"GLORIOUS FELLOWSHIP" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 9/10/26

“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.” (I John 1:3)

The Apostle John states the purpose for which he wrote this Epistle in the last chapter: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have sternal life...” (Ch. 5:13) Here in the prologue of the Epistle he sets forth what makes this knowledge possible. It is the sweet fellowship into which believers are brought through faith in the incarnate Son of God. From this firm foundation, John will proceed to describe the marks of this fellowship, and to refute the errors that imitate it.

John ministered for many years in and around Ephesus after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. This letter was written to address erroneous doctrines that false teachers were bringing into the Church. These teachings bore marks of the heresy of Gnosticiam, including the denial that the Son of God had truly become flesh, and a belief that personal holiness was unimportant for those who possessed superior spiritual knowledge. What the Apostle writes in these five chapters destroys both of those deadly heresies with gospel truth.

This helps explain why John begins this Epistle with a series of phrases that might otherwise seem a bit redundant but clearly bear great theological weight against these particular heresies. The opening phrase, “That which was from the beginning,” echoes the opening of John’s Gospel and declares the eternal existence of the Son of God. Then to refute the notion that the Divine Christ only seemed to take a human body, he piles on a series of phrases which prove that the Incarnate Son had a real substantial body: “…which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life.”

To all of this John and the others could personally attest: “For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness.” Besides refuting the Gnostic heresies, what was his point? It was that he might show forth that eternal life which was made known to him. And, as our text states, that they might declare it to us, so that we also might be brought into this glorious fellowship which believers share with God the Father and God the Son.

The word “fellowship” (Greek - Koinonia) speaks of genuine partnership, shared life, and mutual participation. John had in mind an organic union of those who have been brought into living communion with the triune God. To know the Gospel is to be drawn into fellowship. We are not merely informed about Christ; we are joined to Christ, and through Christ to the Father, and through this union to all others who share the same union. The horizontal fellowship with the Church is the necessary fruit of the vertical fellowship with God.

We can therefore see how John’s stated purpose for writing this Epistle is met in those who truly believe. The sure knowledge of eternal life is gained as we participate in this fellowship that is both vertical and horizontal. As we are brought into fellowship with the triune Godhead, we are necessarily brought into fellowship with the saints. This glorious fellowship is key to the sure knowledge of eternal life.