“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, the ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)
John tells his readers that he and the other apostles have heard, seen gazed upon and touched Him that was from the beginning, the Lord Jesus. He declares that his purpose in writing these words is that his readers might have fellowship with himself, others and God.
Don’t confuse “Relationship” and “Fellowship.” I hear people talk about maintaining a relationship with the Lord. That is not a Biblical concept. After we are saved and become a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus, the relationship never changes. We cannot “maintain” a relationship with the Lord. However, we can and must maintain fellowship with Him. Relationship has to do with becoming and being a child of God. Fellowship has to do with our walk with Him.
The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word, “koinonia,” which means, “a sharing together, or communion.” John tells us that our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. He tells us that, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”(I John 1:6) The Bible says that we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness. And, the Bible further says, we are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” (Ephesians 5:11)
Even though the relationship remains the same, fellowship is maintained and enhanced as we spend time with Him in prayer, the reading and study of the Bible, through obedience to Him and living a life separate from the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment