We began week six of One Ekklesia noting how everything in our relationship with God hinges on whether we believe him. Not only believing who he is but what he says.
We focused on the reality of receiving eternal life – the Father’s name – and being born of God. The concept of eternal life we receive is not our natural life continuing, but a new kind of life that is eternal because it is God’s life – an added element that we didn’t previously have. 2 Corinthians 5:15 states: “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves.” When we believe in Jesus Christ we are plunged into the family of God (baptism pictures what has happened to us).
“We are now partakers of the divine nature”, according to 2 Peter 1:4, and the reality of God being our Father is even more tangible and real than our biological father. God is now constantly and eternally our Father, because we have received the Spirit of his Son.
This Life of the Father we receive and enjoy enables us to be one with our siblings in Christ. 1 John 3:14 says: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.”
In a way very similar to how we want to honor our earthly father, the life of God in us will empower us to honor our heavenly Father. This divine life and power now urging us forward will move our hearts continually toward reconciliation and peace between divided believers and those still in unbelief.