1 John 1-3 | The Heart of Christianity or The Pathway to Your Highest Joy!

What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. (1 John 1:3-4)

There is no other religion on the face of the earth (nor has there been, nor can there be) that offers what authentic Christianity provides. The heart of our spiritual life is about fellowship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This word is strong. “Fellowship” (koinonia) means "close personal association" or the "sharing of the common life." It means that we are connected to a living God. Ours is not a religion that bows down before a stone or is the mere keeping of rules and regulations. We are connected and filled with the living God of the universe. This is realized by the mercy of God, through our introduction into His presence through the sacrifice of the Son, and through the daily, personal filling of His Spirit who has come to dwell in us.

There are, though, times in our life when we are not experiencing this fellowship, this presence in its fullness. And sin is always the culprit in this interruption.

"IF"

The Apostle John was perhaps more keenly attuned to what intimacy with Christ was like than any other apostle. You will remember he was the one who leaned upon Jesus' breast at the last meal. Each of his books (John, 1,2,3 John, and Revelation) are filled with the heart of this intimacy.

In 1 John 1 he makes a foundational statement about this God with which we have fellowship: “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1:5). He follows this with six "ifs." Each one carries an important key to walking in deep fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

#1 IF we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1:6)

#2 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" (1:7)

#3 "IF we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1:8)

#4 "IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1:9)

#5 "IF we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (1:10)

#6 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, and IF anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)

Our greatest privilege is to walk with the Living God! But we must cooperate with Him as we are touched by the temptations of this world. Those of us who chose to admit our sin and trust our Great Advocate and Sin-Bearer will enter into the greatest possible experience on this earth … and the highest joy!

Father, thank You that you have provided a way for us to be restored to Eden. To walk with You in the cool of the day. To know You. To have You and for You to have us. I pray today that I will fully cooperate with You so that nothing will interrupt our fellowship!