Text: 1 John 1:3-6
To be a Christian is to have koinonia with God.
I. Koinonia with Christ
Communion with Christ and Union in Christ (Galatians 2:20).
II. Koinonia with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:13)
Disregarding the guidance and leading of the Spirit and even not listening to it causes its grieving. Equally, complaining against the truth and having a corrupt judgment is not godly. Another serious manifestation of this is despising the prayer duty and not participating in sacraments.
When the Spirit is grieved, the believer’s soul is restless, being punished—as it is just to do so—and losing the sense of joy and comfort in one’s life. Christians experience dullness in life, easily tempted, feeling of brokenness, feeling of being left behind, ingratitude, indwelling sin becomes more active, contempt, and bitterness. More results are being poor in spirit, easy to stumble, dead faith, dissatisfied, does not see Christ in his life, insensitive, living without peace, and lazy in pursuing holiness, even experiencing being spiritually bruised and discouraged.
III. Koinonia with the Local Church (Community)
When we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we declare ourselves as One body, One mind, One Assembly—meaning One Church. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
- with the church (one church_; I love you that’s why I need to tell you the truth, you cannot serve two masters, you cannot be in two places at once, you cannot commit your heart to two persons. Only one local church.
- You become a critic, not a church participant, consumer, customer service not satisfied with the service (Heb 13:17)
- fellowship, sharing one another (Heb 10:24-25), and going to church have now become an option by attending online; but we must go beyond just attending.
Conclusion:
As a church, our goal is to be a living expression of koinonia. Let us determine our actions whether it creates confusion, division, or encourage, support, and nourish one another.