From the beginning of the Bible we are told that mankind was created to relate both to God and to other human beings. Relationships are central to the whole Bible story from Genesis to Revelation. we need to see how important relationships are in God’s eyes because the God of the bible is not some distant deity reigning in splendid isolation, but rather a God who relates in his own being as the triune God of the Bible. We see this in the mission of Jesus Christ in his life we see him seeking the Father’s will and at the same time he was full of the Holy Spirit. at his ascension he sent The Holy Spirit to empower the church and draw people into a living and dynamic relationship to himself. Time after time in the Old Testament we see the prophets convey the truth that God wants to see his people restored to a right relationship with himself. This comes to its peak in the New Testament Revelation of the finished work of Christ (which is comprised of both his active and passive obedience).

Ther Bible also stresses human relationship pointing out some of the great lessons we can learn from both the successes and failures of human relationships. King Dav id is held up as an example of both good and bad relationships. David’s relationship to Jonathan was that of an extraordinary friendship, but his relationship with Bathsheba shows how low he could fall. The story of ruth shows how good relationships are prized and valued by God and other human beings. We could go on providing examples of relationships both good and bad from the Bible. And we see both the love and the tensions that were found in the early church.

The hope the Bible gives to us is that when Christ returns all those who have been saved by his grace will live in a perfect relationship both with god and his whole family. Eternity is not just some endless duration of time, but rather a time when relationship will be perfect, our relationship with god will be full and our fellowship with others will be perfect and will overflow in worship of our great God.