John Owen's "Communion With God" Part One

"Communion With God" by John Owen- Part One

To read John Owen is to enter a rare world. Whenever I return to one of his works I find myself asking “Why do I spend time reading lesser literature?”
—Sinclair B. Ferguson

At my church, we are doing a Sunday morning series (before worship) through John Owen's Book- "Communion With God." This is the first book in our series that I am calling "Theology from a Bunch of Dead Guys."

John Owen is considered one of the (if not the) greatest minds that Christianity has ever had ("the greatest among the Puritan theologians" according to J.I. Packer) and this book is considered the best of his works by many.

You can read many of his works online here.

A website devoted to him is here.

Something that struck me as I was preparing for this series came from looking a time line of Owen's life. John Owen had 11 children. All 11 of them died before he did (only one making it to adulthood). What is really amazing is that 8 of them had died before Owen had published this book. Looking at the time line I was reminded of a comment John Piper made in his biographical sketch of Owen which I paraphrased at the beginning of my class stating: "Anyone who can lose 8 children and then write a book called 'Communion With God' is someone I need to learn from." And learn from him I have and I hope the class proves to be benefitial and that the notes will be a great reminder of what we have discussed and, perhaps, incentive to get you to pick up the book and read it yourself.

What is in italics is a quote from the book, the rest are paraphrases or my own thoughts/questions.

Part 1, Chapter 1

1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Question: Considering that early believers were persecuted and that their leaders were seen as “the filth of this world,” and as the “offscouring of all things,” why in the world would they think that anyone would want to join in fellowship with them?

What benefit is there in communion with them? Is it anything else but to be sharers in troubles, reproaches, scorns, and all manner of evils?

How would you make the pitch? Why should they risk it all to join in our fellowship?

Notwithstanding all the disadvantages their fellowship lay under, unto a carnal view, yet in truth it was, and would be found to be, very honorable, glorious, and desirable.

Why?

For “truly,” saith he, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

This being so earnestly and directly asserted by the apostle, we may boldly follow him with our affirmation, - namely, “That the saints of God have communion with him.” And a holy and spiritual communion it is, as shall be declared.

How do we usually promote our faith and church communities?

How does our appeal differ from that of 1 John 1:3 and why do you think that is?

By nature, because of sin, no one has communion with God.

He is light, we darkness; and what communion hath light with darkness? He is life, we are dead, - he is love, and we are enmity; and what agreement can there be between us?

In our natural condition, we do not have Christ, so we do not hope, nor God.

Since two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3), there is no walking together with God in fellowship or communion. And since our interest in God was been lost by sin, there is no possibility in ourselves to return to God and God cannot be approached by sinners in peace.

The only door of entrance into a communion with God comes through a manifestation of grace and mercy which was committed to Christ who purchased it and through whom it is dispensed.

Therefore, in the Old Testament, we do not find the same type of communion and fellowship with God described as in the New Testament.

The thing itself is found there; but the clear light of it, and the boldness of faith in it, is discovered in the gospel, and by the Spirit administered therein. By that Spirit we have this liberty. 2 Cor. 3:17,18. Abraham was the friend of God, Is. 41:8; David, a man after his own heart; Enoch walked with him, Gen. 5:22; - all enjoying this communion and fellowship for the substance of it. But the way to the holiest was not yet made manifest whilst the first tabernacle was still standing. Heb 9:8. Though they had communion with God, yet they had not a boldness and confidence in that communion. This follows the entrance of our High Priest into the most holy place, Heb. 4:16, 10:19. The veil also was upon the, that they had not freedom and liberty in their access to God, 2 Cor. 3:15, 16. But now in Christ we have boldness and access with confidence the saints of old were not acquainted with.

When we think of Abraham and David and Enoch, don’t we tend to think the opposite way about their experience? That they had a closer communion with God than us? Why? Why are we wrong in that?

Through Jesus alone is the distance between us and God taken away. Upon this new foundation, by this new and living way sinners are admitted into communion with God and have fellowship with him.

And truly, for sinners to have fellowship with God, the infinite holy God, is an astonishing dispensation.