Fellowship Through Jesus - 1 John 1:3-4

v.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.

This verse says that the purpose of this eternal life that was with the Father was to bring fellowship not only between God’s people, but with God himself. Why? – Because that fellowship had been broken in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned.

The word fellowship is the Greek word koinonia which means common or shared. Through Jesus Christ we have something in common or shared, not only with each other, but also with God the Father and God the Son, and that is fellowship! In other words, the fellowship that was broken has once again been mended.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

That is the doctrine of reconciliation! 

Reconciled means “to reestablish a close relationship, to settle or resolve”. I can tell you experientually that true reconciliation means that the fellowship has been restored.  As a matter of fact, I believe that the fellowship should be as good or better than it was before the offense occurred or it is not true reconciliation. Too many times, we are simply content to agree to disagree and go our separate ways. That, my friend, is not reconciliation. Christ came to reconcile us to the Father.

That Your Joy May be Full

v.4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John tells us that the reason that he is telling them this is so that their joy may be full. It is the same thing Jesus said in John 15:11 when he said These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Also, in John 16:24 he said Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

Happiness verses Joy

Understand something; happiness is a variable, depending on the circumstances of life. However, the joy of the Lord is persistent; it never changes, because it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Billy Sunday once said, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity!” 

It has been said that “This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”