He then said, "These things we write to you that your joy may he full" (vs.4). What could bring greater joy to any disciple that) to be assured of having fellowship with the Father and His Son'? Brother, if fishing or golfing or playing with your friends is more important to you than this... something is wrong with your thinking!
Then John added, "If we walk in the light .... we have fellowship with one another (God with us..we with Him), and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. " All disciples will sin and if we say we have not sinned we make God a liar, and His word is not in us. This sin may be because of weakness of the flesh or of our faith, or it may be in ignorance, but John said, "These things write I unto you that ye sin not. " God does not want us to sin, but He has made provision for us when we sin: if anyone sins lie has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins (2:1-2). So, when we sin we confess our sins and lie is faithful and just to forgive us our sills.
Wow! Brethren, that's important stuff! We who have sinned; we ... who often see the wrong and short-comings in others, even our brethren, instead of seeing the good, the clean and the pure; we ... who admittedly fall short of the glory of God; .... yet, we have and continue to have fellowship with God! It's amazing! It's astonishing! It sounds too good to be true! But it is true!!
It all started when we learned and obeyed the gospel of Christ: believing in Him as the Son of God, we repented of our sins and were baptized "into Christ". That made us special in the sight of God and of each other. And we should never forget it (I Peter 2:9). Our fellowship with each other is an outgrowth of our fellowship with God. With most of us it is the "common ground" we occupy, the "common faith" we share. The very best and dearest friends I have in this world are my brethren in Christ. Without my first getting into fellowship with God I would never have made these friends. Now, where ever I go and meet those who share this faith in Christ, an immediate bond is felt. Oh, I have not become their best friend, but there is a feeling we hold for each other. I hear from someone half way around the world and learn they are Christians, there is a feeling for them. We have often given and encouraged others to give to help Christians in far away places, when all we know of them is: they are fellow Christians who are in need.
It all started when we learned and obeyed the gospel of Christ .... that made us SPECIAL in the sight of God and each other.
To those who were in fellowship with God and with each other, John charged, "keep his commandments". for those who keep his word, in him is the love of God perfected. He told them to love one another and said, I write unto you "because your sins are forgiven you because ye have known him from the beginning.... because you are strong ,and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one because you know it (the truth). " If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
All who have fellowship with the Father and with his Son, should join John in declaring: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. " (I John 3:1-3). Fellowship with God! How great a blessing. The eyes of our Lord are over us, His ears are open to our prayers. Cleansing of sins is granted and the promise of eternal life is ours. Fellowship with God! How great!
--Billy Moore