“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked upon, and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life — the life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and announce to you that which we have seen and heard, that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things to you so that our joy may be complete.” (1 John 1:1-4 MEV)
In my previous post, our emphasis regarding this passage was that it described things the Apostle John knew, not simply through His mind, but through His experience with Jesus Christ. My point was that we, too, should espect to have similar “knowings” to share those things in Him we have and are experiencing. So as our relating to Jesus through this sweet, sweet fellowship increases as we live in Him, then we will also have much to share that has been born through our experiences in Him.
Many believe that anything emotional or experienced cannot be trusted. Well, that is a bit of a problem, since it has been proved that how we think determins what we feel. So emotions that are governed and as a result of working in Jesus through the Spirit as revealed in the Word will produce Godly emotions. This is experiencing Him and it sounds emotional – and it is, however, it is brought about through the Word. We need not discard what we feel, but instead examine our thought patterns – that is where the proof of emotions can be found. We should be having good, healing and releasing emotions as we walk in His love. These provide us with ample testimonies about Him and what He does in us. (This finishes that post. I did not realize I had not written well on that aspect of the passage. My apology to all who wondered where the remainder was).
Now, for this post. The word “fellowship” reflects sharing, participation, partnership, etc…. John 17:20-23 “”I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. May they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one even as We are one: I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (http://bible.com/1171/jhn.17.20-23.mev) This passage describes what John is describing here.
When Jesus finished the work of the death, burial, resurrection, ascension and then the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, He provided this abundant fellowship that He had prayed about in this prayer for believers who would come. It was not a form of “church” that He came to bring, but Himself (and the entire God-Head) that He came to give. It was not form that would make us right, but it was His “right” that would create within us His righteousness and the capacity to fellowship in Him at such a deep level that we share all in Him. It is this fellowship that the Apostle John desires to share with them, so that their (everyone’s) joy will be complete. I will write of that -“joy” and “complete” in another post.
Lord, we come as those whose lives have been totally impacted by your love and care. We seek to draw near is such a totalness that we are able to allow your fellowship in through participation in You and with You. It is You we long to embrace. Make it so. Thank you!
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