The Bible reminds us again and again that God is a personal God -- not some faraway, distant Idea, but the Supreme Person, who actually enjoys the fellowship of his people. Unlike some of the cold, unapproachable gods of some religions, our God is approachable. He wants to be near us, and he wants our devotion and love.
The good news is, we don't have to wait for death to enjoy this. Fellowship with God begins now, and it continues forever and ever without end.
I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.
Leviticus 26:12
I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
1 John 1:3-7
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.* This is the message we heard from Jesus* and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us.
1 John 3:24
Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
"Where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them."
Matthew 18:20
Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone* who sins against me? Seven times?"
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.
And since we are his children, we will share his treasures -- for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Romans 8:10-17
And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life* because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,* you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,* you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children* of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, "Abba, Father."* For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
If you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.
2 John 9
"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends."
Revelation 3:20
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."
Revelation 21:3-4
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.* He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
The Book of God's Promises -- Copyright, 1999 by J. Stephen Lang. All rights reserved, used with permission.
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About The Author
J. Stephen
Lang
J. Stephen Lang is the author of more than ten books about the Bible, including the bestselling The Complete Book of Bible Trivia, 1,001 Things You Always Wanted to Know About the Bible but Never Thought to Ask, The Bible on the Big Screen, Everyday Biblical Literacy, and The Complete Book of Bible Promises. Lang is a regular contributor to Today's Christian, Discipleship Journal, Christian History and other periodicals. He lives in Seminole, Florida.
