4. Equality and Fellowship

What do we know concerning man from the previous writings?
• We began before creation in the heart and mind of God.
• God Himself is the substance from which man was made.
• The most authoritative description of man came from God Himself. He described us as His own image and His own likeness.
• God adores man; He enjoys our company!

A question that follows close on the heels of these discoveries is: Are we equal to God?

Well, it depends on what we mean by equality. The basic definition of equality is to share the same qualities. The more is shared in common the greater the degree of equality. Our understanding of equality only becomes clear when we understand the word ‘fellowship’.
The word ‘fellowship’ means to share things in common. The more you share in common the higher the degree of fellowship or intimacy.
Our equality with God exists only within the environment of fellowship. We cannot be equal to and separate from God, because separation is the very opposite of sharing all things in common. This equality is only possible in unity. John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. The same life-giving sap flows through both – the branch shares the same life as the vine as long as it is in union with it. So, when we talk about man being in the God-class of being, there can be no suggestion that man is god in and by himself; No. It is in union with Him that we are partakers of the Divine nature. (2Pet1:4).

John 10:30 I and the Father are one!
Is this an exclusive statement that only Jesus could make?
John 17:22 And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one,
John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.

One with God! One with the Father; One with the Son; One with His Spirit! The same union that Jesus enjoys with the Father is our portion! The same love, the same oneness, the same perfection. Whatever Jesus said about His relationship with the Father, we can say!

It was this very consciousness of His union with the Father that got Jesus into such trouble with the religious leaders.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one!
John 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from My Father; for which of these do you stone Me?
John 10:33 The Jews answered Him, saying, We do not stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself God.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, "I said, You are gods?"
John 10:35 If He called those gods with whom the Word of God was, and the Scripture cannot be broken,
John 10:36 do you say of Him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme, because I said, I am the Son of God?

Jesus was accused of making man equal with God. How did He respond?
He did not deny this charge!
He confirms their accusation by quoting Ps 82:6

1John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life,
1John 1:2 (for the Life was revealed, and we have seen it and bear witness, and show to you the everlasting Life, who was with the Father and was revealed to us),
1John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

By Andre Rabe
http://eclesia.blogspot.com