Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John.
In Lesson 11 we learned that we are called to proclaim Jesus to the world in order to bring people into fellowship. We also learned that fellowshipping with other believers requires devotion, involves praying with one accord, studying the Bible, breaking bread, meeting together habitually, encouraging one another, loving one another deeply and showing hospitality to one another without complaining.
In this lesson we’re going to learn about fellowshipping with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let’s focus on: And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
The word fellowship, or koinónia in the Greek, means partnership, sharing in, joint community, a common bond, a common life, and participation.(Strong’s Concordance, HELPS Word-Studies.)
This verse shows us that it’s possible to not only have fellowship with other believers, but we can have fellowship with God.
God wants to have fellowship with you.
However, the problem is that we are separated from God because of sin.
Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin is rebelling against God and breaking His laws.
We can’t have fellowship with God because of sin. The penalty for sin is eternal punishment and separation from God. (See Matthew 25:46, Jude 7, 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In order to have fellowship with you, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you, so you could be forgiven of your sins. He paid the penalty for sin, in your place.
The only way that you can have fellowship with God is by believing Jesus died on the cross for your sins, to turn from your sins, and to turn to God.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus' sacrifice to pay for your sin is what allows you to have fellowship with God.
Jesus wants to rescue you and bring you into God's kingdom.
Jesus wants you to be perfectly united together, in fellowship, with the Father, just like He is one with the Father.
Let's look at some verses that talk about fellowship with God.
In Romans 5:1-2 we read that we can have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. When you have peace with God, you will be able to fellowship with Him.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.
In Colossians 1:13-14 we read that God's plan is to rescue you, so you could be part of the kingdom of the Son, and fellowship with Him.
Colossians 1:13-14 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
In 1 Corinthians 1:9 we read that God has called you into fellowship. God wants to have a deep, abiding relationship with you. He is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
In John 17:20-21 we read that Jesus prays to God the Father that you could be perfectly united with Him and the Father. Fellowship with God is being united together with Him.
John 17:20-21 I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23 I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
In John 14:23 we read that the key to experiencing fellowship with God is to Love Him and obey Him. When you do those things God will make His home with you.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
In John 15:4 we read how Jesus is calling you to abide in Him. Abide means to remain in. The key to fellowship with God is to spend time with Him, to remain with Him, and to be with Him.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither you, unless you abide in Me.
In conclusion, God wants to have fellowship with you. You can have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to rescue you and is calling you into fellowship, so you can be perfectly united together with God. God wants to make His home with you. The key to maintaining fellowship with God is by is loving Him, obeying Him, and abiding in Him.
If you have been blessed by Hope Bible School, please share it with others.
If you have any prayer requests, please share them in the comments.
Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
VERSE BY VERSE BIBLE STUDY LESSONS (See all)
Lesson 11 - 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us... (Fellowshipping with Other Believers)
Lesson 10 - 1 John 1:2...that was with the Father and was revealed to us. (The Relationship Between Jesus and The Father)
Lesson 9 - 1 John 1:2 ...and we proclaim to you the eternal life... (Proclaim The Eternal Life)
Lesson 8 - 1 John 1:2...we have seen it and testified to it... (Share Your Testimony)
Lesson 7 - 1 John 1:2 And this is the life that was revealed... (Eternal Life Revealed)
Lesson 6 - 1 John 1:1...this is the Word of life. (The Message of Eternal Life)
Lesson 5 - 1 John 1:1...and touched with our own hands...(Touching Jesus by Faith)
Lesson 4 - 1 John 1:1...which we have gazed upon... (Gaze Upon Jesus)
Lesson 3 - 1 John 1:1...which we have seen with our own eyes... (Eyes of Faith)
Lesson 2 - 1 John 1:1…which we have heard… (Hear and Obey God)
Lesson 1 - 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning (Jesus is Eternal)
(Image by Rod Long on Unsplash. Berean Study Bible. New Zealand.)
Lesson 12 - 1 John 1:3..And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.