A Loving Communion
God the Father, Yahweh, loves the Son, Jesus. God the Son, Jesus, loves the Father and always did what was pleasing to Him, during His earthly ministry (Jn 8:29). The character perfections of God were in Christ. Perfect love, perfect joy, and perfect peace were displayed in Jesus’ life and ministry. Motivated by love for the Father, Jesus perfectly obeyed all that was commanded.
The union of God the Father and God the Son is the paradigm for the believer’s relationship to God the Son. Elect, redeemed, regenerate, believers in Jesus are in union with Christ from the beginning (Jn 15:27). Together, saints in every age and place share spiritual communion with one another (the communion of saints).
Christ is in every saint; and every saint is in Christ, by His doing (1 Cor 1:30). In love, God the Father predestined us to election as sons (Eph 1:4–5; 1 Jn 3:1). In love, Christ died for us on the cross (Rom 5:8). In love, the Holy Spirit was given to us as a sent gift — a token of God’s love for those He has chosen (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5).
God’s gracious choice of those He intended to save, pre-dates creation (Rom 11:5). He wrote the names of His chosen people in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). The Father gave these chosen ones to His Son (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9); and Jesus laid down His life for those given to Him (Jn 10:11, 15). There is no greater love than this self-sacrifice.
Jesus loves His disciples in a way that compels them to obedience (2 Cor 5:14). Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ compels us.” It compels us to love God and our neighbors. Jesus’ farewell discourse has the disciples’ love for one another in view. Thus, the Father loves the Son; the Son loves His friends (an even higher position than disciple); and His friends should love each other precisely because they have been loved from an infinite supply of agape love.
A slave is ordered to do something. He receives no explanation or details regarding the task. A disciple has more information on the mission; but a friend has the status of confidence. In the Greco-Roman world, friendship was valued and efforts were maintained to hold onto the most treasured friendships. Herod was a friend of Caesar. That relationship carried weight.
Jesus’ revelation of the Father is priceless (Ps 12:6). It, too, carries weight. The knowledge of the truth is something men cannot learn on their own (2 Tim 3:7). It must be imparted by the Spirit of truth, who teaches God’s people the Word of truth (Jn 14:26). In this, we learn Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24).
The reason Jesus’ friends are granted the knowledge of all God chooses to reveal is because of election. God predestined some of humanity to be His adopted sons, who inherit salvation (Heb 1:14), as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17; Heb 6:17; Jas 2:5).
Man, with his sin nature is a narcissist (Rom 12:3; Eph 2:3). He puts his own interests before the interests of others. It is very common for those who claim their part in Christ to boast in their decision to choose Christ for the selfish reason of not wanting to go to hell. Jesus counters with His famous, “You did not choose Me; but I chose you” (Jn 15:16). Why do men persist in this folly? Simply stated, they do not believe the Word of God.
John clearly states that it is the will of God that one receives Christ (Jn 1:12–13). Paul wrote that it is a remnant of people who are chosen for salvation by God’s gracious choice (Rom 11:5). The goal of people being saved is that they go and bear much fruit (Jn 12:24; 15:5, 8). The quality of the planned plentiful harvest is fruit that remains (Jn 15:16).
Jesus’ friends are encouraged by Jesus Himself to pray in the expectation of their requests being granted according to God’s will. For one to know God’s will, he must learn and know God’s Word. In hearing and doing God’s Word, the Christian prays according to what he or she knows to be true from the Bible. If one prays what God’s Spirit and Word confirm to be true; then God answers the prayers of His people, in His time and in His own way…but always in alignment with His perfect will.
Christian prayers are addressed to the Father, in the wisdom and prompt of the Spirit (see the Bible), and in the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus clearly distinguishes the prayers of Christians from the empty prayers of pagan idolaters, who often employ endless repetition.
Christians pray for more love from God, so to love one another in acts of obedience. The law of Christ is the law of love that resembles Christ’s sacrificial love for His church. We, of course, return love only because He loved us first (1 Jn 4:19).
Now if we say we love God, it must manifest in said prayers, but also in good deeds motivated by love (Eph 2:10; Jas 2:14–26). God is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16); and God performs all His works for us (Is 26:12). So, by the indwelling Spirit of God (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), who is love, God wills and does His good pleasure in us and through us (Phil 2:12–13). His work in us produces the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. His eternal work produces the fruit of evangelism and discipleship, too. Jesus is building His church (Mt 16:18), from the fruit produced by the Spirt/Word.
There is much more that could be said about fruit; but suffice it to say that whatever is the product of the Holy Spirit (e. g. righteousness; holiness; godliness; etc.) is all fruit. The branch is never asked to do something apart from the Vine and the life of the Vine pouring in; but if God requires it…He will do it for His own glory. In this, we are witnesses; and we grow from whatever the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have decreed, revealed, and executed. To include us is a loving communion.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 7, 2024
John 15:12–17
