God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
When we came to Christ we were brought into such complete fellowship with Him that we were made one with Him. His call of self-denial is to be our call. His interests and ours are to be mutual. What He loves we are to love. What makes Him sad is to make us sad. His desire is to drive sin out of us with all its deadly effects and, that too, is to be our desire. He loves both the saint and the sinner and we are to do likewise. Further, He equips us with the Holy Spirit to flesh out these great tasks – we simply lack the power in and of ourselves – our flesh is ever so wanting, so needy.
Jesus was to be the firstborn among many brothers and as believers we are predestined to be conformed into His image – a progression which continues until He takes us home to heaven. It is the Father’s great desire to see Jesus’ reflection in us and this transformation of conforming us to His image takes our lifetime to bring to pass of which He is with us and equipping us all the way. He never leaves us as orphans. He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and empower us. He is with us on our mountaintops and in our valleys and everything in between. Happy are those who belong to such a Shepherd who protects and equips and communes with His sheep.
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:6-9 (NIV)