“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” 1 Timothy 1:5
We are apt to think that communion, or fellowship, with God, is doing something for Him. We might even think that it is some elevated philosophical perspective, or method of thinking, that enables us to know God. The problem with truly knowing God is that He cannot be known by the capacities of men, especially when those abilities are tainted with effects and influence of sin. Jesus says that knowing God is the experience of Life eternal. If we see fellowship, or communion with God, as an essential element of this knowledge of God, then we come face to face with the reality that man was created, and redeemed, to receive from God the true Life of Christ by the Spirit, and to live such a life unto the Father, as did the Lord Jesus.
When Paul penned his first letter to Timothy, he made very clear that the purpose of receiving the knowledge of the truth of God in Christ, was that man would know and experience the love of God, expressed by word “charity.” God does not bring man to the knowledge of the truth concerning Himself in order to judge and condemn him. The Spirit of God uses the truth of the word of God to reveal WHO God is, as the point of reference for what is to follow. God, through His commandments and promises, and the examples in Scripture of those who have truly known and walked with God, provides a path to know Him. When an individual is saved by the convicting power of the Spirit, according to the unveiling of the truth to sinful man, the man, by faith, is justified before God. This is the first step for man to make if he would truly know God, beginning his journey, learning to commune with him. It is as the work of redemption is grasped according to the revelation by the Spirit of truth, that man goes deeper and becomes more established in his knowledge of God’s ways. The great objective remains, to bring man to the place where he knows Gods, walks with God, communes with God. Christ is the believer’s righteousness and redemption, by which the justified man is complete and accepted before God. His standing has become that of a son, or daughter, accepted before the Father, knowing peace with God. This work of redemption, this perfect work of Calvary dealing with the sins of men, providing the new birth, and fulness of the Spirit, has for its objective to bring men within the rent veil, into the closest proximity with God, there to know and commune with God. How can this be?
The first concept in this matter of communion is the unveiling of WHO God is. When Paul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, the first question he asked was: “Who art Thou, Lord?” (Acts 9:5) When God revealed Himself to Moses by the burning bush, and after He made clear to Moses that he was in the presence of the Holy God, He tells him explicitly: “I am the God of thy father, the god of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Ex. 3:6) The knowledge of the person of God is essential if one is to know Him.
The second concept concerning communion is the call to understand just what communion is, and its importance. John, in his first letter, writes the following: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life…” (1 Jn.1:1) He goes on to add a little later: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (1:3) Communion, or fellowship, is the partaking of Christ’s life, and the sharing of that Life with the Father, and others.
Dear Father, give us to abide in Christ, and Him in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.