FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD

Without doubt, the Gospel book which bears his name and these three short letters were all written by the apostle John, though he never lays claim to any of them. One of the inner circle of three, who were so often with Jesus, John is singled out as being the one Jesus loved, and that love shows in his writings. Jesus taught that love should be the mark that distinguishes Christians from non-believers. John is the one Apostle that shows that fruit of the Spirit the most strongly.

Just as there was an “inner circle” among the apostles, those closest to Jesus, there are those who are the core of every local assembly of Christians today. Scripture sometimes speaks of them as being “pillars” of the church, often the elders and leaders. This strong fellowship identifies the family of God, His church. Of such, comes the “Light of the world.” God is light, and his family show that they are of God even as Moses physically showed that he had been in the presence of God and wore a veil over his face after he came down from the mountain carrying the law of God literally carved in stone by God himself.

That light was shown physically when God first entered into, first the tabernacle, and later the temple, and alter when Saul was blinded by the light on the road to Damascus. That light is shown through Christians as they destroy the darkness of sin throughout the world both by word and deed.

1 John 1:5-2:2 (King James Version)

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (John 1:19, 1 John 3:11, 1 Timothy 6:16, James 1:17)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (John 8:12, 1 John 2:11, John 8:55, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 4:20, John 3:21)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (Isaiah 2:5, 1 Timothy 6:16, Titus 2:14)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Job 15:14, Proverbs 20:9, Romans 3:10, James 3:2, John 8:44, 1 John 2:4)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Psalm 3:25, Proverbs 28:13, Titus 2:14)

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (Job 15:14, John 3:33, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 2:14)

1 John 2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (John 13:33, Galatians 4:19, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:21, 1 John 1:4, Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:24, John 14:16)

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Romans 3:15, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 4:10, John 4:42, John 11:51, 1 John 4:14)

Where there is the love of God, the word of God