Oneness With Him

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

While there may be some religious activities or practices in Christianity, Christianity fundamentally distinguishes itself as a relationship rather than a religion. To grasp the distinction, consider the relationship between a child and his or her parents. This familial connection is not defined by religious adherence but is deeply rooted in a personal, intimate relationship.

In Christianity that is what Jesus came to do; He came to bring us into a relationship with God beyond religion. Before Jesus came, various religions existed but Jesus brought something different: a relationship with God!

No wonder when Jesus referred to God as "Father," it left the Jews astonished. They wondered, "How could anyone call God Father?" Well, Jesus called God His Father because He had a relationship with Him. It was a Father-and-Son relationship.

Addressing God as a Father was unfamiliar and perplexing to the Jews. In John 10:30, Jesus said, "I and my Father are one," stressing the essence of this divine relationship. He had the same life with God. John 1:14 tells us He was God in the flesh.

The Jews couldn’t take it. In fact, when He dared to go further and explain that relationship, they sought to kill Him. But thanks be unto God; through His death, burial and resurrection, we’ve been brought into the same oneness with God. We’ve been brought into a divine relationship with the Father!

Now we can call God our heavenly Father; you don’t find that in any religion. 1 John 3:1 says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” Then in Galatians 4:6, the Bible says, “…because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Hallelujah!