“Indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
— 1 John 1 : 3 (NRSV)
1 Introduction
The doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract equation but a living invitation.
God reveals Himself not only so that we may understand but so that we may enter fellowship with Him.
To “know God” in Scripture means more than intellectual awareness; it means relational participation in divine life (John 17 : 3).
This article explains how believers experience the Triune God—the Father who loves, the Son who redeems, and the Spirit who indwells—and how this relationship transforms worship, character, and community.
2 Biblical Foundation of Divine Fellowship
- Initiated by the Father –
God takes the first step: “No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him” (John 6 : 44).
His purpose is relational: “I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Lev 26 : 12). - Mediated through the Son –
Jesus reconciles humanity to God: “Through Him we have access to the Father” (Eph 2 : 18).
Relationship is restored by His cross and resurrection. - Sustained by the Spirit –
The Holy Spirit unites believers with Christ and enables them to cry “Abba, Father!” (Rom 8 : 15).
Fellowship therefore becomes continuous, inward, and empowering.
Thus, divine fellowship is Trinitarian in structure and grace-based in origin.
3 Knowing God as Father
To call God “Father” is to recognise Him as source, protector, and guide.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Our Father in heaven” (Matt 6 : 9), revealing a relationship of trust, not terror.
The Father’s love is unconditional: “See what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3 : 1).
Knowing the Father means living as beloved children—secure, obedient, and confident in His provision (Matt 7 : 11).
4 Knowing God through the Son
Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God (Col 1 : 15).
To know the Son is to know the Father: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14 : 9).
Jesus reveals divine character in human form—compassion, justice, holiness, mercy.
Through faith in His death and resurrection, believers receive reconciliation (2 Cor 5 : 18) and new identity (Gal 2 : 20).
Fellowship with the Son involves daily discipleship—walking as He walked, loving as He loved, obeying as He obeyed.
5 Knowing God in the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the indwelling presence that makes relationship experiential, not theoretical.
He illuminates Scripture (John 14 : 26), empowers obedience (Rom 8 : 11), and produces spiritual fruit (Gal 5 : 22–23).
Through the Spirit, divine fellowship becomes interactive communication:
God speaks, convicts, comforts, and leads within the believer’s heart (Rom 8 : 16).
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
Without the Spirit, religion becomes mere ritual; with Him, it becomes living communion.
6 The Dynamics of Relationship
| Aspect | Father | Son | Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | We come to Him | Through Him we have access | In Him we are empowered |
| Experience | Love received | Grace revealed | Power applied |
| Response | Trust | Obedience | Surrender |
| Outcome | Security | Redemption | Transformation |
Each Person contributes to a single relationship of love.
The believer lives within this divine fellowship rather than beside it.
7 Transformation through Fellowship
- Mind: renewed by divine truth (Rom 12 : 2).
- Heart: filled with divine love (Rom 5 : 5).
- Will: aligned with divine purpose (Phil 2 : 13).
- Community: shaped into divine likeness—unity in diversity (John 17 : 21).
The Trinity is not only the pattern of God’s being but also the model for human life: unity without uniformity, difference without division.
8 Living the Fellowship Daily
| Practice | Trinitarian Dimension |
|---|---|
| Prayer | Address the Father, in the name of the Son, by the inspiration of the Spirit. |
| Scripture Reading | The Father speaks through the Word (Son) as the Spirit illumines understanding. |
| Worship | Offered to the Father, centred on Christ, animated by the Spirit’s joy. |
| Service | Commissioned by the Father, modelled after the Son, empowered by the Spirit. |
| Community Life | Reflects the mutual love and equality within the Godhead. |
Living “in the Spirit” therefore means living within the ongoing action of Father and Son.
9 The Experience of Divine Love
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” — Romans 5 : 5
The believer’s encounter with divine love is profoundly relational:
- The Father loves as origin (agapē).
- The Son demonstrates love through sacrifice.
- The Spirit internalises love as presence.
Thus love becomes both the content and the evidence of knowing God (1 John 4 : 7–13).
To participate in this love is to participate in the very life of the Trinity.
10 Fellowship as Mission
The fellowship of the Triune God is outgoing.
As the Father sent the Son (John 20 : 21) and the Father and Son send the Spirit (John 15 : 26), so believers are sent into the world.
Mission therefore flows naturally from communion: we share what we have received.
To live in fellowship with God is to become an agent of reconciliation, peace, and justice (2 Cor 5 : 19–20).
11 Analogy: The Circle of Love
Imagine a circle of unbroken love: the Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, and the Spirit is the bond of love uniting them.
When believers enter this circle through faith, they do not stand outside observing but are drawn inside—living participants in divine life.
This is the true meaning of salvation: participation, not mere pardon.
12 Common Obstacles to Fellowship
| Obstacle | Description | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual reduction | Treating God as concept, not companion. | Balance study with prayer and obedience. |
| Emotional imbalance | Seeking experience without truth. | Test experiences by Scripture (1 John 4 : 1). |
| Spiritual neglect | Ignoring daily communion. | Practise continual awareness of God’s presence. |
Healthy fellowship requires integration of mind, heart, and spirit—truth, love, and power in harmony.
13 Reflection Questions
- How does understanding God as Trinity reshape your personal spirituality?
- What habits help you maintain awareness of the Father, Son, and Spirit in daily life?
- How can communities reflect the mutual love found within the Godhead?
14 Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Communion (koinōnia) | Fellowship or shared life with God and others. |
| Indwelling | The Holy Spirit’s permanent presence within believers. |
| Participation (theosis) | Sharing in the divine nature (2 Peter 1 : 4). |
| Grace | Unmerited favour and empowerment from God. |
| Discipleship | Ongoing process of becoming like Christ. |
15 Conclusion
To know God personally is to live within His triune fellowship—loved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and animated by the Spirit.
This relationship defines Christian existence: theology becomes biography, and doctrine becomes life.
Every prayer, act of service, and breath of worship unfolds within this living communion.
The believer who walks in this fellowship discovers that heaven begins not after death but now, wherever the Spirit of the Father and the Son dwell together in love.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
— 2 Corinthians 13 : 14
References
Augustine (1991) De Trinitate, trans. E. Hill. New York: New City Press.
Fee, G.D. (1994) God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul. Peabody: Hendrickson.
Holy Bible (NRSV 1989; KJV 1611).
Torrance, T.F. (1992) The Trinitarian Faith. Edinburgh: T & T Clark.
Volf, M. (1998) After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.