You often hear this in different Christian sects, that Christianity isn’t religion, it’s a faith. I would argue, that it’s not just faith, but it’s also a relationship.

As we discuss what I call “fundamental Christianity”, we have to come to terms with the fact that everything in regard to Christ, starts with faith. We receive through faith. It is through faith that we come to eternal life and salvation. Healing, miracles, prosperity, love, joy, peace, patience, everything good, starts with faith. Or so it seems for us.

For any of those things to be received, it must first be given by someone, that being God. It is by his grace that we are offered anything, and through our faith that it is received. A relationship with God seemingly follows the same pattern. We get to walk with God daily and receive all the spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Relationship with God is undeniably started by faith on our end. But it truly starts, when the Lord holds out his hand, granting us intimacy.

This alone, reflects that God desires for relationship and intimacy with us. However, it will be undeniably proven when we see that the Bible was pointing to relationship with God all along.

The First Relationship

The first relationship began at the very beginning of this world. Well, within the first seven days.

God created the world in six days. He started with the Heavens and the Earth. Then light and darkness. Followed by water, and so forth. Eventually he made animals, sea creatures and beasts alike, but then he made us, humans. But he said something very special about us.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”” (Genesis 1:26).

God made humans, in his image, after his likeness. Have you ever thought of why he did that? He granted us dominion over the Earth and made us like him. I believe that that isn’t just because he wanted us to be beautiful and wonderful, but so that he could relate to us, and have relationship with us, the way that he intended.

This is supported later, when we see that God is walking in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8).

He clearly has relationship with his people, Adam and Eve, but that isn’t all.

We also see that the Lord brought the animals to Adam and allowed him to name them (Genesis 2:19). He wasn’t just making them work and worship, but he wanted to work with them, and partner with his people.

The Covenant with Abraham

Jumping from there, we find ourselves at the story of Abraham. Many of you probably know this story. Abraham is married to Sarah, who is barren. But the Lord promises Abraham a son, through which he’ll bring a nation.

Abraham doesn’t lose faith regarding that promise, and eventually, after trying to fulfill that promise in his flesh once before, the Lord grants him a child, Isaac, who comes, by the promise.

It’s a wonderful story, that highlights the power of faith, the pain of doing things in your flesh, and the faithfulness of God. But there are two aspects of this story that get wildly overlooked.

“I will be their God”

The first aspect that I see, is that the Lord wants relationship with his people. Though that may seem obvious, it is so powerful.

“”And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”” (Genesis 17:7-8).

He doesn’t just establish a covenant with Abraham. He doesn’t just promise an offspring and a future for his family. What God does is so much better. He makes a covenant with Abraham, and the people that follow his line. He becomes their God, thus, they become his people. There is a clear desire for relationship with his people, that can be seen throughout the entire rest of the Old Testament as we follow the Israelites, God’s people. We follow this all the way into our day today, when we meet Jesus.

“Behold, my covenant is with you”

The next aspect, that I believe we should focus on, is one that is so overlooked in the body of Christ. I’ll let the scripture reveal it.

““Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”” (Genesis 17:4-5).

The Lord could have done this all on his own. He could’ve brought the Messiah from the dirt, just as he did Adam. He could’ve brought Jesus into this world through another virgin, out of the blue. There are a lot of different ways that the Lord could have redeemed his people and the world, and a lot of ways that he could’ve brought Jesus. But he chose to work with Abraham.

Just as God worked with Adam in naming the animals, he worked with Abraham in bringing upon the Messiah. Obviously, God did the heavy lifting. He defeated nations with the Israelites, freed them from slavery, and so many more things. But the entire time, he was partnering with his people. Not because they were worthy of it, and not because he was incapable of doing it without us, but because that is the way that we wanted to work. And I think that is a beautiful thing.

