Joy Through Fellowship With God – 1 John 1
‘That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye 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.’ — 1 John 1:3–4
There’s a sense in which life is the pursuit of joy. It is an attempt to find joy in relationships, in work, in rest, in accomplishment, in pleasure, in food, and in many other things. It seems that we live our lives continually thinking about how the next thing will bring more joy.
In 1 John 1, we are told that there is a way for our joy to be full! The secret to full joy is fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. The joys of this life are gifts from God but they can never replace God Himself.
The secret to full joy is to:
- Know God through His Son Jesus (v.1-3).
- Walk in the light of God’s truth and God’s holiness provided through the blood of Christ (v.5-7).
- Not deceive ourselves into thinking we have no sin (v.8,10).
- Confess our sins to God and receive the forgiveness and cleansing He provides (v.9).
When we do this, we can enjoy the wonderful privilege of fellowship with the Father and with the Son. And this is the greatest source of joy there is!