The Glory of His Fellowship

Fellowship entails communion, sharing and partnering in a common activity. As we examine the Lord's invitations it becomes clear that He desires our close fellowship (John 1:39).

Of all the disciples Peter, James and John entered into this like no other. John's intimate relationship with the Lord was described as "the one whom the Lord loved." (John 19:26).

Immediately after His resurrection the Lord taught Mary to cling to Him only after He ascended to His Father (John 20:17). Customarily serving with a visible Lord, His people would soon fellowship with the ascended Lord of glory (2 Cor. 5:16).

Come and Live (Matt 11:28)

The Lord Jesus is eternal God, the source of both physical and spiritual life (John 1:1-4; 1 John 1:1-2).

Conversely we are born into this world dead, having no spiritual life (Eph. 2:1).

Thus the Lord invites all to come by faith and cling to Him (Matt. 11:28; John 3:16). Labouring to escape sin's burden we must stop struggling and accept the rest He offers through His finished work on the cross.

All who receive His life (Col 3:4; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 John 5:11-12) have the assurance that God has called them into the fellowship of His Son (1 Cor. 1:9). What's more it is through His Son we have fellowship with the Father (1 John 1:3).

The Lord Jesus desires intimate fellowship and it is only limited by our refusal to accept His terms. One is that we must die (John 3:30).

Come and Die (John 12:23-26)

The Lord Jesus was often invited to turn away from the cross. Among others the devil (Matt. 4:1-11), Peter (Matt. 16:22-23), Jews (John 6:15) and possibly the Greeks (John 12:20-21) all solicited Him to spare His life. However He rejected all offers

Hearing the Greeks request, the Lord revealed instead that His death would bring glory to Him (John 12:23) by bearing spiritual fruit (John 12:24).

Illustrated by the Seed

In nature a seed must be planted and die so that the outer husk can shed and the germ of life within it be activated. This life will then grow into a plant and bear fruit (John 12:24).

Despite containing life if a seed is spared it will remain alone and bear no fruit.

Desiring to include us in His fellowship the Lord did not spare His life but gave it.

The Lord Jesus took the body given to Him (Heb.10:5) and planted it by His death and burial. Rising from the dead He is the plant that continues to bear fruit as each one is added to the church.

We can give back our life

Having received Christ's life the moment we are born again we have the opportunity to offer our life back to Him (2 Cor. 5:15).

There are only two choices, we either spare (love) our life or give (hate) it (John 12:25). Sparing our life is a major barrier to Christ's fellowship while offering our life allows us to draw near (John 13:23).

Paul, desiring Christ's close fellowship mentioned three characteristics that all involved death (Php. 3:10).

The power of His resurrection

Our position is in Christ and therefore we died and rose with Him (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 1:20; 2:6).

Yet to know His power in our daily lives we must live out this truth. We must die, conduct a funeral service and permanently bury our self. Only then will His powerful life be lived out through us (Gal. 2:20).

George Mueller said, "There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God."

Speaking of Jim Elliot, a missionary who gave his life for Christ, a pilot once remarked, "Jim Elliot's body expired in this life, but Jim Elliot died while a college student…several years before. He yielded his life to God then, no matter the consequences."

One man lived a short life, the other a long one. Yet both knew that once the outer shell dies, they could face every circumstance in life with the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Longing for Christ Paul knew this would only happen when he let himself go.

He also looked forward to the day when this same power would instantly conform his lowly body to His glorious body (Php. 3:21).

The fellowship of His suffering

Through church history Christ's fellowship has carried a reproach. His name is never loved in worldly circles and He resides in rejection outside the camp (Heb. 13:13).

However He is no longer on a cross outside Jerusalem but is now seated in glory. All who desire fellowship with Christ must separate from worldly associations, stand beside Him and carry His Name.

Bearing His name carries a reproach and the world will hate us because it hates Christ (Luke 6:22; John 15:18-21). It views the cross as shameful or foolish but to those who believe Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24).

Knowing one needs Christ's communion and partnership, an effective servant takes their cross and follows His path (John 12:26). While suffering is the price for His intimacy (2 Tim 3:12) we can take comfort that He empathizes.

Losing family, friends, occupation or reputation for His name is clear evidence that one has let go and gained Christ (Php. 3:8). This process prepares us for the day when we might be called to physically die for Him.

Being conformed to His death

The pattern has been set. It's through Christ's infinite death that God is harvesting a bountiful harvest. Since the servant is not above the master we must be willing to follow Him.

Nate Saint, a martyr for Christ remarked in a radio sermon, "During the last war we were taught to recognize that, in order to obtain our objective, we had to be willing to be expendable...Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much."

To win the battle every soldier must be willing to die. As Christ's soldiers (2 Tim 2:3) should God expect any less from us?

Throughout the centuries believers knew they might die for their faith. Many accepted martyrdom because they had already conformed to His death. Having done so, they lost nothing.

If the Lord tarries we'll eventually die so the reasonable choice is to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2).

Jim Elliot said "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Rewards

Christ's life will bear fruit in and through our lives in direct proportion to our willingness to die (John 12:24).

The fruit is evident as we change into His image and people are added to and encouraged in the fellowship. The rewards are significant and will reach into eternity (John 12:25-26).

The Father loves the Son (John 5:20) and gives honour or eternal weight to what He did. When we follow His path the Father's joy is evident in the honour He bestows on us (John 12:26) as we experience the glory of His fellowship (John 14:21, 23).

Stephen gave his life and was honoured to see the Lord Jesus before his spirit ascended to meet Him (Acts 7:55-56). Someday we'll see Christ's glory (John 17:24) but He wants our fellowship now.

Make your choice

Protecting itself our flesh could rise in fury and shout "spare." Worldly temptations might entice us by whispering "spare" and the devil will certainly attempt to divert us. Even well meaning friends could object and recommend "spare."

Amidst this clamour Christ softly asks us to die and enjoy the glory of His fellowship.

George Ferrier

Counsel Magazine (September-October 2008)