Fellowship (Dictionary): Companionship, company, community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience, the quality or state of being comradely.
Fellowship (Bible): Companionship between people of the same background, a community in which people share whatever is held in common.
John wrote this letter to the Christian church at large and proclaimed the need for the church to enter into godly fellowship. He opens 1 John 1 by affirming his relationship with Jesus:
1 John1:1-2: 1What 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— 2 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—
John reminded the believers that he had walked with Jesus and he was sharing what happened in his life. John then goes into a discussion on Christian fellowship:
1 John 1:3-4: 3 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. (NASB)
John makes it clear that the fellowship he is discussing is not just a fellowship with fellow Christians but a direct fellowship with God! He is very clear that Christians have entered into this relationship with the Father and His Son, Jesus.
The Apostle Paul also walked out his life in fellowship with the Holy Spirit:
2 Corinthians 13:14: 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (NASB)
Fellowship is an open relationship with God on a very personal level. It brings us into His presence and allows access to the very throne of God. Prayer, the word, and worship are all that is needed if they are submerged in grace and faith!
Hebrews 4:14-16: 14 But Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone to heaven itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. 16 So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. (LB)
Going to the throne of God is so intimate and powerful. The writer of Hebrews recognizes this intimacy and we can quickly see the precious gifts fellowship provides!
Philippians 4:6-7: 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. (LB)
The Lord has given believers Light and we must endeavor to walk out our faith in that Light. John warns us to walk in light and be careful not to step into darkness:
1 John 1:5-7: 5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NASB)
So, we see that fellowship with God leads us into fellowship with others and grants us access to His very throne! Why would we step out of the light and into darkness?
Fellowship
Fellowship, fellowship I cried!
As I faced an angry world
True Godly fellowship, I did sigh,
If I cannot have it I will surely die!
I know my Lord hung on a cross
To bring me to the Light,
I know I need His fellowship
To fight the age -old fight.
God heard my desperate cry
And I watched my darkness flee
And as I felt His gentle touch,
He fellowshipped with me!
