We Have Fellowship with One Another

“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.” I John 1:6-7

This is not a “one another” in the sense that it is not a command or admonishment to do fellowshipping; this is the result of being in Christ and having been truly re-born. Those who “walk in the Light” have fellowship with one another. It is one of the many proofs given in the New Testament that you are indeed walking in the Light. John goes on to say in I John 2:9, “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.”

How then can we explain that some “Christians” don’t like going to church? I can’t help but say they are deceived by that great deceiver, Satan. Those who feel completely safe with regards to their salvation and have absolutely no desire to have fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ are, in truth, not walking in the Light and not having fellowship with either the Father or the Son (I John 1:3).

Yes, some folks balk at the idea of having membership rolls, but that is not the issue. The important thing is that we are members of the Body of Christ and that means to be part of a community of believers. “Ignore one another” is not a Bible verse!

The Greek word used in this passage for fellowship is “koinonia”, in other passages of the New Testament it is also translated as contribution, participation, and sharing. This word is a verb, it means much more than thinking nice thought of other believers. True “koinonia” requires action.

Without active participation in a body of believers, how does one carry out any of the New Testament “one anothers”? Where do you contribute your tithes and offerings? How do you observe the communion aspect of the Lord’s Supper? Who do you teach? Who do you serve? Who do you pray for?

Except for Philemon, every New Testament epistle was written to a group of believers, or to the leader of a group of believers. How can you hope to carry out the spirit of these writings and not also belong to a group of believers?

I have heard John MacArthur say there is no such thing as a “Lone Ranger” Christian. In I John 1:7, the Apostle John is saying the same thing, “if we walk in the Light…we have fellowship with one another.”

Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Discussion Questions:

How important is your local church body to your walk of faith? If there has been a time in your life when you were not connected to a group of believers, what was the result?