Review
Last time we learned that John was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. We also learned there were four factors that existed in the city of Ephesus during the time in which this letter was written that show John’s letter is especially relevant for our day.
1) The Christian faith had become tarnished.
Many of the believers were children and grandchildren of the first Christians. The new and bright sheen of the Christian faith had become tarnished. Like a new car or home, the newness had worn off. The thrill and glory of the first days had faded.
2) There was a breakdown of the Judeo-Christian ethics and a disregard of Bible standards.
The high standards of Christianity called for Christians to be different. The children and grandchildren of the first Christians did not want to be different. The new generation of Ephesians had become "cookie-cutter" Christians--Christians in name only. They were ignoring the rule of God in their lives.
3) Persecution was no longer the enemy of Christianity (ref. Stephen - Acts 7:59; James - Acts 12:2).
The danger to the Ephesian church was not persecution from the outside but seduction from the inside. Christianity was not in danger of being destroyed; it was in danger of being changed. The attempt was being made to improve it, to make it respectable.
4) A false teaching called Gnosticism was the real enemy of Christianity.
The term Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning "knowledge." Gnosticism is a philosophy which centers on a search for higher knowledge.
The Gnostics taught that this knowledge was not intellectual knowledge but a knowledge which the ordinary Christian was incapable of attaining.
There were two main doctrines basic to the Gnostic beliefs:
Supremacy of knowledge -
The Gnostics believed that they were the only ones who were privy to the deep, deep knowledge of God.
Separation of spirit and matter -
The Gnostics believed that all matter considered evil and detestable and the source of evil. They also believed that the spirit was considered good and desirable and impervious to evil.
Because they held to these views, they believed that it was impossible for God, who was spirit and good to become flesh, which was matter and evil, in the person of Jesus Christ. They believed Jesus only seemed to have a body.
Some Gnostics separated the man Jesus from what they referred to as the aeon, the power of Christ.
They believed that when the dove came down on Jesus at His baptism, the power of Christ came and rested on the man Jesus. This power then departed before His death on the Cross. So it was simply the "man" Jesus who died, not Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.
These Gnostic heresies denied that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, thus John sets out to set the record straight concerning the humanity of Jesus Christ.
In verse one, John wastes no time in letting his readers know that Jesus was a real man, not a spirit, apparition or phantom.
(1 John 1:1 NKJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life;
John tells his readers that he was reporting on Jesus "from the beginning." In other words, he was referring to Jesus’ earthly beginning--His incarnation.
John then offers proof that Jesus was human and not a phantom or a ghost:
We have heard - In the perfect tense. John was writing about something completed in time past, having present results. Like a loud explosion going off. It happens in time but the effect from its ear-piercing blast still rings in your ears minutes later.
Though John wrote some 60 years after the earthly ministry of Jesus, he can still hear the words of Jesus ringing in his ears years later!
What we have seen with our eyes - John was an eyewitness of the Lord Jesus
What we have looked at - theaomai - Greek root for our English word "theatre" - "to gaze intently"
What we have touched with our hands - "to examine closely"
John ends verse one referring to Jesus as "the Word of life." Jesus is the Logos, the message of "the" life. He is the Word of the life. He is the exact representation of the particular life that God is, revealed in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9)
In verse two John tells us that this "life" was manifested or phaneroo, which means "to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown."
(1 John 1:2 NKJV) the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us;
This reminds me of the words of the writer of Hebrews:
(Heb 1:1 NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
(Heb 1:2 NKJV) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
John reiterates in verse 2 that Jesus, the Word of Life; the eternal life that was with the Father; the One who was manifested or made visible, is the One we have seen and testify and declare. He wanted no doubt that this Jesus was truly God who had become man.
In verses three and four John gives the first of several reasons for writing his letter:
(1 John 1:3 NKJV) that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
(1 John 1:4 NKJV) And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
I believe that in giving this reason for writing John wants to communicate three things:
John wants to explain what true fellowship is all about
John desires to lay down the requirements that need to be met in order to have true fellowship.
John wants his readers to have true fellowship with him and experience the joy of this fellowship.
