WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
1 John 1

"…unto the fellowship of his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord."

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

The term "fellowship" (koinōnia) in 1 Corinthians 1:9 refers to a close association, relationship or communion with someone. When man fell from his estate in the Garden of Eden, the communion and fellowship with God was broken. Yet God initiated the restoration of this fellowship by sending His only begotten Son to die for the sin of man. In the Garden of Eden, it was the LORD who initiated the restoration of fellowship with Adam. Adam hid from God, but it was God who sought him out (Gen 3:9). It was the LORD who announced in Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman would be the way of restoration. Similarly for us, our fellowship in Christ is made possible because God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Now that we have been saved gloriously by the gospel of Christ, we can have communion with God and Christ. What a wonderful privilege!

What then does it mean to have fellowship with Christ?

1. It means we have fellowship in the gospel (Phil 1:5). Not only is our communion made possible in the gospel, we are also labourers together with God and the other saints in the work of the gospel (1 Cor 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).

2. We have fellowship in the light (1 John 1:6-7). This means that we have no fellowship with the works of darkness (Eph 5:11; 2 Cor 6:14), but we walk in righteousness and holiness.

3. We will have fellowship with the saints as members of the heavenly family of God (1 John 1:3, 7; 2 Cor 8:4).

4. We will have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ (Phil 3:10). Just as Christ suffered on our behalf, so are we called to suffer for Him.

THOUGHT: Fellowship with Christ is so sweet.
PRAYER: Lord, what a privilege it is to have fellowship with Thee!