What fellowship with God means – Part 1

What many people find difficult to understand is the impact the word of God can have in the life of an individual. The reason is because people think that the word of the Almighty is not much different from the word of men. But in reality, the word of God has power to transform lives purposefully, practically and profitably. This transformation happens when we are in fellowship with God. Apostle John declared this because he had an experiential encounter “with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

Those who have not experienced this change cannot declare what they “have (not) seen and heard” to others. Sinners need the experience of salvation and continual walk with the Lord before they verbalise the expression. Mere knowledge that Jesus Christ is alive is not enough, but conversion experience is the only way to show others how to be saved and fellowship with God appropriately.

The Apostle goes on to expose the reason for ministry: “These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” Preaching and teaching within and outside the church is done so that the hearers can have the joy of salvation and obtain solution to their problems. If you are in any fellowship that decreases your joy of salvation, wisdom requires that you give it up. Apostle John emphasises that the message he declared was from God. This sets the tone for all preachers and members in local assemblies, to declare nothing that they have not heard from the Lord.

Believers generally must note that their lives must conform to what they profess and preach. They must conduct themselves “in the light” and remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ who “cleanseth us from all sin.” We cannot claim “that we have not sinned” since we were born; but after we receive pardon and cleansing by the blood of the Lamb, then we can say “that we have no sin,” else, we make God “a liar, and his word is not in us.”

It is one thing to have fellowship with man and another to have fellowship with God. Those who do not have fellowship with God cannot spend eternity with Him. If having fellowship with believers and religious people in the church is the limit we get to without having fellowship with God, we would be of all men the most miserable. If we have fellowship with highly placed people in the world, people who have made it and are making it, but have no fellowship with God, it will lead to regret in eternity.

Everyone born into the world came complete with sin, and without any relationship to God. All human beings are sinners by nature and practice. However, a point comes in the life of an individual when he is called into fellowship with the Lord. Apostle John received this call, saw the Saviour, the Giver of eternal life, and declared Him to all.

To come into intimacy with God, a sinner must be “called unto the fellowship of his Son,” by establishing a relationship with Christ. When the people heard Peter’s preaching upon receiving the Holy Ghost baptism at Pentecost, “they were pricked in their hearts,” and not in their heads. Their consciences condemned them and they knew they were sinners. They also knew they had gone astray and it dawned on them suddenly that they had not done the right thing. This realisation compelled them to ask what they were to do. In response, “Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” They agreed to Peter’s remedy. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Further reading (King James Version): 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Acts 2:37,38,40-43; John 8:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:19,22.