View video blog for this lesson: I John 1:3 (Part 3)
I John 1:3 (Part 3)
… that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
THE STUDY
Today we will conclude verse 3 and all God’s children said, “AMEN!” The thing I am learning about studying God’s word is that you never know were the Holy Spirit is going to take you.
Verse 3 concludes the foundation of which John is building his case toward the Gnostics. Joining the disciples in fellowship is the same as joining the Father and the Son, Jesus! This fellowship is looked at as a way of life more so than a club to join. It’s dependent on one’s reception of life, which is, in turn, dependent on one believing reception of the Word of life, Jesus as the incarnate Son of God. “Fellowship” further denotes the “oneness in community” with other believers, with the Father, and with his Son that results from faith in this Son. Such fellowship for John is, in fact, inseparable from having eternal life: to have eternal life is to have fellowship with the apostolic witnesses who have testified concerning the Word of life. Fellowship with these witnesses is, in turn, nothing less than fellowship “with the Father and with his Son, Jesus the Christ.”[1]
I find it interesting that John states “the Father” first then “the Son.” Again, John is connecting with the reader with common ground. The readers (mostly Gnostics) believed in God but were not acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. John brings the two together in this verse, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. John finishes this passage by joining together the idea that fellowship with the Disciples is on the same level as fellowship with the Father and Son.
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH …
I believe in today’s devotion we can walk away with a couple of things ….
1. The great importance of fellowshipping with other believers should be viewed as the same importance as fellowshipping with God. If you are joining the team with the disciples then you are joining God’s team as well. They are one in the same.
2. Don’t believe the old lie from Satan that you can worship God without having to attend church. I agree that you can! But if we make that our practice for fellowshipping with God we will soon stop. You have heard the old expression, “I was at church every time the doors were open.” Let that be the passion we have today for fellowshipping together. Anytime there is an opportunity to fellowship (with the Father/Son, or other believers) let us make time for it!
CONCLUSION:
A question was asked of me once, “Can I be a Christian without joining the church?” I responded, “Yes, it is possible. It is something like being:
A student who will not go to school, you are a student, just a bad one. An author without readers, your name is on the book but nobody wants to read it. A football player without a team, you’re a football player with no one to join you on the field of play. Finally, yes it is possible but highly unlikely of being a successful one.”
Being a Christian, is more than knowing Jesus and his followers. It’s living it daily in front of Jesus and all who are watching.
Blessings
Pastor Rod
[1] Akin, D. L. (2001). Vol. 38: 1, 2, 3 John (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (57–58). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment