Who Needs Fellowship Anyway? (1 John 1)

All of us need fellowship! 

Fellowship is a powerful concept that sometimes gets overlooked in our busy lives. What exactly is fellowship, you ask? According to the dictionary, fellowship is “the relationship of people who share interests or feelings.” The Greek word for it is koinonia, which translates to communion, or the sharing and exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, or communication and contribution. When we engage in fellowship, we are in communication, exchanging intimate thoughts and feelings, and contributing to each other's lives.

Fellowship with God

When talking about fellowship, we often think about fellowship with other believers. However, the most important type of fellowship is with God Himself. This is the goal we should be aiming for as believers. Let's dive into 1 John chapter 1 to see what it says about fellowship with God.

John writes that the Word of God, who was from the beginning, was made visible through the life of Jesus Christ. This manifestation was witnessed by John and the disciples so that they could declare Him to anyone who would listen, inviting them into the same fellowship they had with Jesus and God. John penned these words so that our joy may be full (1 John 1:1-4). A joyous life springs from fellowship with God.

He goes on to stress that we cannot have fellowship with God if we are walking in darkness: "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth" (1 John 1:6). The idea is clear—light and darkness cannot coexist. 2 Corinthians 6:14 also warns us not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers," because "what fellowship can light have with darkness?" Likewise, Ephesians 5:11 instructs us to have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness.

If you've ever read about Enoch, you’ll know that he walked in close fellowship with God, and one day, God took him up (Genesis 5:24). Noah also walked closely with God and was saved from the flood along with his family. Such close fellowship with God is indeed transformative.

Fellowship Takes Effort

Unfortunately, fellowship with God is not an automatic consequence of being saved. If it were, the Bible wouldn’t have to teach us how to maintain it. It takes effort, intentionality, and community. This brings me to my next point—we need to spend time in fellowship with other believers.

Hebrews 10:25 warns us not to forsake assembling together. Why is this important? Let's explore some biblical insights:

Fellowship Pleases God and Testifies to Others

Psalms 133:1-3 extols the virtues of living in harmony: "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head." Such fellowship not only pleases God but also serves as a testimony to others. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 and Matthew 18:19-20 both highlight the power of unity and agreement among believers.

Fellowship Provides Support and Builds Us Up

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says that two people are better off than one for they can help each other succeed. Fellowship offers us the support and encouragement we need, making us accountable to one another. Remember, Jesus often works through us to bless others.

Fellowship Strengthens and Matures Us

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 speaks about orderly worship and emphasizes that everything done should be for the strengthening of the church. Our gatherings are meant to uplift and edify us, not just for the sake of coming together.

Fellowship Teaches Us to Cooperate

1 Corinthians 12:18-27 illustrates the importance of cooperation within the body of Christ. Each member has a role, and we cannot function effectively without learning to work together. Just as a football team needs all its players to execute a play successfully, we need each other to achieve our spiritual goals.

Recap

So, we see that fellowship:

• Provides a testimony to others as we live together in peace and harmony, and it is pleasing to God.
• Exalts us in spirit and helps us pray in alignment with the Word of God, which causes God to respond.
• Provides us with support and builds us up as individuals, helping us to be accountable to each other.
• Strengthens and matures us as Christians, making us more effective tools for Christ!
• Teaches us how to cooperate as the body of Christ.

Conclusion

Lack of fellowship makes us vulnerable tools for Satan. If we are not operating under the influence of Christ, we may unwittingly further Satan's agenda. While as believers, we have power through the Holy Spirit, Satan can still sabotage those who are isolated. Operating outside the will of God can make us susceptible to fleshly weaknesses.

Remember, “He who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world.” Let’s keep our spiritual cylinders firing by maintaining fellowship with God and with one another. In doing so, we shield ourselves from Satan’s attacks and become powerful testimonies of God’s love and light.