Similar to how he began his Gospel, John begins his first letter to the churches by stressing that Christ—also known as “the Word of Life”—is eternal, that Jesus is the light and life of the world, and that God came into the world as a man, and that John was a witness to Jesus’ life.
How do we have fellowship with God and where does it come from?
Christ is our link to God. In the beginning, man had fellowship with God. They walked together and they talked together. Put it in today’s perspective, you and your earthly best friend. You can go to that person and share your thoughts; you talk about everything. You have a sense of peace, safety, and companionship. This is how it was with Adam. However, he allowed something to happen. He let sin slip in. This put a door or a wall between him and God and the joy and peace he once had was now gone.
How do we get that fellowship back?
Jesus opened the door that had blocked fellowship with God. In the Old Testament, obedience to God by sacrificing an animal restored that fellowship. In the New Testament, Jesus became that sacrifice. Why? Because God wanted to restore the fellowship but He knew that there was nothing man could do would help. The animal sacrifices only lasted for a while. Something needed to be done that would last for all eternity. Jesus, God the Son, came down and took human form. He went through our trials and tribulations, yet He sinned not. He took upon Himself our sin. He laid down His life for us. It was not taken. He freely gave Himself to bridge that gap to restore our fellowship with God.
How do we believe or how can we believe this?
John was qualified to impart the truth about Jesus because he had witnessed His ministry firsthand. Even though the people who read this letter had not seen or heard Jesus personally, they could have faith that John’s words were true. We resemble those Christians of the second and third generations. We are able to rely on the New Testament’s eyewitness accounts of Jesus, even though we have not personally seen, heard, or touched Him.
John 20:29, Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
We have God’s Word; we believe by faith. John saw, John heard, and John touched Him. We hear Him in our hearts. We feel His Holy presence. Jesus was with John in the flesh. Just think about being able to sit and audibly listen to Him preach and teach; to feel Him put His hand on our shoulder as we pray. We hug each other here in sorrow or joy. We have not physically seen Jesus but by faith we can see Him until the day when He returns.
How do we have fellowship with one another?
We cannot have fellowship with each other unless we agree together. We must be in one mind and one accord, first of Jesus, then of His Word. If we do not believe the same, there is no fellowship. When the spirit moves within a service, everyone praises God, tears flow, hands are raised as one. Not in a ritualistic sense but spiritual. True fellowship comes from within ourselves first, our personal fellowship with God, then we can have fellowship with each other. If we do not have fellowship with God, then we cannot have fellowship with each other. Our personal fellowship with God must come first.
True Christian fellowship is based on three guiding principles. First and foremost, the testimony of the Bible, God’s Word, serves as its foundation. Unity is impossible without this fundamental strength. Second, it is reciprocal and depends on believers’ unity. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit constantly renews it. A living relationship with Christ is the only way to achieve true fellowship, which combines spiritual and social interaction.
How can a non-believer have fellowship?
We must spread the Good News by telling others of Jesus and what He has done for us. How can sinners be saved unless they hear the Word? When they hear the Word, the Holy Spirit can touch their hearts. The world must see us sharing true fellowship with God and each other. They must see the joy we have from what God has given us. The more we dig into the Word, the more we can live the Word, and then we must show the Word. The world will begin to see the joy of fellowship, true Christian fellowship. How can we share the joy of Holy fellowship unless we know the joy firsthand?
We have fellowship with God by trusting in Jesus. We have fellowship with other believers by our constant fellowship with the Lord. How do we have fellowship without salvation? We cannot. We cannot have fellowship with each other without first knowing Christ as our personal Savior.
Man is in constant darkness (sin). So, if we want fellowship with God, we must accept the Light (Jesus), and come out of the darkness (sin). Our carnal nature is to sin, to slip, and to fall short; but Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. However, if we continually sin (live like the world) we lie, and there is no light in us. How can we win souls to Christ if they hear one thing but see another within us? Other believers see how we are living, therefore not only is our fellowship with God broken, but our fellowship with other believers is also broken. If our fellowship is broken, there is no joy. If there is no joy, then there is no peace. If there is no peace, then there must be turmoil present. Sin has come into our hearts, and darkness has overcome us.
How do we keep fellowship going?
Why are we required to confess our sins if Christ’s death secured God’s forgiveness for our transgressions? We are agreeing with God that our sin was sin and that we are willing to turn from it by accepting Christ’s cleansing and admitting our sins. We are making sure that we do not hide our sins from Him and, by extension, from ourselves. In addition, we are acknowledging our propensity to sin and putting our faith in His power to defeat it.
We keep fellowship going by our continued fellowship with Jesus, by keeping our hearts clean through salvation and our daily repentance of any sins committed. We are agreeing with God that our sin is Adamic in nature and Jesus' death and resurrection is the only true remedy. Our fellowship with God the Father must be kept open and our fellowship with other believers is to be kept strong.
