy either aspect, but never at the same time. This follows the teachings of John that we either “walk in the Light”—the inner realm of fellowship (1 John 1:7); or we “walk in darkness”—in carnality marked by sin (1 John 1:6). The inner realm of fellowship has a permeated line, indicating that this aspect of the believer’s fellowship with God is temporal—transitory.

Fellowship with God

The meaning of the Greek word for fellowship is that of “an association involving close mutual relations and involvement.”1 Our fellowship with God is much greater than sitting around and singing hymns or walking about pseudo-piously with eyes looking towards heaven. It is intended to be a solemn, intimate and vibrant relationship that involves our participation of commonly shared interests and as imitators of God’s characteristics—specifically His love and righteousness (Ephesians 5:1-5). It is a supernatural life which requires that believers are to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. R.B. Thieme, Jr. rightly states this, that “In the Church Age, to be ‘in fellowship’ is to be filled with the Holy Spirit”2 (Ephesians 5:18b).

The Holy Spirit is the Agent of the Godhead sent by Jesus Christ for the believer (John 16:7). He is designated as our “Helper” and has specialized ministries exclusively for believers in the Church Age. Here are a few of the His many ministries: He is the provider of the new birth in Christ (John 3:3-6); He is to guide us in the teaching of God’s absolute truth (John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16); He provides a variety of individual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11); His sealing is “the believer’s guarantee of the security of his salvation”3; He indwells the believer eternally and provides empowerment for us to be Christ’s witnesses (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16); and “by one Spirit we were baptized into one body” the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

The inner realm represents the place of our fellowship with God. Consistently residing in this place of fellowship should be the objective of every believer. This requires that the believer be filled with the Holy Spirit in order that they “walk as children of Light” (Ephesians 5:8) by their holy living.

Temporal Aspect of Fellowship

Residing in the inner realm of fellowship means a life devoid of sinfulness. It is the reason that our fellowship is a temporal aspect, because sin severs the believer’s fellowship with God. For we have been called to holy living: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:1). In contrast, the New Testament writers provide numerous examples of what constitutes sinfulness:

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:3–5)

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (1 Peter 2:1)

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

Nevertheless, it is inevitable that the believer will sin and when that occurs they are no longer “walking in the Light” but instead they are walking in darkness and dwell in the Outer Realm of Carnality. Paul characterized these believers as unspiritual, men of flesh (carnal) “infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). Elsewhere he is emphatic that those who are carnal and unspiritual “cannot please God” (Romans 8:8; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:1). Paul does explain how we can please God:

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9–10)

In Our Lord’s discourse of the “Vine and the Branches” in John 15:1-16, He further described what pleases God and that our fellowship should glorify Him: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples...and that your fruit would remain” (John 15:8, 16). Our Lord’s desire is that our fruit bearing would not be “a mere spurt, but permanent growth.”4 The believers' exhibition of the fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) ensures that they are pleasing Him by keeping His commandments (John 13:35), abiding in His love (John 15:9-10) and witnessing so that others might believe in Jesus Christ (John 17:20). Thus, “as we bear ‘much fruit’ the Father is glorified in us.”5

However, it should be noted that Our Lord mentions in His discourse that “every branch in Me [in Christ] that does not bear fruit, He takes away” (John 15:2a). This in no way implies loss of salvation, but instead it depicts being removed from the Inner Realm of Fellowship and consequently residing in the Outer Realm of Carnality. Concerning the Greek word for ‘takes away,’ Dr. Ryrie asserts that “The word may mean this literally (as ‘Remove’ in 11:39) and would therefore be a reference to the physical death of fruitless Christians (1 Cor. 11:30).”6 The Apostle John warned that "there is a sin leading to death" (1 John 5:16). 

The writer to the Hebrews, quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, cautions that there is the real potential of Divine discipline for a believer continually dwelling in the Outer Realm of Carnality:

And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

 “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,

 And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:5–8)

When Continued in Part 2:

It will be explained how the believer can be restored to the Inner Realm of Fellowship and how they are to maintain their fellowship with God.

---

[1] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1.445.

[2] Thieme, R.B., Jr. (2022). Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary, Houston, TX: R.B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries, p. 99.

[3] Ryrie, Charles C. (1995). The Ryrie Study Bible: Expanded Edition, Chicago, IL: Moody Press, p. 1877 note.

[4] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 5.261.

[5] Scofield, C. I. (2002). The Scofield Study Bible, New King James Version, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, p. 1478, note.

[6] Ryrie, p. 1710 note.