Fellowship with the Father / Comunión con el Padre

Introduction

Last week many people around the world gathered around their dinner tables to enjoy an Easter meal.

Many participated in Easter egg hunts.

Others may have even attended a church service in order to check of their religious duty box for the year.

A week has passed since last Easter, and the question is: What has changed? Did last week’s events have any lasting effect on our lives?

Christianity is much more than Christmas and Easter. Christianity, being a Christian, living the Christian life has nothing to due with a religious holiday or observance. The Christian life refers to:

A unique view of the historical Jesus

A unique fellowship with God and one another

A unique joy

I. A unique view of the historical Jesus

I. Una concepto único acerca del Jesús histórico

Notice how John the apostle starts his letter:

1 John 1:1 NASB95

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—

1 John 1:1 LBLA

Lo que existía desde el principio, lo que hemos oído, lo que hemos visto con nuestros ojos, lo que hemos contemplado y lo que han palpado nuestras manos, acerca del Verbo de vida

John was an early follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible introduces us to John early in Jesus’ ministry. He is the apostle identified as that one who Jesus loved ().

1 Juan 1:1

In this introduction he speaks about someone who:

Was from the beginning - this emphasizes Jesus’ eternality. Who has always existed. He had no beginning. He is the eternal Son of God.

Was heard - Jesus became a man and loved among the people of Israel 2,000 years ago. He was heard by many. Many would flock to him to hear his teachings. People were mesmerized by his teaching.

Was seen - Jesus was not only heard but seen by many. There were many eyewitnesses of the man Jesus Christ. He was not a figment of people’s imaginations. He was a real life person.

Was contemplated - This does not refer to seeing someone. Contemplation is a deep focus on someone or something. When you observe the skies to make out the shape of the clouds, when you examine a diamond up close, when you look out into the beautiful sunrise or sunset - you are contemplating.

Was touched by people’s hands - Not only was Jesus seen and heard but many were able to physically touch him. In fact, we can also say that many were touched by Jesus. He extended his healing hand towards the leper. He touched the eyes of the blind man.

So after John emphasizes the reality of the man Jesus Christ he sums him up by saying that Jesus is the Word of Life. He is the Word of God who gives life to all who believe?

Why would Jesus be described as the Word of Life?

One thought could be that he is the Word of Life because he came to a place of death.

We are dead in our trespasses and sin.

Sin produced death in us.

Jesus came to a mortuary. This planet was full of dead people. People living in their sin. All of a sudden Jesus enters the world to bring life, and life eternal to all those who would believe.

John emphasizes that the life of Jesus Christ was manifested to humanity - this is the greatest message of all.

1 John 1:2 NASB95

and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

1 John 1:2 LBLA

(pues la vida fue manifestada, y nosotros la hemos visto y damos testimonio y os anunciamos la vida eterna, la cual estaba con el Padre y se nos manifestó);

This life that was manifested affected those who encountered the light.

It is impossible to encounter the light of the World of life and not be transformed.

The transformation that God works in us leads us to testify and proclaim to all who will hear - about the eternal life that God promises in Jesus Christ.

This is a gift from the Father. He is the one that sent his Son such that he would be able to encounter the Word of Life.

What a marvelous privilege it must have been to encounter Jesus Christ on earth!

1 John 1:3 NASB95

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.

1 John 1:3 LBLA

lo que hemos visto y oído, os proclamamos también a vosotros, para que también vosotros tengáis comunión con nosotros; y en verdad nuestra comunión es con el Padre y con su Hijo Jesucristo.

John says “we have seen and heard” Jesus. Just imagine the marvelous experience of seeing, hearing, touching, contemplating the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are far removed from those historical events. It has been 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth.

For this reason, John says that even though Jesus Christ has now gone back to the father, believers have yet another privilege.

II. A unique fellowship with God and one another

II. Una comunión única con Dios y los unos con los otros

Those who have believed in the Word of Life have the privilege of fellowship with the Father, with the Son, and with other believers.

1 John 1:3 NASB95

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.

1 John 1:3 LBLA

lo que hemos visto y oído, os proclamamos también a vosotros, para que también vosotros tengáis comunión con nosotros; y en verdad nuestra comunión es con el Padre y con su Hijo Jesucristo.

John says that the message of the Gospel is preached so that those who believe will have fellowship with God.

Fellowship does not refer to a potluck - although we commonly refer to that time as fellowship.

Fellowship is much more than sharing a meal.

Fellowship is intimate communion. Fellowship refers to a close relationship.

Fellowship refers to sharing in other people’s joys, triumphs, trials, difficulties, successes. Fellowship is walking close with others.

Fellowship is much more than being related by blood, it is much more than being an acquaintance. Fellowship is knowing someone and truly being known by them.

What a marvelous thought to know that we can have fellowship with God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

We can be truly known by God.

We can truly know God

We can have real intimate communion with God.

Unfortunately, many religious folk do not know what it is to truly know God. They may know how to properly practice their religion by they truly do not know God.

What would you say to me if you asked me: what’s your wife’s favorite color? food? song? restaurant? desert? …and everytime I responded with: I don’t know. - Would you think that I know my wife? Of course not!

Many are the same with God. They say they love God, they say they know God, they call themselves Christians but they have no idea who God is. They do not know his Word, they do not know or do what pleases him, they do not speak with him, they do not worship him, they rarely enter his house.

Do they know God? No. They are deceiving themselves.

Not only do we have fellowship with God but we also have fellowship with the people of God.

This is an important biblical concept. The church of God is a real family.

We must understand that if we call ourselves Christians we will love the people of God. We will love the redeemed.

We will strive to maintain the unity of the faith no matter the differences that could separate us.

This is how we testify to the world that we are God’s people - by the way we love one another.

III. A unique joy

III. Un gozo único

Lastly, this message about the World of Life gives us joy!

1 John 1:4 NASB95

These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

1 John 1:4 LBLA

Os escribimos estas cosas para que nuestro gozo sea completo.

It is truly sad to see many who do not have the joy of the Lord in their lives.

It could very well be because they have not believed in Jesus Christ.

Joy is part of the Christian life.

Joy is not contentment or simply happiness. Joy is a supernatural work of God in the life of the believer whereby we can rejoice even in the midst of hardship and trials.

The Christian life is much more than Christmas and Easter. The true Christian life is fundamentally dependent on the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is because of the incarnation of Jesus Christ that we have the opportunity to experience true fellowship with God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

It is because of the incarnation that we can have fellowship with the people of God. We have a spiritual family. We are members of the household of God.

It is because of the incarnation that we can be full of joy - no matter circumstances we face.

If this is not your experience I would invite you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in the World of Life and he will give you life eternal!