1 John 1:3," What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
These words are both a testimony and a calling. They are the testimony of the Apostles and first Christians about the fellowship and relationship they shared with God and with one another through faith in Christ. They are a calling because they summon the world proclaiming that this fellowship is offered to all by God the Father Himself. But just what is being offered in this calling?
This fellowship is more than social times together. It is more than believers getting together for a worship service, although that is certainly part of it. This fellowship is much deeper. It is a communion, whereby God calls us to participate in a living bond where we stand and thrive as His unique people. It is benefiting from the blessings and privileges that are bestowed by God upon His own by virtue of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a mutual abiding, that is, we abide or remain at rest, in Christ by faith and He in us in a spiritual union that gives Him glory and is beneficial to those He has redeemed and saved. Those in whom He abides.
This communion is certainly a privilege, but like all privileges there is a corresponding responsibility. All humanity is responsible to accept that gracious calling and undeserved offer. God took extreme measures to be able to make this offer for you and me to be able to participate in this fellowship, by first offering Jesus His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He died in our place, and for our sins, then rose from the dead to be exalted to Gods' right hand of power and authority. How wasteful then and insulting to Him if we ignore His invitation to communion and fellowship with Him and His people!
This essentially is the Gospel message. It proclaims that you can have this same relationship and fellowship with God Himself. However, it is gained in a very specified way. This exclusive way is through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. You just can't say you believe in God. Many people say that without a clue as to Who God is or what He is about. We have this vague notion of a great being who is there but not really relevant to our lives here and now.
Rather, we trust the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to be sufficient payment for our wrongs, and we receive Him as Lord of our lives. Jesus calls that being, "born again." That's a good way to say it because life is never the same after we do that. We are brought into the fellowship and we participate in the communion the Apostle writes of in our verse.
Soon, you will find yourself saying to others the very things written in this verse, " What we have seen and heard we proclaim
to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our
fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." Wow! What a thought!
May God help you to do it, and may you enter today!
