1 John 1 Lesson

FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship is an important part of being a Christian.

According to bible.org, the word fellowship means:

• “The sharing together in a common life with other believers through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.” – bible.org.

Today’s lesson takes a closer look at the word fellowship. Using the definition above, our lesson is divided into three parts:

1. A common life,
2. Our relationship with God,
3. Giving thanks to Jesus.

We will review each of these three points in more detail, and then the lesson will be yours.

A COMMON LIFE

Followers of Jesus have many things in common. 

For example:

• We sing,
• We pray,
• We study the Bible. 

It is important to understand the things that we have in common with our fellow believers.

It is even more important to understand what we SHOULD have in common with our Brothers and Sisters according to the teachings of the Bible.

The Apostle John wrote:

• “This 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. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 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.” – 1 John 1:5-7.

As Christians, one of the most important things that we should have in common is our desire to “walk in the light,” not darkness. 

This desire to walk in the light:

1. Pleases God,
2. Separates us from the ways of the world,
3. Allows us to have fellowship with one another.

The light that John is referring to in the above scripture is God. 

Choosing to live our lives in a way that glorifies God separates us from the rest of the world and allows us to have fellowship with God and one another.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Christian fellowship is centered around a common belief in God and Jesus. 

It is what separates us from the rest of the world.

When Christians are in fellowship with one another, we are all headed in the same direction; towards the Light.

What we have in common is a desire to be led by God, and to follow His plan for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Those of us who walk in the Light have the following priorities that are different than the priorities of the world:

• Priority #1: Glorifying God,
• Priority #2: Serving others.

Consider the following verse:

• “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another.” – 1 John 1:6-7.

Of course, none of us can walk in the light all the time.

Despite our best intentions, we will sin and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23-24)

To remain in fellowship with God, we simply need to confess our sins andrepent.

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9.

GIVING THANKS TO JESUS

Sin is all around us, and Satan is on the attack! 

Peter warned us about this in his first epistle:

• “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8. 

And as we have discussed, despite our best efforts, we are all going to sin. 

When we confess our sins and repent, God will forgive us every time.

This forgiveness is only possible because of the redeeming blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is the precious blood of Jesus that keeps us in fellowship with God and one another. 

Our dependence on Jesus is highlighted in the following four scriptures:

1. “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” - Mathew 26:28,
2. “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace.” - Ephesians 1:7,
3. “And He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24,
4. “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1.

The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross changed everything.

His death, burial, and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christianity and the greatest events in the history of the world! 

Jesus is aptly called our, “Lord and Savior,” because He is the only one that can make us right with God when we sin.

CONCLUSION

Being in fellowship with God and one another is something to be cherished and not to be taken lightly. 

Life will challenge us.

Satan will tempt us.

And we will stumble despite our best intentions. 

The fellowship that we have with God, Jesus, and one another, allows us to persevere and endure through even the toughest of circumstances.

This fellowship is based on three things:

1. Having a common life with common priorities,
2. Seeking out a relationship with God through the obedience of His commands,
3. Giving thanks to Jesus.

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture which highlights the importance of fellowship in the lives of Christians:

• “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up!  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.