Fellowship – BT5:  Vertical God-fellowship affects our horizontal Human-fellowship

 

 

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Our vertical relationship with God also naturally affects our horizontal relationship with God’s other family members (a), by “remembering/discerning TOGETHER Christ’s Body/Church through the Lord’s Supper that they should be DEVOTED to koinonia commune together-with (b) and to be changed-sharers in” (c), and again be “changed-sharers of (c) the Lord’s table” (d).  During this they should also be DEVOTED to koinonia sharing in proseuchomai conversational-praying and eating together (e), especially at their love feasts (f).  How come more churches don’t follow this model?  I was saved at a Friday-night devotional where the church fed us starving college students!  That’s why John can say that “routinely/habitually walking [all around, i.e., living] in darkness” (g), which in the context refers to hating fellow Christians (h), proves that we don’t really have koinonia fellowship with God or Christ “who dwells in the light,” even if we say we do, and proves that we really haven’t horao ‘observed with your mind’s eye or perceived/discerned to know‘ or are experientially, relationally ginosko knowing either God or Christ (i).  For more about discernment – see New Covenant Ways – BT16. <Notes> a) 1 John 1:3, b) 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Acts 2:42, c) metochos: changed due to sharing or being an active-partaker with, d) 1 Corinthians 10:21, e) Acts 2:42, f) 1 Corinthians 11:20-21, 33, g) 1 John 1:6, h) especially 1 John 2:9, 11, 3:14-15, and 4:20, i) 1 John 3:6-9.

 

“Unity of peace” with God and others is a ‘flavor’ from the singular fruit of the Holy Spirit that is Unconditional-Love (a).  You can’t get it no matter how many church programs you create if you don’t summon the Holy Spirit to take total control of the service. <Notes> a) Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:14; Romans 14:17, 15:13; Ephesians 4:3.

 

Division is the opposite of harmonious peace, but ironically Jesus, the Prince of Peace, created division by His very coming:  the believers from unbelievers (a), “might and power” soulish living of the flesh is separated from “by-the-means-of My Spirit” living (b), and the Church from those instigating division within the Church (c).  Paul admitted that “there must be divisions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be publicly-apparent” (d).  Our outward actions reflect our inward reality, no matter how hypocritically we live.  Jesus said, “You will epiginosko genuinely, fully, experientially, relationally know them by their fruits” for “each tree is ginosko experientially, relationally known by its own [singular] fruit” (e).  James also echoes that way you say you believe doesn’t matter because “demons believe” so “faith without [proving Christian] works is dead/useless” (f).

 

<Notes> a) Luke 12:51, b) Hebrews 4:12: Christ, “the Logos message of God that is living and active” is so “sharp” that it “pierces to dividing the soul and the spirit/Spirit [of man] . . . the [soulish] thoughts and [spirit/Spirit] intentions of the heart,” c) Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10, 11:18, 12:25; Galatians 5:20; Titus 3:10; Jude 1:19, d) phaneros: shining, apparent, manifest, publicly evident, plainly recognized or known: 1 Corinthians 11:19, e) Matthew 7:16, 20, Luke 6:44, f) James 2:14, 17, 19, 26.

 

Sin defined as “falling short of the ‘mark or target’ of God’s holy character” is the result of each-person of humanity “absolutely-in-fact-NOT dokimazo ‘scrutinizing/examining in order to prove genuine’ presently/ongoingly to echo ‘hold to have’ God by-the-means-of genuine, full, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge, so God gives this-person over to a reprobate/depraved mind to do those things that should not be done” (a).  Actions following thoughts!  In other words, they once had intimate fellowship with God (early in human history or even as an innocent child), but they didn’t want to “look into” holding onto that!  The result is a mind that drags them down into the gutter!  <Notes> a) Romans 1:28.

 

However, knowing about the commandments of God’s Law only brings us into intimate knowing of sin – not God, which then actually increases sin (a).  Meno abiding/remaining in the Law will make you even more of a sinner!  However, John makes it clear that the “practice of sin” comes from not meno “abiding/remain connected to the Vine of Christ” but being “of/belonging-to the devil who has never stopped sinning” (b).  Jesus warned: “If you routinely/habitually meno ‘remain connected to’ in Me and I in you, you will actually, ongoingly produce much fruit for without Me you are absolutely-in-fact-NOT powerfully- enabled to actually, ongoingly do/make one thing” (c). <Notes> a) b) Romans 3:20, 5:20, c) 1 John 3:6-8, d) John 15:5.

