LESSON EIGHT – THE FELLOWSHIP OF LIFE

1 John 1:2-3 — (And the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us); that which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

THE SOURCE OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF LIFE

Where does the fellowship of life come from? What is its cause? And from what is it derived? First John 1:2-3 says: “We [the apostles]…testify and report to you [the believers] the eternal life…that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” These verses show that the apostles preached to us “the eternal life” so that we may have “fellowship.” (CWWL, 1953, vol. 3, “The Knowledge of Life,” p. 48)

THE BELIEVERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARD THE FELLOWSHIP OF LIFE

If we want to continue in the fellowship of the Lord’s life, we must abide in the Lord, according to the teaching of the anointing (1 John 2:27).…The teaching of the anointing is the operation of the Holy Spirit in us. We must obey the Holy Spirit’s operation in us and abide in the Lord according to this operation. In this way we can live in the fellowship of the Lord’s life without interruption. As soon as we disobey the operation of the Holy Spirit, however, our fellowship with the Lord will be broken.

If we live in the fellowship of the Lord’s life, we are indeed in the light of life. This light of life causes us to see our sins. Once we see our sins, that is, once we are conscious of them in the fellowship of the light of life, we must confess our sins to God. If we are willing to confess our sins to God, we will be forgiven and cleansed by God. We will then be brought more deeply into the fellowship of the Lord’s life. If we do not confess our sins, they will remain with us and cause our fellowship with the Lord to be broken (1:7, 9).

THE RESULTS OF THE  FELLOWSHIP OF LIFE

Obtaining the  Light of God

God is light. If we fellowship with Him, we will have His light. Therefore, the fellowship of life brings us into the light of God so that we may have His light.…The fellowship of life and the light of God cannot be separated. If we are in the fellowship of life, we are in the light of God. If we are not in the light of God, we have lost the fellowship of life.

Obtaining the Cleansing of the Blood

In the fellowship of life, if we are enlightened by the Lord’s light to see our sins and then confess them to God, the blood of the Lord cleanses us from our sins (v. 7).

Having the  Lord Abiding in Us

If we live in the fellowship of the Lord’s life, we abide in the Lord, and when we abide in the Lord, we have the Lord abiding in us (John 15:4-5). When the Lord abides in us, He becomes our life, power, joy, peace so that we may enjoy Him and all the riches of His life in our practical experience.

Bearing Much Fruit to Glorify God

When a branch abides in the vine with out any barriers between itself and the vine, it receives a rich supply of sap and bears much fruit. Similarly, when we abide in the Lord and fellowship with Him, we receive the supply of His life and bear much fruit (vv. 4-5). (CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, Volume 2,” pp. 389-392)

References: CWWL, 1953, vol. 3, “The Knowledge of Life,” ch. 6; CWWL, 1932-1949, vol. 3, “Crucial Truths in the Holy Scriptures, Volume 2,” ch. 22; Life Lessons, vol. 3, lsn. 31

LIFE ETERNAL BRINGS US

Various Aspects of the Inner Life— The Fellowship of Life – 737

• Life eternal brings us
  Fellowship of life,
  Fellowship in Spirit,
  Saving us from strife.

• Life eternal give us
  Fellowship divine;
  Thus the Lord as Spirit
  May with us combine.

• It is life in Spirit
  Brings this fellowship;
  Fellowship in Spirit
  Doth with grace equip.

• We, by life’s enabling,
  Fellowship aright;
  Fellowship in Spirit
  Brings us into light.

• By the outward cleansing,
  Fellowship we keep;
  Inwardly anointed,
  Fellowship we reap.

• Fellowship is deepened
  Thru the cross of death;
  Fellowship is lifted
  By the Spirit’s breath.

• Fellowship will free us
  From our sinful self;
  Fellowship will bring us
  Into God Himself.