Let's look at each of these points.
John wanted to explain what true fellowship is all about
The American Heritage Dictionary defines fellowship as:
The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.
The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests. Friendship; comradeship.
John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit chooses the Greek word, koinonia, to communicate what fellowship means.
Koinonia - "a joint participation with someone else in things held common by both."
We can get a better understanding of koinonia means when we see how it is translated or used in Scripture.
Fellowship
(Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
In this context the word koinonia means to have a joint-participation in the goings on of the local church.
It is involving yourself in the things that go on in the local church--learning and obeying the teachings found in the Word of God.
It is attending the various services like general worship, prayer service and communion along with other believers (Heb 10:25).
It is participating in the welcoming into the assembly of new believers and fellow Christians (Col. 4:10).
It is sharing in the common goal of supporting missionaries who are sent out to reach the lost with the Gospel. (Gal 2:9)
Contribution
(Rom 15:26 NKJV) For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
In this context the word koinonia means a joint-partnership in meeting the needs of the poor members of the church in Jerusalem. It is a pooling together of our financial resources to meet a need.
Churches have helped us in this way when we were renovating; we have helped other churches in this way.
Communion
(1 Cor 10:16 NKJV) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Here the word koinonia refers to the gathering together of believers to share in the commemoration of the Lord's death and return.
(2 Cor 13:14 NKJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Here Paul uses the word koinonia, to refer to the fellowship or communion created by the Holy Spirit as He baptizes us together into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
Not only does He baptize us together in the body, He fills us with Himself so that we might be under His control and produce the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit helps us to get along (Gal 5:22).
Sharing
The use of the word koinonia here not only has to do with the sharing of our money but the sharing of our faith and anything else that would benefit another brother or sister in the body..
(Phile 1:6 NKJV) that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
(Heb 13:16 NKJV) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
I remember some years ago early in my marriage there was a large tree limb in my backyard that dangerously hung over the house.
We didn’t have any money and someone at the church we were attending heard of our problem. The men of this church took a Saturday off and worked together to take down this limb—this was koinonia in action!
We can also remember how on two separate occasions we received envelopes stuffed with $500 each time and the ones who shared remain anonymous to this day. That’s koinonia!
Koinonia can be the sharing of gifts and labors of love (1 Thess 1:3; Heb. 6:10) but it can also be the sharing of your faith or testifying of the grace of God and the goodness of Jesus in your life so as to encourage your brother or sister in the Lord. This is why we encourage you to give a testimony at our mid-week service.
Administration
(Eph 3:9 NIV) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
The word administration is the Greek word koinonia.
The context here is Paul disclosing to his readers a sacred secret that had been hidden by God--that one day He would bring Jews and Gentiles together in the fellowship of Jesus Christ.
Paul is revealing what was once concealed in the Old Testament that Jews and Gentiles would unite together in a common sharing of eternal life and one body!
Partnership
(2 Cor 6:14 NASB) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Remember that the word koinonia means "a joint-participation with someone else in things held in common by both."
In 2 Corinthians 6:14 the Scripture is saying, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
The word "fellowship/partnership" that occurs first in this verse is not the word koinonia but metoche, met-okh-ay' which means participation, i.e. intercourse:--fellowship. The second occurrence of the word "fellowship" is our word koinonia.
Paul begins this verse commanding his readers not to be bound together with unbelievers. He uses the word, heterozugeo, het-er-od-zoog-eh'-o, from which we get our English word, heterogeneous --meaning made of dissimilar elements or mixed.
The NIV and NASB get their translation wrong when they translate it, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers.” The KJV and NKLV get it closer to the literal meaning, “Do not be heterogeneous or mixed together differently with unbelievers” or "Do not be unequally yoked."
Paul uses an illustration that would speak to those who know something about farming—which would be everyone during that time.
When Paul writes, "Do not be unequally yoked” his readership would think of an ox and a donkey pulling a cart. Since each one had a different strength....they would not be able to pull the load evenly; one might even want to go different directions.
