Fellowship with Christ

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the Fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor.1:9 (RV)

The Heavenly Father in His Word instructs by picture, metaphor, and figure, and this for a very wise purpose in order that we may earnestly enquire at His Gates. (Proverbs 8.)

An elementary knowledge, therefore, of the common things of life, will reveal that they are pregnant with deep spiritual truths, for instance, a little knowledge of the formation of gems in their matrix of flint and granite, and a little knowledge of the Lapidary’s art (gemcutter), will give the cue to the beautiful symbol of the Church’s being called "Jewels."

Again, an elementary knowledge of the human body will open up the transcendent truth of our oneness in Christ.

While there are many beautiful figures used to illustrate "the Christ Head and Body" the figure of "Fellowship" suggests a personality in fellowship with another personality with all its attendant privileges and responsibilities.

Our English word "Fellowship," is a good translation of the Greek word used here, "Koinonian," which means Association, intimacy, joint interest and feeling. Hence the words "Fellow," "Associate," and "Companion."

In human affairs in order to become a Fellow of any community it is necessary to pass certain tests, and to acquire a particular knowledge, and it is even so with "The Fellowship of His Son."

There are many phases of this "Fellowship" that one might speak of, but they might be summed up thus:

The Saints are called by God Himself to Fellowship with His Son.

These things comprise the Life of the Son of God, and in all these things, we may, yea must, participate in order to enter into Fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ.

Our Lord’s attitude toward His Father in His Sonship was one of faith, obedience and submission, the outcome of an "Inner" experience, through a life of Communion with God.

The life of Jesus was not governed merely by the technique of the moral law, a set of moral principles laid down for His rule of life, but it was governed by an apprehension and appreciation of God as He is and for what He was. This appreciation, aided by His filial love, brought Him into a life of communion with God.

Having apprehended the Father’s Holiness and Mercy as depicted in Exod.34:6‑7, and bringing to these the filial love of His perfect heart, He found the mainspring and motive of His life work, which was the unveiling of that Glorious Personality. (John 1:18.)

It was as though Jesus said: "Yes, Righteous Father, I know exactly what you desire, men have missed the mark, it is my joy and delight to know Thee, to love and obey Thee, and respond to Thy Wishes," and therein was God’s food, "Love responding to Love."

What Adam failed to render, God found in Jesus—a perfect human heart responding to Himself. The filial love of Jesus, enabled Him to acquiesce the Divine Will. He grasped God’s mind, saw the sinfulness of sin, and approved as just the Divine sentence on Adam. In brief, He saw holiness contrasted with sin, and then mercy from the Divine viewpoint, and was now able and willing to consecrate. (Psa.40:6‑8.)

The Father’s response at Jordan gave Him the precious assurance of Sonship which He never lost. (Luke 3:22)

Through the Prophet Habakkuk we read, "My Righteous One, by His faith shall live," therefore we conclude that Jesus lived by faith, and what an astounding example of faith He proved Himself. The secret of His overcoming life was the power of the Spirit which enabled Him to apply the Word of God to Himself personally, and we are astonished at the remarkable statements which would have been audacity if they were not of faith.

Listen! At Jordan He takes on His lips a quotation from Psalm 40, and personally applies it to Himself before the Father, and the Father endorses it by acknowledgment of His Sonship. In the early part of His ministry He entered a synagogue and applied to Himself Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon ME because the LORD (Jehovah) hath Anointed ME."

Afterwards He applies to Himself the titles "True Vine," "The Righteous Branch," "The Righteous Servant," "The Seed," "Son and Lord of David," and so on till the wonderful applications culminate in those words from the Cross, "I thirst!" (John 19:28; Psa.69:21).

Thus He grew into and out of the Word till He became the very embodiment of it, becoming the Living Word, expressing, explaining, unveiling the Father’s mind in a perfect human life. "And all…wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth." (Luke 4:22) No wonder the Bride voices her appreciation by saying, "His lips (were) like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh." (Song of Solomon 5:13)

To the consecrated is granted the "Opened Heavens." The light from the Lampstand—the assurance of Sonship, a vision of oneness with the Anointed, in suffering, death, and triumph, so complete, that the Scriptures become our sole foundation and support, our daily necessity, our guide, our lamp, our food, our song.

We must not merely approach the Word as our armoury for weapons of defence, but as our store, our treasury, our delight.

It denotes stupendous advance in faith’s growth which can identify itself with Christ, as veritable members of the Anointed, and it is here that the test comes for such are of the faith of Abraham; yea the Seed of Abraham. Let us not be fearful, seeing our righteous standing in Christ, of joining with Him in fellowship and personally applying the Scriptures to ourselves as being "in Him," and thus we shall honour the Son and the Father by this exercise of Faith. (Heb.3:6,14.)

WEG