In First John verses one through four we find the apostle using the word “fellowship” to define the true saint’s relationship with God and Christ. The Word “fellowship” means two or more people who share a common opinion. This is not a new concept in the spiritual realm. In Amos 3:3 the Prophet asks: “Can two walk together unless they are in agreement?” The student of the Holy Scriptures will notice that the word “walk” refers to our lifestyle–our actions, words, thoughts, etc. In the social realm, the term “Social I.D.” refers to our reputation–how others evaluate us based on what we do and say, which normally reflects what we think. Scripturally, we are reminded that what we think about eventually comes out of our mouths as well as what we do. What we think about, speak about and do normally determines with whom we associate, which are normally those who share our values, likes, dislikes, interests, etc. We FELLOWSHIP with those like ourselves. This is why we are reminded Biblically to use wisdom when choosing with whom to associate.

However, this creates a minor problem for God’s true saints. Because they are so few in number God’s Very Elect often find themselves alone, there being no one with whom to sharing common interests which focus on the things of the Lord. Since allowing God to take over my life, I have no interest in entertainment (television, sports, etc.) as I did in my pre-conversion spiritual state. Then I would spend several hours each night watching police stories, sports, etc. Back then I always had family, friends, etc. around with whom I shared a number of those interests. Now I spend most of my time alone while those I know are together fellowshipping around their common interests–television programs, movies, etc. are high on the list of common interests. Because of my odd (“peculiar”–Titus 2:14/ 1 Pet. 2:14) “walk” my fellowshipping is done in my office where I commune with God and His Son. Which is what the first four verses of First John are about.

When one fellowships with the Godhead one knows that he is third in the order of importance. My “walk” with Father and Son is on the Professors–student level. I know my place. I am there to learn from the Masters. In other words, I am there to get THE MESSAGE which comes to me during times of prayer, meditation and Bible study. John tells us in verse five of his first epistle: “THIS then is THE MESSAGE we (apostles) have heard from Him (Jesus-see vs 1) and declare unto you (the church): GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.” That short but extremely revealing statement is the apostles’ message to all who plan to spend eternity with Father and Son in Paradise. Those who do not get this message, believe it and apply it to their lives will not enter the Kingdom of God. Sadly, Jesus warned that few would get the message (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14).

Reminder: Scripturally, the Word “LIGHT” refers to holiness, righteousness and godliness while the Word DARKNESS refers to sin. Also, the Word “WALK” refers to how one lives his life. From this point through chapter two we will follow John’s narrative. Then we will turn to His Gospel for a study of the expression “IN HIM” before returning to his first epistle where we will pick up where we had left off earlier.

Verses six and seven are vitally important relative to our relationship with the Lord. If we claim to have fellowship (a positive relationship) with Him while continuing to walk in darkness (to sin–break His Law–3:4), we are LIARS, not having God’s Truth in us. Notice that John uses the word “we,” thereby including himself in every instance. As holy and righteous as John was, he knew had to keep sin out of his life in order to receive salvation upon the return of Jesus Christ at which time salvation will be awarded to those few who will qualify to receive it. Notice that God calls sinning church people who claim to fellowship with God are “liars.” Note also in Rev. 21:8 that “ALL LIARS will burn in the lake of fire,” along with unbelievers, abominable people, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers and idolaters.

In verse seven John makes it clear that only those who walk in God’s light can have fellowship with Him and with others like themselves (vs 3). All fellowship among church people that is not done while walking in LIGHT (holiness, righteousness–Law keeping) is false fellowship in which God is not involved. So-called “sinners saved by grace” have false fellowship. As he did with Adam and Eve, Satan makes SSBG believe that they are communing with God. Jesus spoke to this truth in Revelation 12:9 where He states that “Satan has deceived the whole world,” which includes the church world whose parishioners involve themselves in false fellowship. Christ declared this Truth in Revelation 3:14-18 when describing the end-time (Laodicean) church. Read His description of the modern-day Catholic/Protestant Religious System which is commonly called “the church.”

In verses seven through ten we find a statement that is interpreted by the church to mean something that it does not mean. The church maintains that the Lord routinely forgives all of the supposedly saved believer’s sins as soon as they are confessed and repented of. But notice the first part of verse seven: “BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE (THE LORD) IS (WALKS) IN THE LIGHT THEN (AND ONLY THEN) DO WE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND HE FORGIVES ALL OF OUR (PAST) SINS.” If we are walking in the light as He is in the light, WE HAVE NO SINS TO BE FORGIVEN, just as He (Jesus Who walks in the light) has no sins to be forgiven. The sins John is referring to are one’s PAST SINS that are all forgiven at the point of our JUSTIFICATION–THE REMOVAL OF ALL OF OUR PAST SINS (ROM. 3:23-25). That John is referring to our PAST, PRE-JUSTIFICATION SINS IS PROVEN IN VERSE TEN WHERE HE STATES THAT IF WE SAY WE HAVE NEVER SINNED WE MAKE CHRIST A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. Read the series titled JUSTIFICATION. There are several series bearing that word in the title. Read the series with JUSTIFICATION as the only word in the title. I highly recommend reading all of the JUSTIFICATION series.

Incredibly, I once heard a pastor say that he had never done anything for which he needed to be forgiven. Ironically, he was double-sinning at that moment by observing Sunday as the Lord’s Sabbath and by having defiled God’s true Sabbath the day before. Also, I heard a world-famous preacher say: “We must obey God’s Law” while doing the same thing as the other pastor. Satan must laugh throughout both days as billions of people commit both sins every Saturday and Sunday. L.J.