Paul is warning us that Christians who are unequally yoked with unbelievers have no business being that way. And, when this happens, you won't be able to have true fellowship in the relationship no matter what kind of relationship it is.
When two are in fellowship they have common likes and dislikes. Each loves what the other loves, hate what the other hates.
For believers to experience fellowship it is the same but much more: You have a common nature and a common Father and as a result, you have common likes and dislikes. You love what they love--God and righteousness; you hate what they hate--namely sin--this is what makes fellowship possible.
Many times 2 Corinthians 6:14 is used when counseling people who are contemplating marriage.
For these people the Scripture is saying, "Do not be bound together (in marriage) with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
Hopefully, one learns the lesson before entering into a relationship. But sometimes it is too late.
There are times when a Christian jumps into an emotional bed with one who isn't saved. At other times, both the man and woman were not Christians when they got married and sometime after the wedding, either the wife or husband gets saved.
When a Christian is now bound together with an unbeliever in marriage, it is like mixing oil and water. Why? Because they cannot experience true fellowship at the most intimate of levels—being unequally yoked.
Sex is not the most intimate of levels. Any animal can have sex.
True Christian fellowship is where your spirit's are knit together by the saving grace of God. It is where you both can say, "We will love You, O LORD, our strength. The LORD is our rock and our fortress and our deliverer; Our God, our strength, in whom we will trust; our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold." (Psalm 18:1-2 NKJV) Notice the emphasis on the word “our.”
Sadly, some are experiencing marriage where Jesus is important to one and the world is the object of affection to the other.
True Christian fellowship is where your souls are knit together around the purposes of Christ. It is where you both can say, "Because of the mercies of God, we will present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service; we will not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
It is where both see the importance of worship, Bible study and prayer.
It is where both see the importance of training the children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
It is where both see the importance of giving the first fruits of your income to the Lord.
It is where both see the importance of living holy and righteous lives.
It is where both see the importance of spending time together in ministry and reaching the lost for Christ.
It is where both are willing to share their prayer requests with one another and pray with one another and watch together as the Lord answers their prayers.
So in giving his reason for writing his letter John wants to explain what true fellowship is all about.
John needed lay down the requirements that need to be met in order to have true fellowship.
2 Corinthians 6:14 can also be used as a guideline for those pursuing friendships and relationships. It is very difficult to have a close friendship with someone who doesn't love your Jesus. Two Scriptures come to mind which teach this:
(Psa 1:1 NKJV) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
(Psa 1:2 NKJV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
The Psalmist says that you will not be blessed if you walk, associate or hang out intimately with an unbeliever. Why?
(1 Cor 2:14 NKJV) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Before one is saved, he is unable to receive or properly understand God's message (cf. John 6:44; Rom. 8:5-8). This explains why the Gospel appears foolish to the unbeliever. Someone has described the unbeliever as one who gropes in spiritual blindness because he is unable to comprehend the truths which belong to the spiritual realm.
I can remember telling someone who wasn’t a Christian about a problem I was having with another person. I was told something like, “You don’t have to take that—you need to give them a piece of your mind.”
Though this person was earnest and sincere with their counsel, they were sincerely wrong because they cannot know, outside of the Spirit of God, the truths of God for the child of God.
The Bible gives different counsel:
(Rom 12:17 NKJV) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
(Rom 12:18 NKJV) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
(Rom 12:19 NKJV) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
(Rom 12:20 NKJV) Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
(Rom 12:21 NKJV) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
John is telling his readers that they cannot have fellowship with him unless they know his Jesus.
(1 John 1:2 NKJV) the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us;
(1 John 1:3 NKJV) that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
People who have "fellowship" are individuals who share something in common. John's "fellowship" is with the Father and the Son. Consequently, if the readers have fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, then they have fellowship with John.
On the other hand, the lack of kinship between the John and in this case, the Gnostics, implies that these false teachers do not know God.
Later in our study we will see in verses 5-7 that John states it plain:
(1 John 1:5 NKJV) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:6 NKJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
(1 John 1:7 NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
At the end of the letter in chapter five John states it plain again:
(1 John 5:11 NASB) And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
(1 John 5:12 NASB) He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
This takes us back to 1 John 1:1 where John uses the definite article at the end of the verse to emphasize the life that God is:
(1 John 1:1 NKJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of the life;
John wants us to know that in order to have true fellowship with Him, you needed to be a possessor of "the life!"