That They Know You

The covenant with Abraham, led to the greatest figure in human history, Jesus. God fulfilled the promises he made to Abraham and made a great nation out of him. From this nation flowed Moses, David, Isaiah, and so many more. God’s faithfulness can be shown throughout all of scripture, but it’s never been more prevalent than it was when Jesus came around.

As discussed in our talk on eternal life, Jesus came so that we may have eternal life (John 3:16). Only eternal life is not exactly what we think it is. It isn’t just heaven, but heaven on Earth.

“”And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”” (John 17:3).

Jesus tells us here, that eternal life is not just heaven, but it is to know God, and know Jesus Christ. True eternal life is relationship with Christ. So, when you come to think of it, the entire Old Testament doesn’t just point us to Jesus, but also, to eternal life, which is relationship with God.

Relationship with God

We have something that was so much better than what the Israelites had. Many would argue against that, as God clearly revealed himself to people back then, through the burning bush, his great power, and his manifest presence. But we have something still so much better, and that is all thanks to Jesus.

Jesus freed us from our sin, he set us completely free from condemnation, and the pang of death. He granted us eternal life, a newly created self, and something so great, the Holy Spirit.

“And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (1 John 3:24).

We know that Christ lives in us, which is why we receive eternal life and salvation, by the Spirit, whom he has given to us. We don’t just judge it based on this or that, or having felt saved, but by having faith and believing in the Spirit.

The Spirit is great, and it’s because of this spirit, that we have something better than the Israelites, or even the original twelve disciples.

We don’t have to work to earn a way into his presence, and we don’t have to wait for Jesus to be done praying with one person, for him to pray with us. The Holy Spirit makes it, that we can have relationship with God and intimacy with God, all day, every day. Praise God for that!

Relationship

As we’ve looked at the different biblical stories that we’ve discussed, we can see two different patterns. One of those is the relationship.

Our relationship with God is always going to start with faith. In order to relate to him, we must believe in him.

Next, just like all relationships, in order to grow closer to him, we must draw near to him. James 4:8 tells us that as we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. When we dive deeper into relationship, and pursue him over everything, he will draw nearer to us.

Finally, if the relationship begins with faith, it makes sense that having more faith will result in a greater relationship. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God; thus, our faith grows when we learn the word. When our faith grows, as does the intimacy of our relationship with God.

Partnership

The next aspect of our biblical stories is the idea of a partnership with God.

God evidently wants to partner with us for many things. He gave us the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations. He didn’t say that he would be doing it directly, but instead he wanted to work with us and through us.

We’re told to pray for more laborers, as the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. The Lord could just send more laborers, but instead, he partners with us by urging us to pray for it.

God doesn’t want to work alone; therefore, we should be working with him. Luckily, there are so many different ways to do that. For example, we can do what those examples above ask. We can make disciples and baptize them in the name of Jesus, and we can pray. We can become a vessel, allowing God to move through us in whatever fashion he sees fit.

The most important thing is to become receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and tuned into his voice. This way, we can be ready always for what the lord would lead us to do. Allow God to speak to you, and in obedience and faith, do all the work that is asked. In this way, we can partner with God in bringing upon his perfect will.

Final Thoughts

Many doubt the true character of God. I know that I have been guilty of that at one point or another. He is shown to be a perfect God, making no mistakes, and being completely good. It’s hard to understand that. I believe that’s because “perfect” is something we have never really seen on this world, though we will discuss that soon.

Something that we have seen, and can understand, is relationships. A connection and friendship with someone is something that is completely familiar to us. We’ve had relationships for our entire life when you think about it. This makes it so much more impactful when you realize that we can have relationship with God as well. A relationship with God is the greatest thing that we could have and it’s a desire of God’s heart too!

Though our relationship with God doesn’t stop with a friendship, or even a shepherd or father like relationship. But the desire of the Lord’s heart is also to partner with us, and there are so many ways to do that!

Allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit, and receptive to his voice, but also, pursue a deeper relationship with God. Have faith and draw near to God. I can assure you that it’ll be very worthwhile.

Have a great week!