 

Sin comes from looking for zoe genuine-life in all the wrong places instead of fellowship with God!  Jesus clarifies for us:  “Now this is-defined-as actually, ongoingly the everlasting, zoe genuine-life – that they might (our choice) presently/ongoingly, experientially, relationally ginosko know You, the only true God, and/coupled who You actually, already sent:  Jesus Christ (The Anointed One, the Messiah)” (a).  Let’s just face it:  We can all get bored with the routines of life, but if the lack of joy from being disconnected from God’s Spirit of joy (b) builds up in our life, we can be tempted to look for it somewhere else – in “the fleeting pleasures of sin” (c).  All of us have experienced this “escapism!”  <Notes> a) John 17:3; Jeremiah 31:34; Hosea 6:3; 2 Peter 1:2-3, 2:20; Philippians 3:8, b) Proverbs 17:22; Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6, c) Hebrews 11:25.

 

 

 

So how do we get back into fellowship with God?  By trying harder with our “might and power” to obey God’s “Law of commandments expressed in ordinances” (a)?  No!  That’s Old Testament religion and every religion on the planet!  Paul says:  “Now the Law came in to increase/multiple the trespasses” (b) since “dia thru-the-realizing-channel-of the Law [is] the genuine, full, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of sin” (c) – it wasn’t meant to stop sin but brings us into the experience of even more sin!  That’s why it’s called the “Law of sin and death” (d)!  <Notes> a) Ephesians 2:15, b) Romans 5:20, c) Romans 3:2, d) Romans 7:23, 25, 8:22.

 

“The Law was added for the sake/cause of (a) transgressions [from specific commandments] UNTIL the [singular] ‘Offspring’ should come, to Whom (b) the promise [to Abraham about his coming inheritance] had been made” (c). Paul says the “Offspring” is Jesus Christ!  “The [OT] Law was our legally-appointed paidogogos strict child-educator/superintendent-guardian [that treated the children strictly no different than slaves] UNTIL Christ came in order that [now] we might be justified/made-righteous by trusting-relying-faith, but now that trusting-relying-faith has come, we are NO LONGER in fact under a paidogogos . . . but are [mature] sons (d) of God” (e).  Paul clarifies our sonship:  “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are [mature] sons of God” (f).  Our inheritance we can claim only when we are free, mature “sons” didn’t come by the “slave children” under the Law (g).  Sonship inheritance only came through Jesus as the “mediator of a New Covenant” (h).

 

<Notes> a) adverb charin from charis unconditional-favor-of-grace that furnishes the reason to take action of, b) Galatians 3:16: Jesus, the Christ, c) Galatians 3:19, d) huios: although we are adopted sons, we are NOW under the New Covenant made to share the same nature as their Father, e) Galatians 3:24-26,  f) Romans 8:14, g) Galatians 3:18, 4:30; Ephesians 1:11-18, h) Hebrews 9:15, 10:36, 11:8; Acts 20:32; Exodus 32:13; Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 1:4.

 

So how do we get back into fellowship with God?  By meno abiding/remaining-connected-to IN Christ by pistis trusting-relying-faith!  And we know that pistis is a relationship word with people, not objects, despite what some pastors says!  John warns:  “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works [of sin] of the devil – anyone having already-been [with ongoing results] born/begotten out-of God absolutely-in-fact-NOT ongoingly poieo makes/causes/does sin because God’s sperma seed (Christ as the life of the Holy Spirit) ongoingly meno remains/dwells in him, and/thus he absolutely-in-fact-NOT ongoingly dunamis is-powerfully-enabled [within] to ongoingly sin . . . we know that everyone who having already-been [with ongoing results] absolutely-in-fact-NOT ongoingly sins, but-instead the One (Christ) who already has been definitively/wholly been born/begotten out-of God (He) protects him, and/thus the evil one absolutely-in-fact-NOT does-touch-to-change/modify him” (a).  <Notes> a) 1 John 3:8-9, 5:18.

