Communion with the Father in Eternal Love | John Owen

Deep Dive into The Saint's Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by John Owen - Chapter 4In chapter four of his work on fellowship, John Owen addresses the unfortunate reality that many Christians fail to engage in immediate, loving communion with God the Father. Often, believers misunderstand God, viewing Him solely through the lens of His severe majesty rather than recognizing His eternal kindness and tender compassion. Owen urges Christians to correct this by deeply contemplating the true nature of the Father's love. This love is completely self-sufficient, eternal, free, unchangeable, and distinguishing, meaning it is not based on human merit or changing behavior, but entirely on God's sovereign will and grace.To experience this communion, believers must actively receive the Father's love through faith. Owen warns against the backward reasoning of waiting to feel love for God before believing He loves us; such a mindset actually deprives God of His glory, since His love always precedes ours. In fact, harboring harsh or suspicious thoughts about God's character is a deceitful tactic of Satan that deeply grieves the Holy Spirit. Conversely, trusting in the Father's tender affection is highly pleasing to Him and naturally endears the believer's heart to God, drawing them into a closer walk.Enjoying this loving fellowship elevates believers, offering them a secure and comforting refuge from the scorn and persecution of the world. This hidden, spiritual nourishment distinguishes true saints from empty professors who merely feign outward religion while secretly communing with worldly lusts. Ultimately, Owen emphasizes that true fellowship with the Father necessitates holiness. Because God is completely pure, a loose or licentious lifestyle is entirely incompatible with genuine communion with Him.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerWorship Music: https://suno.com/playlist/3a498d0f-c90e-4981-8aa7-59834e7239f7https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730