“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that 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
There are many things in a disciple of Christ’s life that he must learn. But there is one that he must never forget, nor neglect, but constantly trust God for. It is the necessity of communion with Christ, and with the Father, by the Spirit. John the Apostle wrote his three epistles during the latter years of his life. He was an old man by the standards of his day. Thus, he had accumulated the knowledge and application of many truths of the Gospel, learning their meaning in an ever-increasing manner. As we gather from the gospel he wrote, the epistles, and the book of Revelation, we see that he was absolutely thorough in his thinking, intent on communicating to his readers, the priceless, and profound meaning of the great truths concerning Christ, by which men could know Him. One of those essential truths, which Paul spoke of also, was that of the necessity of true and abiding fellowship with God. Indeed, in his introduction of the first epistle, he gives his readers his testimony leading up to this tremendous subject. He writes of that which he, and others, had heard of Christ, seen with their eyes, looked upon, and touched with their hands, declaring Christ to be the Word of Life. (1 Jn.1:1) He goes on to speak of this Life being manifested, and this to the point where it was literally seen. John, as was the case of all the disciples, could not lie, as they knew that lying was sin, opposed to the truth to which they were committed to communicate. It is for this reason that he declares that he witnessed this manifested Life. He also realized that the reason for which the Lord had given him this perception of Himself, was not only to communicate it to others, but to give them a vision, or perception of what it means to have eternal life, knowing Christ, having daily, moment by moment fellowship with Him. He even goes so far as to expand that vision by declaring that this eternal Life was with the Father and was manifested to us. (1 Jn. 1:2) What is John, or rather the Spirit of God seeking to do here through John ‘s letter? It is to create a true vision of spiritual reality that is now true of the believer in Christ, so that in seeing the matter from heaven’s standpoint, and understanding the will of God, he may seek God for the realization of it in his life.
If ever there was a clear statement in the Bible with respect to the purpose of being a witness to believers, it is in John’s words, “…that which we have seen and heard declare unto you, that YOU may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 Jn. 1:3) Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers concerning the same matter, specifically declaring that it was the calling of every believer. He wrote: “God is faithful, by whom ye were CALLED unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9) The object of the witness, and declared calling of every believer, is first to commune with God, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit. Out of this blessed fellowship, abiding in Christ and Christ in him, is to flow the very Life of Christ, that eternal Life which we are called to know. Christianity is not just knowing the truths of Christ but knowing the power of His indestructible life. Jesus put it so very clearly when He declared: “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” (Jn. 17:30) How then does one have consistent, very real communion with God?
There is one way: walk in the light of God’s truth, abide in Christ, and live by the Spirit.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to abide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.