The Joy Of Fellowship

JULY 8, 2020 STUDY NOTES 1 JOHN 1:3-4 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE JOY OF FELLOWSHIP INTRODUCTION John writes to us that we might experience the fellowship with God that he experienced When John wrote this letter, he probably did not fully realize how meaningful fellowship was It is believed that not long after he wrote 1 John he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He was exiled because he was living his daily life in fellowship with God We can only imagine how much more meaningful the joy of that fellowship became It was there that God communicated the “Revelation” unto John, Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: In 1 John he writes to share with us what he saw and heard concerning the Person and work of Jesus, 1Jn 1:1 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, of the Word of life; He tells us what a joy that was, but listen to what he experienced on the Isle of Patmos, Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. In the beginning of the “Revelation” John tells us what a blessing the “Revelation” can be to us, Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Twenty-two chapters later John says, “Even so, come Lord Jesus,” Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. John knows from experience the “Joy of Fellowship with God” FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 1Jn 1:3 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. In verse three, John picks up where he left off in verse one, with “The Word of Life” John is sharing his message of “The WORD OF LIFE” with us “WE,” those who have known Jesus personally as identified in the first two verses For the third time he refers to that which “we have seen,” it is also found in verses 1 &2 They understood what they saw, and they were assured of what they saw They remember what they saw, and they can still see it in their minds eye The Apostles were not only “eye-witnesses” of the “Word of Life” They were also “ear-witnesses” of the “Word of Life” They gave their attention to what Jesus said, they obeyed what He had to say The Apostles were doing what Jesus had told them to do, we “declare we unto you” The word “declare” is the same word translated “show” in verse 2 John is saying, “we have made it our business to proclaim to you the Word of Life” The duty of a witness is to show or declare what they have seen and heard Now “We” who come to know Jesus personally are included in the “we” of John’s letter We now have the same responsibility, we now have the same privilege We must realize how important it is for us to “declare” what we have seen and heard Paul tells us how important it is to declare unto others the “Word of Life,” Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! It is also of utmost importance that those who are saved hear and declare what John has to say And John tells us why--that ye also may have fellowship with us: Anytime you read the word “that” in a verse stop and meditate upon it The author is saying, “you heard “what” I said, now understand “why” I said it John says, “That you,” “You” who have believed the message of the “WORD OF LIFE” “You” who have received “ETERNAL LIFE” from the Word of Life You too can have fellowship with us, how can that be possible? John lived 2,000 years ago, we never personally saw him or heard him John presents to us the truth of the realm of the supernatural, which Paul explains, 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. We have not seen all that God wants to show us and we have not heard all that He wants to tell us We have not experienced all that God wants to share with us But God has a way to reveal all that He has for those who love Him, 1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. What Paul identifies is an experience that comes to us through the Holy Spirit It is more than the fact of the presence of the Spirit within us, it is as we love and obey Him Which is the same that John means by having fellowship with God, Christ, and one another Through fellowship the Spirit uncovers, makes known, and brings to light the things of God We have the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit,” 2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen Such fellowship can be with us all because the Holy Spirit is with us all, Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, The disciples did not experience the fellowship that John speaks of during Jesus’ earthly life It was not the physical closeness to Jesus that resulted in fellowship, Jesus said to Philip, Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? The fellowship that John writes about required the finished redemptive work of Jesus True fellowship with God also required Jesus sending the Holy Spirit, Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; It is the presence of the Holy Spirit within us that makes our fellowship possible, Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. “At that day” is the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit, 1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Even though you didn’t live 2,000 years ago when Jesus lived His life upon the earth Even though you were not an eyewitness of the life of Jesus upon this earth Even though you did not walk side by side with Jesus and hear him teach with your own ears Even though you have never touched the physical body of Jesus with your own hands You can still experience the same “FELLOWSHIP” that John and the Apostles had with Jesus You can see Jesus in your spirit, hear him in your mind, and feel him in your heart Fellowship with God can be the same for Christians today as it was for John and the Apostles The letter of 1 John is written that we might have “Fellowship” The word “have” is a meaningful expression, meaning more than the fact of “fellowship” The point is a strong personal realization of “fellowship,” you will know it if you have it The point is, it is first-of all “fellowship with God,” which is a supernatural experience It is an experience so real that you want it to be shared with others, John says it can be shared The word “Fellowship” is found four times in 1 John 1 and one of the key words in the letter “Fellowship” is one of the most meaningful words in the N.T. for Christians It is one of the most important words for Christians to understand We use it today with different meanings, we use it too often to identify too many different things We often use it with the meaning of “friendship,” but it is far more than friendship It is something beyond friendship, much stronger than friendship experienced in a social activity In the Bible it means to have something in common It means to have something that we can share with one another, as in the early church, Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. We can share together because we share something together, we have something in common Biblical fellowship is a Companionship, a Partnership, a Relationship with God the Father We have the “WORD OF LIFE,” we each one as believers in Christ have “ETERNAL LIFE” “Fellowship” describes the purpose of what John declares, why he is telling us what he does If we don’t hear the message of Jesus and receive the life of Jesus, there will be no “fellowship” So, John tells us about Jesus so that we may share in, realize, and enjoy fellowship That we may have first-hand knowledge of and the personal experience of fellowship with God John also wants us to continue to have and continue to experience fellowship with one another Fellowship with one another is possible because we have fellowship with God--and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. You can sense the excitement and enjoyment of John when he says, “truly our fellowship” John tells us of his experience with Jesus in order that we also may have fellowship Fellowship with God the Father is based upon our relationship with Jesus Christ Fellowship is possible when our mind, heart, and will are in harmony with God Christians are not to live in isolation, Christians are to live in “fellowship” A life that is to be shared with others, Sunday is a special day for “Fellowship with God” A day for Fellowship with one another, but the purpose of Sunday is losing ground today Christian fellowship is not a top priority in the life of many church members today Very few churchgoers today realize the importance and value of Christian Fellowship No earthly organization, worldly pleasure, sports activity, can compare to Christian Fellowship “Fellowship” is the highest possible experience of life that man can know upon this earth It is only possible through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, 1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. John uses the title “Son” in-reference to Jesus 23 times in 1 John, it is found in every chapter John uses a different Greek word to identify believers as sons of God or the children of God 1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (God can defeat the devil and fill His children with joy) A LIFE FILLED WITH JOY 1Jn 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. “These things” are the things that can be told about Jesus Christ, “The Word of Life” All the things that need to be told about Jesus Christ John has a purpose in mind when he writes “these things” We must know “these things,” we must believe “these things.” we must live “these things” The “things” of the life of Jesus must be the things of our life if we are going to experience joy The result of hearing about and believing the truths of Jesus will be “joy” write we unto you, Look at how often John refers to his purpose of writing and the reasons he gives us: In 1:4 he writes that our joy may be full He writes that we might be victorious over sin, 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: He writes to inform us of the old commandment that is new, 1Jn 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He writes to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins, 1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. He writes to assure us of our relationship with God and the power of knowing His Word, 1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. He writes to assure us that the Holy Spirit will teach us the truth of God’s Word, 1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. He writes to warn us of the lies of antichrists, 1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. He writes that we may know beyond the shadow of any doubt that we have eternal life, 1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. No wonder that John tells us that we can be filled with joy--that your joy may be full. Anyone can be happy but without Christ in your life there is no fulness of joy Don’t go to the dictionary to find the truth of joy, go to the New Testament The fulness of joy is fellowship with God through Jesus Christ Anyone can experience friendship but only Christians can share fellowship with one another If you feel that your joy is not what it should be read 1 John over and over, day after day Read it until you experience why John wrote the letter, “that your joy may be full” Full joy is when the cup of joy is filled to the brim and running over, David spoke of it, Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Regardless of what we face in life, the cup of life is full, and God blesses us through fellowship Peter speaks of the joy of the Christian life, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: The joy of the Christian life is “unspeakable” words cannot express it, it can be experienced It is impossible to be happy all of the time because happiness is based upon “happenings” It is impossible for us to know what is going to happen in the path of life tomorrow We know that there can be unexpected circumstances of life and unwanted difficulties of life Christian “Joy” should not be affected by changing personal conditions or world conditions Christians can be unhappy at times and still be filled with joy, “Joy” is because of Jesus “Joy” is knowing that you are in a right relationship with God The word “full” means “to be complete,” to accomplish an end; to attain a goal The goal of many is to make more money, buy more things, and live a happy life Jesus tells us the truth of earthly treasures, Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Worldly riches can provide a certain measure of comfort and satisfaction, but not “Full Joy” The fullness of joy will come through heavenly treasures and not earthly treasures, Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: The goal of many people is to enjoy as much worldly pleasure as possible But worldly pleasures will not bring forth a “Joyous Life,” Jesus is the only source of real joy Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Jesus spoke those words the night before He was crucified, He knew of tomorrow Hebrews speaks of that joy of Jesus, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Full joy comes from the knowledge and the experience of the “WORD OF LIFE” The “Joy of Jesus” can be ours today and can be ours throughout the difficult days of our life Satan seeks to steal away our joy of Jesus and he attempts to do it in many different ways David lost his joy of salvation through sin, Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. There was nothing to be proud of, no gladness, no joy, Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. There was no fellowship with God, Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. David did not lose his salvation, he lost his joy of salvation, Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Don’t let Satan steal away the joy of your salvation, or your fellowship with God Listen to John, you can hear and see Jesus today, fellowship with God can be restored today Jesus can fill your life with joy because: “THE WORD OF LIFE” is the “WORD FOR LIFE” And a “JOYOUS LIFE” How important is Christian fellowship to you? Think about what John has taught us: We all have the same spiritual Father and the same Lord and Savior We are united into the Family of God as brothers and sisters “In Christ” We share the same eternal life, we are promised the same spiritual blessings All of which we must believe and participate in together When we do, we are in “fellowship” with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and one another God wants us to come to the point of spiritual fullness and remain in the state of being full John would not experience the fullness of joy unless he was living the things of the Word of Life John would not experience the fullness of joy unless he was sharing the life of Jesus with others John experienced the fullness of “joy” by telling these things to us Christians who are not sharing the joy of Jesus with others are not experiencing “full joy” The spiritual cup of joy will not run over until its contents are shared with others There is no joy when a Christian is silent about the things of Christ in their life The cup of joy will not be full when a Christian lives in spiritual isolation Full joy comes through the experience of fellowship with God and with other Christians Fellowship with God and fellowship with one another will fill your cup with joy Without fellowship there will be no joy, the joy is receiving and sharing with others Fellowship is the results of fulfilling the two great commandments, Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. What a joy it is to fellowship with God’s people Don’t let the fear of Coronavirus take away your fellowship with God, Christ, or God’s Family You may not be able to get out and share a personal contact with others But you can share a personal relationship with God in your own home through your Bible study And you can share fellowship with your church family by praying for them and talking to them Don’t text them, call them, talk to them, talk to them about God, Christ, and the joy of Jesus Don’t allow Satan to steal away the joy of your salvation through the Coronavirus epidemic Stay in fellowship with your church family, pray for them daily, talk to them often HYMN #386 “THE FAMILY OF GOD”