Fellowship

1John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 

‘Fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ’ four persons with whom to have fellowship: God the Father (1:3-7; Isa. 57:15; John 14:23; 17:21-23; 1Cor. 6:13); God the Son (Matt. 18:20; John 14:23; 15:1-8; 1Cor. 1:9; 10:16); God the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1Cor. 3:16; 2Cor. 13:14; Php. 2:1); other Christians (Acts 1:14; 2:1, 42-47; Eph. 5:19; Php. 2:1-2).

Scriptures warn against fellowship and friendship with non-believers: not to get counsel from the ungodly, or to follow in the same ways as sinners or workers of iniquity, or to sit with those who mock the Word of God, those who are vain or wicked (Ps. 1:1-6; 6:8; 26:4-5; 1Jn. 2:15-17) and not to go in with dissemblers [hypocrites]. Not to cast your lot with criminals and sinners when they entice you to follow in their wicked ways (Pro. 1:10-15). We are warned to stay away from foolish and angry people and not to be friends with them (Pro. 9:6; 14:17; 22:24); to stay away from backslidden Christians and those who walk disorderly (Matt. 18:15-17; 2 Thess. 3:6; 2Jn. 1:9-11) and those that cause divisions and offences (Rom. 16:17). We cannot listen to false teachers’ teachings and think we will afterwards understand God’s Word at all (1Tim. 4:1-2; 6:3-5; 2Tim. 2: 16-17; 2Jn. 1:10). We cannot have company with those who do not obey God’s Word (2Thess. 3:14-15); be in business, friendship or fellowship with unbelievers or those who live in unrighteousness and darkness (2Cor. 6:14-18). We cannot keep company or eat with fornicators, covetous, heady and high-minded people, idolaters, railers, drunkard, or extortioners (1Cor. 5:9-11). Stay away from those who are lovers of themselves; boasters; proud, unthankful, unholy people; blasphemers; disobedient to parents; those without natural affection; trucebreakers; false accusers; incontinent; fierce people, despisers of those who are good traitors, those who love pleasure more than God and the hypocrites – those who have “a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof” (2Tim. 3:2-5).

‘That your joy may be full’ to live in peace, harmony and love we have to follow God’s instruction on fellowship otherwise we allow other’s consequences for sin into our lives as well as give our approval to their sinful natures and habits.  Listen to His commandments if you want to stand in Truth and against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10-18).

We have clear instructions not to allow those who live in sin and don’t follow in Christ’s footsteps (1Pet. 2:21-23) into our lives from 2John 1:9-11: “Whosoever transgress, and abide not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abide in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bid him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”