We People naturally desire fellowship—a connection that brings community, shared goals, and support. Fellowship can take different forms, such as:
Religious Fellowship: Believers gathering to worship, pray, and support each other in their faith.
Social Fellowship: Building friendships and supporting each other in clubs, groups, or casual gatherings.
Academic or Professional Fellowship: Grants or programs for study or work that encourage learning and collaboration.
Because we are made in God’s image, God also desires to fellowship with us—a close relationship with His creation.
Some people cherish fellowship with God, while others see it as unimportant. For some, fellowship happens only during Sunday services, and they go back to worldly ways afterward.
John, a disciple of Jesus, writes in 1 John 1:3-4 about the close fellowship they had with Jesus and invites us to share in it. This kind of fellowship helps us grow spiritually and strengthens our bond with Christ.
1 John 1:3-4: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.”
The Word of Life gave way to Fellowship to the disciples. They proclaim the fellowship they had 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
The fellowship of disciples and Jesus was with great joy, they experienced the Joy and want us also to share the same Joyful experience
Like the Disciples we should also experience the Word of Life in us thru fellowship as the word become flesh in us and dwells in us
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
John 1:14 'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. '
What is the Word of Life?
1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
The Word of Life is the foundation for fellowship with Jesus, much like how we experience fellowship in other areas of life—social, academic, or professional. Here’s what it means:
Jesus is the Light of the World:
John 9:5: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 8:12: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’”
Fellowship Through the Word of Life:
Hearing the Message: The disciples first heard the message - John 1:1-3 - 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Receiving the Word: The message brought life into them thru grace - John 1:16 - Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Walking in the Light: They experienced fellowship with the Light - John 9:5 - 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
For us God has blessed his breath of word thru Bible and it acts as a fellowship to read the word of life, it frees us from the bondages and old traditions we are bonded to to make us walk in light.
Jesus as Light and Darkness Defined:
Light: Represents freedom from sin, joy, and walking in the truth of Christ.
Darkness: Represents sin and separation from God.
Sharing the Light:
Once we experience Jesus as the Light, we cannot hide it. This light shines through us and becomes evident to others as we live out our faith.
Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Denial Hindrances to fellowship
Denial of Sin’s Reality
1 John 1:6-7: “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Satan’s Tactic: Denying Sin
One way Satan disrupts our fellowship with God is by getting us to deny our sin. This denial often shows up as self-righteousness, where we compare ourselves to others and justify our actions instead of recognizing our need for God’s grace. The more we deny our sin, the farther we move away from God’s fellowship. Satan uses this tactic with believers, making them feel superior to the world just because they go to church, pray, or do God’s work. Sin can quietly creep in without us noticing, leading to denial.
Superficial Fellowship
Many claim to have fellowship with God by participating in outward acts like attending church or gospel meetings. While these are good practices, they are meaningless without an inner transformation and genuine connection with God. True fellowship goes beyond external rituals—it happens deep within the heart and soul. God looks at the heart and the intent in which we perform our act towards him. This act of double face is a kind of hypocrisy - Matthew 23:28-29 - 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
True Fellowship with God
Fellowship with God involves a personal, intimate connection, like the deep love and care a parent has for a child or a spouse for their partner.
This relationship is not limited to church gatherings but must fill our entire being. Sadly, today, this experience is often diluted by worldly pursuits and comparisons rooted in self-righteousness, leading to a denial of sin’s reality.
Transformation Through Fellowship
True fellowship with God requires letting go of the old self, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” most often when we look back to old life it takes us away from God’s fellowship.
However, many believers focus on drawing others to fellowship rather than growing spiritually themselves. Growth requires an inward journey—from spiritual infancy to maturity.
Living in the Light
When we experience true fellowship with God, His light shines in us and cannot be hidden. This light naturally draws others to Him, as described in Matthew 5:14-16.
To live in the light, we must embrace Jesus’ works in the cross to cleanse us. 1 John 1:7 reminds us: “We have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
True fellowship with God transforms us, enabling us to walk in His light, experience His love deeply, and radiate His presence to others.
Denial of the Principle of Sin
1 John 1:8-9: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
The Danger of Denial
Denying the principle of sin often leads to justifying actions by setting a low standard, comparing ourselves to others instead of God’s Word. It’s like comparing your English skills to those of a kindergarten student—it’s an unfair and inadequate benchmark in spiritual world to compare against the worldly.
1 John 5:10: “Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.”
The Right Standard: Jesus
When we compare our lives to Jesus, we realize our sinful nature. Our actions should be evaluated against the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” By this standard, we clearly see that we are sinners in need of God’s grace.
Deception and Self-Deceit
Denying sin leads to self-deception, where we blind ourselves to the truth, as 1 John 1:8 warns. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
God’s Faithfulness and Grace
Despite our sin, God still desires fellowship with us. The solution is simple: confess our sins. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
God’s love and faithfulness provide a way for us to be cleansed and restored to fellowship with Him.
Denial of the Practice of Sin
1 John 1:10: “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
From Denial to Deception
Denying the reality of sin and claiming to be sinless leads to a false sense of being “clean.” However, the Bible (1 John 1 :10) makes it clear that saying we have no sin makes us liars.
Who Is a Liar?
A liar reflects the nature of Satan, who is the ultimate deceiver:
1 John 2:22: “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.”
John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Human Nature and Sin
Humans are naturally inclined to lie, having inherited this tendency from Adam. Romans 3:4: “Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: ‘So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.’” No one teaches a child to lie—it is part of our fallen nature.
Fellowship and Truth
If we claim to walk in fellowship with God but deny our sin, we are liars, and God’s Word is not in us. True fellowship means allowing the Word of Life to transform us.
The Word Brings Light
When the Word of Life dwells in us, it brings light that exposes and drives out darkness. The truth replaces lies, and we walk in the light of Christ, free from deception.
Summary
God desires a deep, personal relationship with us, like that of a father and child or a husband and wife. This relationship begins with the Word of Life, and true life in Him happens only when His light enters our hearts, cleansing us from darkness and transforming us from the inside out.
Fellowship with God is impossible while living in sin or leading a double life (for the world and / or hypocritical life) —one for the world and one for the church. Satan often uses denial tactics to keep us from self-examination.
True fellowship requires daily surrender, allowing His blood to cleanse us and His light to guide us. This cleansing isn’t just a Sunday ritual; it must be a daily practice of reflection, repentance, and growth. The word of God can correct us, teach us , rebuke us to bring closer to the Word of life in us. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Examine your life and take the first step to restore your fellowship with God. He is waiting to cleanse you. Connect with your local church to get involved in different ministries that will strengthen your fellowship with Him and bring you closer to Him.
Amen