Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7900 The life of the church  »  7921 fellowship  »  7922 fellowship, with God

The relationship with God, disrupted by sin yet established through Jesus Christ, which provides the only proper basis for true human fellowship. God's desire for fellowship with humanity is made known through his calling of a people to be his own and to reflect his holiness and love.

God's fellowship with his people is shown by his presence

God's presence with Israel

Leviticus 26:12 See also Exodus 33:14; Isaiah 63:9; Haggai 1:13

God's presence in the tabernacle

Exodus 25:8 See also Exodus 29:45-46; Exodus 40:34-36; Leviticus 26:11; Deuteronomy 12:11

God's presence in the temple

1 Kings 6:12-13 See also 1 Kings 8:29 pp 2 Chronicles 6:20; 2 Chronicles 7:1-2; Isaiah 6:1

God's presence in the new Jerusalem

Zechariah 2:10-13 See also Ezekiel 37:26-28; Ezekiel 43:4-7; Ezekiel 48:35; Revelation 21:3

The church's fellowship with God

Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

John 14:23 See also John 14:7,16-17 fellowship with the Spirit

Fellowship is made possible through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:18-19 See also Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Colossians 1:20-22; Hebrews 10:19-22

Fellowship with Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:9 See also Matthew 28:20 Jesus Christ's presence with his disciples; John 15:4-5 abiding in Christ; Romans 6:4-5 united with Christ in his death and resurrection; 1 Corinthians 10:15-16 communion with Christ at the Lord's Supper; Philippians 3:10 sharing in Christ's sufferings

Fellowship with God is inseparable from fellowship with one another

1 John 1:3 See also Matthew 18:20; Mark 9:37; John 17:21; 2 Corinthians 13:11

The demands of fellowship with God

Holiness

Leviticus 20:26; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 See also Exodus 34:12-14; Ezra 6:21; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:8-11; James 4:4

Obedience to God's will

1 John 3:24 See also Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 12:49-50 pp Mark 3:34-35 pp Luke 8:21; John 14:21

Sin separates people from fellowship with God

Isaiah 59:2; 1 John 1:5-6 See also Genesis 3:8; Ezekiel 39:23

Examples of fellowship with God

Genesis 5:22 Enoch; Genesis 6:9 Noah; 2 Chronicles 20:7 Abraham

Moses:

Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:3 Joshua 1:9 Joshua; Malachi 2:6 Levi

See also

1346  covenants
1510  Trinity, the
5895  intimacy
6020  sin
6652  forgiveness
6716  reconciliation
7364  fellowship offering
8102  abiding in Christ
8122  friendship with God
8266  holiness
8604  prayer, response to God
9414  heaven, community of redeemed