The Pleasures of Fellowship—1 John 1:3–4
that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.
In verse 3, John gives his theme in the epistle: fellowship. There are two types of fellowship in these verses: “horizontal” fellowship and “vertical” fellowship. The horizontal fellowship is: that ye also may have fellowship with us. Horizontal fellowship is believers with believers. The vertical fellowship is our fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, Yeshua the Messiah. The vertical fellowship is between the believer and God. Both types of fellowship can be affected by sin in the believer’s life. It is impossible for two believers to have fellowship with one another if one of them is out of fellowship with God.
There is great joy in fellowship among believers (v. 4). However, that great joy can be dampened by sin in a believer’s life. In these verses, John emphasizes the believer’s continual spiritual experience; he needs to keep on having fellowship with God and, in that way, he can keep on having fellowship with other believers.
Excerpt from Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum:
MBS139 THE SPIRITUAL LIFE AND FELLOWSHIP: Pg 5
