THURSDAY
1 John 1:1–4 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Yesterday we talked about the meaning of the term fellowship. Today we are talking about the first of two spheres of fellowship the gospel brings us into—the apostolic community.
I’ve been reflecting a good bit on John’s use of the plural we in these four verses. Last week we noted that elsewhere in the book, he uses the singular I to refer to himself. The two strongest answers for the plural are that John is using this linguistic device to refer to himself as a member of the apostolic community and therefore increase his authoritative witness. I also suggested last week that he may be cleverly linking his readers to the apostolic community as those who have believed in the gospel.
The more I think about it the more I believe John is intentionally being vague. He is certainly linking himself to the apostolic community to indicate that he is an authoritative witness to the gospel. He may also be referring to the mystical union of the community that believes in the gospel.
This fits nicely with the end of verse 4—“our joy” instead of “your joy.” It also fits nicely with his use of the term “fellowship.” In fact, this seems to be his purpose for writing the letter as a whole. His desire is for his audience to believe and trust in the truth of the gospel so they may be brought into fellowship (belonging to one another, shared interests and purposes, unity, love, etc.). He intentionally blurs the line between the apostolic group and those who believe in the gospel taught by the apostles, as they are all united together in Christ.
This is similar to Paul’s use of the phrase “in Christ” to refer to Christians’ mutual sharing in the body of Christ (Paul’s favorite description of the church). When Jesus confronts Paul (then Saul) on the road to Damascus, he says, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me.” (Acts 9:4) Saul wasn’t persecuting Jesus, he was persecuting followers of Jesus. Jesus so identifies with his followers that to persecute them is to persecute him.
Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ…”
Galatians 2:20 “I no longer live but Christ lives within me.”
John’s point here seems to be similar. When we believe in the gospel we are made new. In the mystery of it all, in this new birth, we are united to one another and to the Godhead. We no longer identify solely as ourselves, but with Christ and the body of Christ (the church).
In John 17 Jesus prays for the unity of the apostles and also the unity of those who believe in him.
John 17:20–21 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
This is a profound mystery and one that we often take for granted. Committing to a church community is not just a commitment to likeminded people. It’s not just a commitment to do your best to make it to the Sunday gathering to be entertained and encouraged for an hour on Sunday. It’s a commitment to fellowship with one another.
The union that we share with one another in the gospel, then, is much deeper than any other community or group. Unfortunately many of us have experienced the divisiveness of church on a level far greater than other communities. Satan loves it when the church is divided because as Jesus prays in John 17:21, our unity is a crucial part of our witness. Church splits and the loss of fellowship hurts so deeply because we are called to such deep intimacy.
We must remember that this unity is a good longing. In this current era of redemption history, we experience it in part, but not yet in full. When we glimpse it we must cherish it as a good that will be fully realized in the new creation. When we experience division we must not lose hope of this great longing that seems so illusive.
Reflection
Reflect on this mystical union we as believers share with apostles, those who believe in the gospel and God himself.
How have you glimpsed the glory of this union with one another in the church?