1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This verse is full of meaning for those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There at least four major points for us to consider.
- God is faithful.
- You were called.
- Into the fellowship of God’s Son.
- Jesus Christ is our Lord.
In this last sentence of this paragraph, we are being told that God’s faithfulness is sufficient to supply what we need to be presented blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. The emphasis is being place on the fact that God is able to do this work in your life.
God is faithful. He is able to bring into completion the things that He started in you.
Pay close attention to the phrase, “by Whom you were CALLED into FELLOWSHIP of HIS SON.” God’s faithfulness has made a glorious transformation in our lives. We were in fellowship with the kingdom of darkness, but God has called us out and has brought us into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The magnitude of the grace and mercy that has been shown us is seen in this phrase, “Called into the fellowship of His Son.”
We must consider and know Who Jesus Christ is. Until we have an adequate apprehension of Christ, we do not have a sound and sure foundation for our Christian life. Everything begins with and flows from our understanding of Jesus Christ.
What do you know about Who Jesus Christ is? God’s Son is Jesus the Christ. The word, “Christ” means the anointed One. Jesus is the Messiah of God. Consider the Eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ.
To understand who Jesus Christ is, we must go back to the beginning.There are two beginnings in the Bible. The Bible begins with the first. In Genesis 1 it says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” There is a beginning before that beginning. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Genesis 1:1 follows the beginning of John’s gospel. “All things were created by Him.” Jesus Christ the Son of God was eternally present with the Father before the beginning of creation. Before time, before all things, Jesus Christ was present.
Pay attention to all of the times the word ALL is mentioned.
Colossians 1:15–19 (NASB95) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
This one word “ALL” encompasses everything. It puts everything around it every time. We cannot add to ALL. It comprehends the universe and everything in it.
- He is over all things.
- All things are through Him.
- All things are for Him and by Him.
- In Him all things consist.
- All things are held together by Him.
In John 17:5, the Lord lifts UP His eyes to heaven and says: “Now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
In Philippians 2:6 NKJV Paul gives us a glimpse of the eternal Christ when he says: “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”
This is the eternal position, essence and character of Jesus Christ’s deity. Think about the fact that the faithful God has “called us into the fellowship of His Son.” You have not been called to just fellowship with people of the same weaknesses and needs that you go through. You have been called to fellowship with the One Who existed before creation in the form of God.
We have been called into fellowship with the “Lord, Jesus, Christ, God’s Son.”
- He is the Master of the Ages and is greater than time.
- He is the Master and Creator of all things.
- All creation belongs to Him.
Hebrews 1:1-3 (AMP) IN MANY separate revelations and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets, [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the glory of God, and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high.
Let me tell you Who Jesus Christ is! In eternity, He was appointed the heir of all things.
- He is the rightful heir of all things.
- He is the destined Lord of the universe.
- He is God’s heir.
Jesus Christ holds the title to all things. In Matthew 21:33-39, Jesus gave the parable of the tenants and the vineyard. Jesus said, “A man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, built a winepress, and put a watchtower in it.” This shows the care the man had over his vineyard. He rented it out to farmers and he went into a far country. When the time of harvest came, he sent his servant to claim his rights and possess what was his. The farmers seized his servants, the prophets of old, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. He sent more and they treated them the same way. Then the man sent his own son. When they saw the son they said: “This is the heir.”
Jesus the Christ is the heir and He holds the title to all things. In eternity Jesus was designated to be heir of all things by God. As heir, Jesus Christ came into this world to claim God’s rights and ownership.
Jesus knew that He was the heir. The scripture says: “He came to that which belonged to Him, and they did not receive Him or welcome Him.” In the parable they said: “Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.”
Jesus Christ is the heir and all things have been appointed and destined for Him.The depth and meaning here is beyond comprehension. The wealth of His ownership and authority is superior.
Now, consider that “God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son…”
We need to discover the significance of what God has called us into.
What is the significance of Christ in the universe?
Ephesians 1:9 NKJV Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Colossians 1:17 Amplified “He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).”
Think about this. Not only are all things held together in Him, all things are going to be summed up or re-gathered into Him.
You can see evidence of Christ’s ownership and power in the events at Calvary when He was crucified. The Lord was hanging on the cross. The sun should be at its strongest, but there is darkness over all the earth from the 6th until the 9th hour.
What has happened?
Matthew 27:51-52 NCV Then the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart. The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead.
The earth shook and rumbled and rocks could not hold together. What has happened? The One who holds all things together is on the cross. Jesus Christ, God’s Son was hanging dead on the cross. The rightful heir of all things has been put out of His heritage.
He owned it and they did not give Him honor and room. If you put Jesus Christ out of your life, sooner or later your life will go to pieces. The only thing that holds our lives together is our union with Jesus Christ.
Without Christ Jesus, everything falls apart. Nothing fits together without the Lord Jesus Christ. The sun said, “I have no more purpose for shining.” The earth said, “There is no purpose in holding together.” This is why the centurion said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” In Jesus Christ all things hold together.
Look at the exceeding greatness of His position.
Ephesians 1:17-19 NIV84 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength,
Pay attention to Christ’s position and exceeding greatness. God has placed Christ above all things and has given Him a name that is above every name.
The power that God gave Jesus Christ exceeds all other powers. Christ’s power is greater than the power of death and the grave. It is greater than the power of the devil and hell. His power is greater than the power of the evil and sin. It is exceedingly above all other powers.
God the Father raised Him and set Him at His Own right hand. Jesus Christ has been raised far above all principality, power, rule, and authority and has been given a name which is above every name. This is His position. This is an eternally powerful position. This is the position of Jesus Christ. He is the One destined Lord. All things are His and are held together by Him. In the end, He will gather together all things unto Himself.
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed of the Father.
- He is the One that is longed for, looked for, and hoped for.
- In Him is all fullness and completeness.
- In Him is all glory, and all power.
- In Him is all…
- His greatness is beyond human explanation.
- The universe cannot contain Him.
- He is above all, through all, and in all.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Every word here is full and rich with eternal meaning! We have not come into some small, light, frivolous thing. This fellowship with Christ is not some cheap and insignificant thing. It is not a small or easy thing. This fellowship embraces the universe and the power of God’s Son. This fellowship with Christ embraces the heart and wisdom of God.
You have been called into the fellowship of God’s Son.
His greatness is not diminished by our smallness. The basis of your salvation and eternal destiny depends on His greatness and power.
You have been called into fellowship with God’s Son. This is the only path to victory over your trials, adversities, and difficulties. This is the path to conquering your sufferings, afflictions, and perplexities. Jesus Christ is the answer for your weakness and failures.
The only way to overcome the increasing pressure and forces of evil is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Christ can measure up to our need. You cannot do this on your own. Only Jesus can satisfy all of our demands.
- He alone is the basis for our existence and eternal life.
- He alone is our support, assurance, and confidence.
- He is the substance we can stand on and rely on.
- He is the source and content of our strength.
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
