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Fellowship With God

By Frank Jamerson

The epistles of John deal primarily with the basis of fellowship with God. In this article we will briefly review three issues that are discussed in first, second and third John.

First, he deals with the question of whether one can "walk in darkness" and still have fellowship with God. In first John one, he lists three false claims, each introduced by the little word -"IF." "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie..." "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves..." "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar..." Can one have fellowship with God while "walking in darkness," "deceiving himself," and "making God a liar"? The answer is NO!

Does that mean that a person must be perfect (sinless) in order to have fellowship with God? Again, the answer is NO! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn. 1:9). John is emphasizing the MANNER OF LIFE that we must have in order to remain "in the light." Even while we "walk in the light" we will commit sins and need the blood of Christ to forgive us, but if we turn away from His word and live in sin, we are no longer in "the light." Later, he said that if the "seed" (God's word) abides in us we "cannot sin" (1 Jn. 3:9). This has reference to "walking in darkness" - a manner of life that is in rebellion to God's word.

Second, John discussed the question of the incarnation of Christ. Can a person have fellowship with God; and deny that Jesus came in the flesh? The answer is NO! "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father; but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1 Jn. 2:23). Those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh are "antichrists." Four times in these epistles he mentions these people, who existed in John's day. "And as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come,by which we know that it is the last hour" (1 Jn. 2:18). "Who is a lair but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and Son" (v. 22). "And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world" (4:3). And in the second epistle: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (v. 7). A person who denies that Jesus came in the flesh can certainly not have fellowship with God.

Third, he discusses the relationship between fellowship and keeping the commandments of God. In the first chapter, he said that the basis of fellowship was the message of the witnesses (the apostles and other Spirit- guided men) (1 Jn. 1:3,4). In the second chapter he said that those who claim to "know God" and do not keep his commandments are not telling the truth (2:4,5). Notice these parallel statements: "We know that we are in him, if we keep his commandments" and "We have fellowship with him if we walk in the light." Having fellowship with God (1:7) and "knowing Him" (2:3) refer to the same thing. Likewise "walking in the light" (1:7) and "keeping his commandments" (2:3,4) are the same thing. In the second epistle, John said, "whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (v. 9).

Those who habitually practice sin ("walk in darkness"), or deny that Jesus came in the flesh (who are antichrists), or fail to continue to keep His commandments (the apostolic message) do not have fellowship with God. Fellowship does not demand perfection, but it does demand that our manner of life comply to God's word. Everyone commits sin, but that should be the exception to the rule, and not the rule! 

  Other Articles by Frank Jamerson
The Apostles and Hermeneutics
Enthusiasm
A Mixed Up World