Episode Details

Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John.

In Lesson 11 we learned that we are called to proclaim Jesus to the world in order to bring people into fellowship. We also learned that fellowshipping with other believers requires devotion, involves praying with one accord, studying the Bible, breaking bread, meeting together habitually, encouraging one another, loving one another deeply and showing hospitality to one another without complaining.

In this lesson we’re going to learn about fellowshipping with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s read our verse:

1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s focus on: And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

The word fellowship, or koinónia in the Greek, means partnership, sharing in, joint community, a common bond, a common life, and participation.(Strong’s Concordance, HELPS Word-Studies.)

This verse shows us that it’s possible to not only have fellowship with other believers, but we can have fellowship with God.

God wants to have fellowship with you.

However, the problem is that we are separated from God because of sin.

Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Sin is rebelling against God and breaking His laws.

We can’t have fellowship with God because of sin. The penalty for sin is eternal punishment and separation from God. (See Matthew 25:46, Jude 7, 2 Thessalonians 1:9)

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In order to have fellowship with you, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you, so you could be forgiven of your sins. He paid the penalty for sin, in your place.

The only way that you can have fellowship with God is by believing Jesus died on the cross for your sins, to turn from your sins, and to turn to God.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus' sacrifice to pay for your sin is what allows you to have fellowship with God.

Jesus wants to rescue you and bring you into God's kingdom.

Jesus wants you to be perfectly united together, in fellowship, with the Father, just like He is one with the Father.

Let's look at some verses that talk about fellowship with God.

In Romans 5:1-2 we read that we can have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. When you have peace with God, you will be able to fellowship with Him.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have g