1 John 1:3-4, “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. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”
The basis of Christian fellowship is a unity which exists among those who believe the gospel and are united in the Spirit through Christ to the Father. Fellowship starts between the Heavenly Father and the Eternal Son. Then we are united to Christ by virtue of faith in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. In that union we possess fellowship with the Father and with all those who have faith in Christ.
This is what John is telling us in 1 John. He is writing to say to them that he desires fellowship. They are proclaiming the gospel so that others may experience the benefit of being united to Christ. Gospel evangelism is not just about converts; it is about fellowship.
Our first thought when we hear the word “fellowship” is a party for Christians to get together, eat, talk, and have a good time. When John wrote of fellowship, he had evangelism and unity in mind. It is not that he was too serious, it is that he understood that fellowship with other people could not be achieved apart from a unity that was only possible by faith in Christ.
Fellowship always bears in mind the expansion of the family. We will be mindful of the lost people we know. If we truly love the lost, we want to be able to have a deeper relationship with them. We will not be satisfied with surface level, earthly relationship only. We will desire for them to have fellowship with the Son, the Father, and us.
We are united by common beliefs, purposes, and goals. Belief in the gospel, the purpose of knowing Christ and making Him known, and the goal of making disciples. Developing unity over your beliefs, purposes, and goals is impossible if Christ is not the basis of the relationship. We think of fellowship at much too shallow of a level.
We are knit together in much deeper ways than food and fun at a church social event. At least we need to be. If our bonds to the church are based only on what make earthly relationships work, they will fall apart. People move. Interests change. Feelings get hurt. Children grow up. Churches will fall apart if they build their relational community on these things. Churches will remain in gospel rootedness if they build their relational community on fellowship: common beliefs, purposes, and goals.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