This is what separates
*the church from the world
*the saint from the sinner
*the believer from the unbeliever
*the holy from the unholy
*the clean from the unclean
*the just from the unjust
*the light from the darkness
*the saved from the damned--it is the life!
This is why Paul could and would in 2 Corinthians 6, continue to warn believers against trying to fellowship with the world:
(2 Cor 6:14 NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
(2 Cor 6:15 NKJV) And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
(2 Cor 6:16 NKJV) And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
(2 Cor 6:17 NKJV) Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
(2 Cor 6:18 NKJV) "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
Back in our text, John wanted to explain what true fellowship is all about. He needed to set forth the requirements that must be met in order to have true fellowship.
You need to be a recipient of the life that comes when you surrender your heart to the lordship of Jesus. Have you done that?
John wanted his readers to have true fellowship with him and experience the joy of this fellowship.
To put it simply, John wanted his readers to fellowship with Jesus as he has.
If you have ever had a loved one who wasn't a Christian and you wanted this person to know the love of Christ then you know what John wanted for his readers.
If you have ever know one who professes to be a Christian but because of sin in their life or a lack of commitment to Jesus hasn’t experienced the peace of God you know what John wanted for his readers.
*John wanted his readers to know what it was like to be a recipient of the forgiveness of God.
*John wanted his readers to know the joy of the Lord (1:4).
*He wanted his readers to know the benefits of being a Christian.
*John wanted to know the joy that comes when your brothers and sisters walk in the truth. (3 John 1:4)
Remember the definition of fellowship?
Koinonia - "a joint participation with someone else in things held common by both." John wanted his readers to have true fellowship with him.
At the end of his letter to believers in the Colossians church, Paul is sending his greetings to his beloved ones in that church. Demas, one of his helpers in the ministry sends his greeting as well.
In Paul's final letter, 2 Timothy, you’ll read the tragic words of Paul, “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica…”
Even in the assembly of those who claim to know Christ, sometimes we find that we cannot fellowship with some in our church family.
Our lifestyles are different.
What we love and what we hate is different.
Some come just as attenders, not as participants.
I remember having an experience with some Christians I knew. I used to walk away thinking that they thought of themselves as "Holier than Thou."
Later in life the Lord showed me that it wasn't these Christians, it was me. There were things that I was doing in my life that they wanted no part of and there were things that they were doing (Jesus first things) that I wasn't ready to give over my life to the Lord in those areas.
So to "save face" I concluded that they were the problem; they were "to heavenly minded to be any earthly good."
But they were being just the kind of Christians the Scriptures commands us all to be:
(Col 3:1 NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
(Col 3:2 NKJV) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
(Col 3:3 NKJV) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
(Col 3:4 NKJV) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
(Col 3:5 NKJV) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
(Col 3:6 NKJV) Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
(Col 3:7 NKJV) in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
(Col 3:8 NKJV) But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
(Col 3:9 NKJV) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
(Col 3:10 NKJV) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…
In giving his first reason for writing his letter John accomplishes three things:
*He explains what true fellowship is all about
*He sets forth the parameters or the requirements that must be met in order to have true fellowship.
*He encourages his readers to have true fellowship with him and experience the joy of this fellowship.
Ted Malone, whose radio show came on early in the morning, told of the Idaho shepherd who wrote: "Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note 'A'? I'm a sheepherder way out here on a ranch, far away from a piano. The only comfort I have is my old violin. It's all out of tune. Would you strike 'A' so that I might get in tune?"
Malone honored the request. Later he received a "thank you" note from the distant shepherd saying, "Now I'm in tune."
Perhaps your life is out of tune, John wants you to draw near and experience true fellowship.
One of the purposes and responsibilities of personal and public fellowship is to enable the one who draws near to keep tuned to the Great Shepherd. One of the joys of the Christian life is to help others recapture the missing note!
