1 John
1 John 1:1-10
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Having fellowship is when something in common is shared together. This seems to be the central purpose being presented, that the disciples’ encounter with the very presence of Jesus was enabling a bonding fellowship as it was walked in together. To have a common experience with Him, though, would also have a common effect of His glory – continual cleansing from the fellowship of sin. To walk in fellowship together with Him is to walk in an ongoing repudiation of sin’s dominance. Feigning independence from a need for this fellowship because sin is never an issue John indicates to be a step in disqualifying darkness. Though the blood of Jesus has forgiven us of all sin, without fellowshiping together in the light of His presence, the power to walk in freedom from sin is inactive.
That Jesus promised to never leave is not just a personal promise of fellowship. When He is encountered, it is also an encounter with everyone else He has also welcomed there. This fellowship is not optional if there is to be a life of deliverance from sin’s mastery. It’s only in the light of His presence that darkness is dispelled and purged. It’s only when those ways of darkness are brought into the light and admitted to that they lose any power to persist. How wonderful it is to submit to this way of love, where the exposure isn’t meant for condemnation in the least, but only purification and perfection. There is great comfort and confidence to be found in the fellowship of those who are truly walking in the same light and abounding in this same love, mercy, and restoration.