 

Paul also warns about sin:  “God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:  ‘The Lord actually, definitively/wholly, experientially, relationally ginosko knows who are His” and/coupled ‘Everyone who [publicly at their water-baptism] confesses the name/authority of the Lord/Master-owner must depart/stand-off/withdrawal/desist from adikia ‘injustice, unrighteousness, all that departs from God’s righteous judgments about sin’” (a).  <Notes> a) 2 Timothy 2:19.

 

Jesus also warns about sin:  “Abide/remain in Me, as I also abide/remain in you.  Absolutely-in-fact-NO branch can bear/carry fruit by itself; it must meno remain-connected-to in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you meno remain-connected-to in Me.  I am the Vine; you are the branches.  If you meno remain-connected-to in Me and I in you, you shall indeed bear/carry much fruit, but apart from me you can do absolutely-in-fact-NO thing” (a). <Notes> a) John 15:4-5.

 

So finally Paul concludes:  “Whatever does not proceed from trusting-relying-faith [in Christ] is sin” (a).  Similarly Peter also reminds Christians already born because of trusting-relying-faith, that they were “given exceedingly-great and precious promises that dia thru-the-realizing-channel-of them you might (our choice) be koinonia partakers of the divine nature, [the ones] having already, routinely/habitually escaping the corruption that is in the world by-the-means-of lust” (b).  In other words, God has given us a “keys” (c) to use unlock doors to stay in fellowship with God thru trusting/relying faith in Christ to meno remain-connected-to IN Christ. The Lord told me in a vision that this is “to go to Him regularly in proseuche conversational-prayer for intimate fellowship!” This is where we are transformed into His likeness (d).  <Notes> a) Romans 14:23, b) 2 Peter 1:4, c) like trusting/relying faith from 2 Peter 1:5, d) 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2.

 

Reflections:

 

As Christian musicians, how is our playing going to express fellowship with God’s people in worship services if we really don’t have intimate fellowship with God?  If we are “at war” with some Christians, how can we say that we love God when we hate His children?  The closer we fellowship with God, the more the Spirit’s “unity of peace” that is a “flavor” of the singular fruit of Unconditional-Love we will supernaturally have.  However, not all division is wrong!  The Spirit is constantly dividing between the genuine and the fake!  Jesus’ very coming was intended to separate the goats from the sheep!  Sin causes us to excuse, deny, or run from the truth that is all about a relationship with a holy God.  When we break from the genuine, full, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of God and settle for anything less, God gives us over to a depraved mind that leads to sinful actions.

 

The Law of commandments just throws gas onto the fire!  Trying harder to obey only entrenches the sin.  If we look for zoe genuine-live in all the wrong places, this only leads us toward death.  The “work of Christ to destroy the works of the devil” IN us proves that we are God’s children!  The only way to continue bearing/carrying fruit is to ongoingly abide/remain-connected-to IN the Vine of Christ.  The only way to escape the condemnation of the world because of lust is to routinely/habitually being partakers of the divine nature through the promise of the Holy Spirit.  This continual fellowship depends on regular proseuche conversational-prayer, just as every love–relationship requires regular conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

Spiritual Education, Vertical God-fellowship affects our horizontal Human-fellowship, koinonia fellowship with others overflows from koinonia relationship with God, Division comes from the devil, Unity of peace comes from the presence of the Spirit, Not holding onto relationship with God leads to sin, Remaining connected to the Law of commandments explodes sin, Remaining connected to Jesus bears much fruit of holiness, Sin comes from looking for genuine-life in all the wrong places, Genuine-life only comes from genuinely-knowing by relationship Father thru the Son, We can’t use our own might & power to claw our way back to God thru commandments, The Law treats us as little-children like slaves but only UNTIL Christ makes us mature-sons, Lifestyle sin comes from dwelling outside of Christ, Christ’s seed as His Spirit dwelling in a Christian progressively moves him away from sin into holiness, To eventually bear much fruit you have to remain in Christ, Precious promises of Holy Spirit and faith and love and prayer are keys to share in God’s nature