Sometimes we throw words and terms out there even with a sense of authority without really understanding the full meaning of what we imply. I have been challenged lately in my own thinking to recognize some terms used from a religious perspective as opposed to what is used from a biblical perspective.
I have been doing some reading concerning arguments on the internet from different writers about how people present the salvation message or do not present, in the writers mind, the biblical intent of salvation. It all made for some interesting reading and quite quickly, I began to understand how things, once again, get distorted very easily.
I have said myself, “religion or relationship” with God?” The word relationship does not appear even once in scripture (KJV). So I asked myself if I am to be completely biblical, what word DO I use? God’s Word points to, instead of the term “relationship”, to take a closer look at the biblical meaning for the word “fellowship”. There are 17 references to fellowship; all pointing to our fellowship or not having a proper experience of fellowship with God. Other references refer to “Fellow-citizens, Fellow-disciples, Fellow-heirs, Fellow-helper(s), Fellow-laborers(s), Fellow-prisoner(s), Fellow-servant(s), Fellow-soldier; all rendering different phases of fellowship.
The Greek meaning for fellowship in I John 1:3, is “benefaction to communicate, communion”. “. . . and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Communion: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all, Amen.” II Corinthian 13:14. The Greek meaning for Communion is: fellowship. From the “communion of the Holy Spirit” more fellowship is possible with God .
A relationship, on the other hand, can have different meaning to different people and may not mean the same or work out the same for everyone. My thinking from that is, we experience many different religions out of a variety of distorted thought patterns. Religion, as we know it, was not ever a God ordained thing. In fact, Jesus spoke out against religious leaders from time to time for their stubborn adherence to the law instead of recognizing God’s grace. “Religion” is a man made creation from start to the last finish.
Fellowship with God, on the other hand, is a different realm of intimacy. Fellowship in its true biblical sense and meaning creates a whole different world of thinking about our world and our connection to Jesus through our complete trust in His death, burial, and resurrection for our personal salvation and continued fellowship with Him thereafter!
So the final thought is this, “Are we actively seeking an active and alive sense of fellowship with our Creator or do we settle for a religion or religious experience rather than personal fellowship with the Creator of the universe and our personal Savior?
Thought for the week,
Is it going to be “Faith and Fellowship” or “Religion and Relationships”?
Have a great week,
Judith
Life Series ~ P.O. Box 1671 ~ Murfreesboro, TN 37133 ~ lifeseries@comcast.net
