FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
1 John 1:5-2:2
In the last section we observed that one of John’s purposes for this letter is that Christians may have fellowship with God and with each other. "Fellowship" is from the word "koinonia" which means “communion, fellowship, sharing in common." The word "communion" is from the same word. In verses 6, 8, and 10, John points out three bogus claims that the false teachers had been making. Each of these claims begins with the phrase, “If we say….”
• Verse 6: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” The sad truth is that there are professing Christians in every church who walk in darkness. They claim to have fellowship with God but their manner of living reveals otherwise. In other words, they lie to others.
• Verse 8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Such people are lying to themselves.
• Verse 10: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (v. 10). This is the tendency to lie about God. God says, “You need a Savior.” When we deny that we are sinners, we are calling God a liar.
To correct these erroneous teachings, John contradicts them by setting forth the truth of Scripture and by laying down the true conditions for fellowship with God.
The first condition for fellowship with God is walking in the light (1:5-7). “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” John declares, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” John Stott (The Letters of John, Tyndall, 1964, 1988, p. 76) points out that light and darkness are familiar metaphors in Scripture. Intellectually light speaks of truth and darkness speaks of error. Morally, light speaks of holiness but darkness speaks of evil.”
The word “light” is used for truth. “God is light.” The Bible reveals God as the God of truth as well. Jesus called himself, "the way, and the truth, and the life." Moreover, God’s word is true. The Bible declares, "Thou art God and Thy words are truth." The Bible is “a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.” God is absolutely holy and separate from evil. "Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil." (Hab. 1:13).
We must walk in the light just as He is in the light. We must follow the example of our Lord. Yet there are people who claim to be Christians and to have fellowship with God who continue to walk in darkness. If we claim to have fellowship with God and yet continue living in darkness, the Word of God says, "We lie and do not live by the truth." If a person persistently walks in darkness, the Bible reveals that person is not saved. Only those who "walk in the light" are cleansed from their sin by the blood of Christ. We are not saved because we walk in the light. We walk in the light because we are saved.
God’s children share his nature. The Amplified Bible reads, “But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken]fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses(removes)us from all sin and guile [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]” (1:7-8).
The second condition of fellowship with God is confession of sin. We have to deal with the problem of indwelling sin. The closer we get to Jesus the more aware we are of our sinfulness. What can we do with our sin?
We can try to cover up our sin. Some people refuse to admit that they are sinners. For example, a lady once told my wife, “I have never thought of myself as a sinner. I’ve always been a good person.” The Bible says clearly, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1:8). According to this verse, those who refuse to admit their sinfulness are self-deceived. The Bible declares that all are sinners. There are no exceptions. Moreover, if we deny our sin we defame God by making Him out to be a liar (1:10). It does no good to cover up our sins.
We can confess our sins (v. 9). To confess means "to speak the same thing, to assent, to agree with, to admit." It is to admit that we are guilty of what we are accused of, as a result of inward conviction. It is to declare openly that we are what God says we are. It is to call sin what it really is.
Many want to water down sin today. For example, adultery is now an affair. Homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle. Abortion is called birth control. An artists paints a picture of the Virgin Mary, plasters her with elephant dung and calls it art. People put a crucifix of Jesus in urine and call it art. Singer Madonna can mock Jesus by placing herself on a cross and make millions. The movie “The Passion” that magnified the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was condemned by the Hollywood elite as being anti Semitic, but that same group glorifies “The DaVinci Code” that belittles Jesus Christ.
Someone asked, "Whatever happened to sin?" People must face up to the fact that all are sinners. Moreover, sin must be confessed. Confession implies godly sorrow for what sin has done to God. When one honestly faces up to the reality of sin and confesses it, God is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9). John goes on to say, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1:10).
The third condition for fellowship with God is confidence in the Savior (1 John 2:1-2). Another purpose for the letter is stated in 2:1, “That we may not sin.” Yet the author recognizes the probability that we will sin: “If anyone sins….” The Bible recognizes that there will likely be slip ups in our lives.
John goes on to declare Christ’s provision for our sin. First, Jesus is the believer’s advocate. "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The Greek word for “Advocate” is parakleton which refers to one who is summoned along side of us to help us. The same word is also a reference to the Holy Spirit. As our heavenly Advocate, Jesus intercedes for us in Heaven. Moreover, the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us as our advocate on earth.
In Spanish, the word “parakleton” is translated, “abogado,” which means “lawyer.” Barbara, a Costa Rican judge who was dying of cancer, saw this verse in Spanish and rejoiced. In Spanish it says, “We have a lawyer with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. When Barbara saw that verse she excitedly exclaimed, “Oh that’s beautiful. I am a lawyer and you just don’t know what it means for me to have a lawyer pleading my case in heaven." I said, "Guess what Barbara? Your lawyer is the Son of the Judge.” "Oh, that’s beautiful," she replied.
As our “Advocate,” Jesus is “the Righteous.” He is altogether righteous. The meaning of the word “righteous” is "the character or quality of being right or just." It is an attribute of God which relates to His faithfulness and His truthfulness. It is that which is consistent with his nature. God is not indifferent to sin. He never takes sin lightly. Righteous is that quality of holiness in Him which condemns sin.
Jesus is also the Atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 2:2 says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The word “propitiation” can also be translated, “expiation,” “atoning sacrifice” or the “satisfaction” for our sins. Jesus took our sins upon himself when he went to the Cross. By His expiatory sacrifice on the cross, Jesus shows mercy to the sinner who puts his trust in Him. Jesus gave Himself for our sins. Moreover, He gave Himself for the sins of the world. By His atoning sacrifice, Jesus provides salvation for all who will be reconciled to God through Him.
Daniel Akin (John’s Letters: How to Grow in Loving God, p 15) points out that many people are after a “feel good” Jesus. He states, “John is not interested in a Jesus with whom we are comfortable. John is interested in the Jesus who is real, the Jesus who is both our advocate and atonement.” He also points out that Jesus’ provision is universal; that is, it is for the whole world. However His application is limited. Atonement is only for those who acknowledge their sin and admit their need for a Savior. Jesus Christ is the Savior who is needed.
How do we come to know Christ in this way? We must trust him as our Lord and Savior. Have you done that? Is there any good reason why you shouldn’t trust Christ now?
