Fellowship With God

The author of 1 John is none other than the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. Although the author does not identify himself, the style of the writing, along with certain phrases and words that appear in the epistle, indicate that it was written by the same man who penned the gospel of John. I get the impression when I read John's first general epistle that several years had passed since his sojourn with Christ. He is now an old man, and he writes to his "little children" words of encouragement, exhortation, and edification. Whether or not this epistle was written prior to his vision on Patmos, or afterwards, has been a bone of contention among theologians and scholars for as long as I have been preaching. From the tone of the letter it is evident that he was writing from his heart, to the heart of those who would read the epistle. An unknown author penned these words: "He breathes the truth who breathes in pain; the last words of dying men, are never spent in vain." I think I could write a year's worth of bulletin articles from the words of John in this epistle alone; but I will refrain from staring down that road, at least for now. The first chapter of this epistle contains some of the most concise material on fellowship with God that we find anywhere in the Bible. It is a rich depository of spiritual wealth wherein John sets forth the basis for fellowship, the conditions of fellowship, and the blessings of fellowship. Consider these three points.

First, John sets forth the basis of fellowship. Modern day theologians seem to think that fellowship means nothing more than assembling together, working together, and agreeing to disagree on doctrinal matters. Such an attitude may produce fellowship among themselves, but it does not produce fellowship with the Father in heaven. Fellowship goes much deeper than that. The basis for fellowship is set forth in the very first verse of this epistle: "That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life" (1 John 1:1). While the Gnostics claimed that Jesus was nothing more than some kind of spiritual apparition, John declares in his biography of Christ that Jesus was God (John 1:1-3) come in the flesh (John 1:14). In both his biography of Christ and this first epistle, John speak of Jesus as the Word (John 1:1, 1 John 1:1). He advances proof that Jesus was both divine and human. Our ability to grasp that dual nature of our Lord is limited, but we accept it by faith. Jesus was not a created being; how can a created being be divine and eternal? It cannot. The Jehovah's Witnesses claim that since Jesus is the "Son of God," then He was created, and they pervert a number of passages to support their false theory. Christ was the Son of God and Mary in His earthly existence only; not His eternal state. In order to be the "son" of someone it is imperative that the "son" be younger than the "father." Therefore, Jesus could not have been the Son of God in the beginning because He was eternal with the Father, and of the same nature as the Father (John 1:1-2). The Father-Son relationship existed only in the fleshly state. Once men come to understand the deity of Jesus, they are in a better position to understand the basis of fellowship. It is the divine nature of our Lord that gives Him "all authority" (Matt. 28:18). Without that authority there is no basis for any of us to obtain and maintain fellowship with the Father. Remove the deity of Jesus and He becomes nothing more than a mere man, and a deceitful and dishonest man at that. Acknowledge our Lord's deity and you immediately have a foundation upon which to establish fellowship with the Father and means for approaching the Holy One of Israel. Take Jesus out of the picture and there is nothing left to establish a connection with the Father.

Second, consider the condition of fellowship with God. The condition is examined first from a negative standpoint: "If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). It is not a physical light to which John refers, but one that is spiritual. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). It is the gospel that brings "life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10), draws back the curtain on the horrible nature of sin, and teaches us the way that leads to heaven. If any man rejects the gospel he immediately places himself in a situation wherein fellowship with the Father is blocked. Why? Because "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Fellowship is joint participation. If a man is walking in darkness it is impossible for God, Who does not dwell in darkness, to enter the spiritual realm wherein the lost sinner dwells. Any claim that you make with regard to your fellowship with the Father, while walking in darkness, is null and void. Even worse, it makes that person who so claims fellowship a liar, one who does not practice truth.

Having set forth the condition from a negative standpoint, John next sets forth the same condition from a positive standpoint: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another" (1 John 7a). Imagine, if you will, a pathway that is illuminated by the light that shines from a lantern or flashlight. As one moves from the center of that part of the pathway illuminated by the light outward he will reach a point where he steps into darkness. Many years ago when I conducted a camp session for 4th-6th graders I would occasionally have the need to lead one of those campers to their cabin during the dark hours of the night. I would tell them, "Stay in the lighted pathway and you'll be safe." I cannot recall a single occasion where one of those children had a desire to get as close to the darkness as he could; they always, without exception, would walk right down the middle of the illuminated pathway. So it is with us, spiritually speaking. God's word illuminates the way; it is the "lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path" (Psa. 119:105). Why would anyone want to see how close he can get to the darkness while attempting to walk in the light? This, then, brings us quite naturally to our next point.

Third, John sets for numerable blessings associated with fellowship with God. One of these is fellowship with one another: "We have fellowship one with another" (1 John 1:7b). Second only to fellowship with the Father is the joy that comes from fellowship with like-minded Christians. I cannot imagine what life would be like if I did not have the fellowship with my fellow Christians. Another blessing of having fellowship with the Father is our access to the precious blood of Christ: "and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7c). Like an ever flowing fountain, the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord is available to those who are walking in the light, just for the asking. The guilt of sin need not burden our souls. Take careful note of John's words here. He is telling me that when I walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses me from my sin. It is possible (and in fact inevitable) that even the child of God who is walking in the light will occasionally sin. That sin does not immediately cast him out of fellowship with the Father. He does not "pop in and out" of fellowship, nor is his salvation ever in doubt, so long as he is walking in the light of God's word. On numerous occasions I have heard gospel preachers illustrate the ever flowing blood of Jesus like unto the wipers on an automobile windshield that continuously wipes away our sin. That cleaning power stops only when we turn off the wipers, or in this case, when we cease to walk in the light of God's word. I don't know about you, but I find that extremely encouraging, especially when I have those moments in my life when I do not feel like I am living up to my full potential.

Further study from John's first epistle will uncover rich nuggets of truth. Perhaps I will pursue more of these as the weeks go by. 

by Tom Wacaster