PARTAKERS OF CHRIST. Hebrews 3:14 The believers in Christ who maintain a hopeful, meaningful, and joyful attitude in life in spite of all the false teaching, opposition, and temptation to compromise the truth of God are those whose faith is real. They look beyond themselves and their own personal failing. They can see beyond the shortcomings of others, because they are looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and to the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.
Such people have a heart that is soft and sensitive to the ways and will of God. They are also aware of the needs of other people and are ready to meet their needs if possible. A soft heart doesn't necessarily mean they are a "soft touch" to everything that comes along. Nor does it mean they are easily led astray. Rather, such people are "easy to be entreated of" and are aware of the fact that they do not know everything. They know that God is still working in them to "conform them to the image of His Son."
Partakers in Christ are like partners who share the same convictions, ideals, integrity, personal desires, and goals as our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are born of the Spirit of God into His family, we are given a new nature, a new heart to believe in Him, obey Him, and love Him. This is maintained by living in fellowship with our brothers and sisters who share in our life in Christ. When we communicate and enjoy our mutual faith, encourage one another with genuine love and concern, and remain aware of the deceitfulness of sin, we hold onto what we know to be true and are accountable to those who care for our souls. We share the blessings our Lord gives when we enjoy this fellowship and accountability.
Our confidence in the salvation provided for us remains strong when we are faithful to Him, and our faith grows when we are in joyful fellowship with the Lord’s people. Security and faithfulness are closely linked as a strong bond that protects us and helps us grow in God's ways. Through exhortation, encouragement, counsel, and example, we can preserve our first love and the faith that God’s grace has given us.
We may find ourselves in a place of discouragement and potential defeat on our journey, but when we call upon the Lord for help and grace, He often provides what we need through the words, presence, and works of fellow believers. When we become partakers of Christ, we enter into a fellowship with our Lord and His people. He entered into fellowship with us when He took on Himself human life and subjected Himself to death to be our Savior. We enter into fellowship with Him and what He is and does by being partakers of a divine nature, and thus become part of His family.
God has called us into the fellowship of His Son. There is no greater calling, no farther we can go or need to go than to be a partaker of Christ. We don’t begin with faith and continue with works. What we began with, faith in Christ, we must hold to the end. By grace, we are saved through faith, and by faith, we live in the wonderful provisions we have in Christ. In this faith, God works in us and through us to do His good pleasure. Faith increases, becomes clearer, and more effective as the riches of Christ are opened to us when we persevere in His grace and keeping power. When the meekness and lowliness of Christ are in us, our confidence is firmly held.
There is a strong sense of joy when we are confident in God. Joy results from the choices we make, what we accept, and what we refuse. Joy is a choice that is not dependent on our circumstances. It stems from our fellowship with God and His people as we communicate and encourage one another, regardless of the circumstances.