14th March 2024
Union and communion
But he [or she] who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
1 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV)
Union and communion are the exciting call of the Christian life. God is an eternal relationship of three: God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are told that believers are called to share or participate in this divine relationship: ‘God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Corinthians 1:9). The ‘fellowship of his Son’ is the holy, loving relationship of the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, a relationship which has existed from eternity, and will continue forever! What a blessing, privilege and honour to be called to participate in this wonderful relationship: communion with our triune God.
Also, as believers, we belong to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6); in him we live, and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). So we are now in union with the very Son of God. He is our life and we have no other life apart from the life that we have been blessed with, which is in Christ: ‘When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.’ (Colossians 3:4).
This divine calling to union and communion with Jesus Christ cannot be revoked (Romans 11:29). For us life can only get better because we are in union and communion with the very Son of God, our Creator and Redeemer. As we all know and experience, life is full of trials and challenges. But the Apostle Paul tells us that these are all working together for our good: ‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28). As brothers and sisters in Christ we share in a holy, heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1). God is not playing games with us; he is forming the image or likeness of Jesus Christ in us (Galatians 4:19), and building a relationship with us that will last forever. Union and communion – what an amazing calling!
Prayer
Abba Father, thank you for calling me into your holy, loving relationship, and by the Spirit uniting me to Jesus Christ. In his name, I pray, Amen.
Study by Sherwin Scott
About the writer:
Sherwin Scott is a deacon in the Lewes congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion in Lewes
The House of Friendship
208 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2NS
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:00 am
Local congregational contact:
Hilary Buck: lewes@gracecom.church
Like us on: www.facebook.com/Grace Communion Lewes
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church