"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. 4. That your joy may be full."
We turn in this text to a call for what I am calling, "real fellowship." The Greek word that is translated "fellowship" is "koinonos." This word has the meaning of partnership. In other words, fellowship is not just a "get together;" rather it is a partnership with each other and with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt. (The text did not include Holy Spirit, but from other places in the New Testament where we see the Holy Spirit at work, He is certainly included in our partnership.) First, John wrote that "that you ,may have fellowship with us." This means that this partnership that we have with each other and with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, means that the Lord wants us to meet together, sing, pray, preach, and, certainly worship God. It doesn't mean just to "go to church." It means to really praise and worship God, study His word, and sing praises to HIm, and find spiritual fulfillment in our fellowship with each other and with God. Second, I want to give an example of the importance of this fellowship from Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: 25. Not forsaking assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting (encouraging) one another; and so much as you see the day approaching." Our worship together gets us ready to face the workaday world. We really need to understand the importance of encouraging one another, and not fussing with each other. (Just saying ) Third, I need to add that we are not just partners when we are together at the church house. We are partners at all times and this is really, really important to remember. I saw the reality of this fellowship years ago when my Daddy went to heaven. I had been at an Evangelism Conference, when I received word that Daddy had died. When I got home and walked into the living room, the room was filled with Christians from the Smithville Baptist Church. They had gathered to exhort, or encourage us, in our bereavement. (I'm almost tearing up thinking about it.) I felt that partnership as much as I would have felt in a church worship service. That is real fellowship! The personal testimony, and the call to fellowship, were intended to give the readers the joy promised by Jesus in John 5:11: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy may be full." If you are a Christian, you are part of a fellowship with your fellow Christians and with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank God for it! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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