...That Ye Also May Have Fellowship... 1 John 1:3 (continuing) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you... John reiterates that he is an eyewitness to the Person of Jesus Christ. Knowing Him personally, he proclaims Him to be truly Who He is. Someone once said that Jesus Christ was, (1) The Greatest Liar that has ever lived, or (2) a man who was absolutely insane, or (3) Truly the Son of the Living God and everything He said was absolute truth. I am among the third group. The next phrases are so critically important, I cannot stress strongly enough how important they are. ...that ye also may have fellowship with us... If Random House (c) or some other book publisher were to require a title for this epistle, it would be this: That Ye Also May Have Fellowship. FELLOWSHIP is the theme of this epistle! Too often, good people will go to this epistle to prove something when in reality they are clueless as to what the epistle is about. John is telling us on the front end: It is about fellowship. What I have seen in many churches is not what I define as fellowship at all! Friendship maybe, but not true fellowship. I have been to Fellowship suppers where the topic of the evening was how well the Arkansas Razorback football team was going to be in the upcoming season. The same discussion was being made at the local bar. Again, this would be better defined as a friendship centered around common interests. More pointedly, Biblical fellowship is a mutual trust and charitableness between Christians. Fellow Believers acknowledging each other as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The knowing, the communicating, the allegiance we have for each other. Supporting each other in our Faith, that we are truly together in that Faith. John is setting the bar to what is required to have fellowship with him and others of like-mindedness: ...and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. John is essentially saying, If you want fellowship with us, you need to have the same fellowship with God the Father and God the Son. I have friends who are friends indeed, yet I dont necessarily have this same fellowship with them. They know where I am spiritually, yet they have no desire to walk a similar walk. I can indulge myself with many of the conversations they may bring up, yet they have no desire to indulge in many of the conversations I desire to bring up. I do not write them off nor do I shun them. I have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and I would love for them to share the joy that relationship affords me. I am not a stuck up, judgmental, religious zealot by any stretch of the imagination! Those who know me can attest to this fact. I like to have fun as much as anyone else, however what I see as fun often is not the same as many people who find their fun in the world. On the other end of the spectrum, I find no joy being around stuck up, judgmental, religious zealots. That is not fellowship. I dont even consider it friendship! True fellowship shares the love and joy of the Lord. Religious zealots find their joy in judging others. My prayer today is that all will find the true joy of having genuine fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. It is there for you. It is completely up to you to gain it. Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free and he that is free, is free indeed! Have a Blessed Day! ~Brother Mike
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:59:39 +0000
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