In our continuing study of the non-Pauline epistles, we have already explored the letters of Jude and James. Today, we turn to the letters of John. Out of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament, fourteen are attributed to Paul, while the remaining books come from various other writers. John, as many of us know, was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. He authored the Gospel according to John and later wrote several letters to the churches in the regions where he ministered.
Unlike many other disciples, John lived a long life. He was eventually exiled to the island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he died. My wife and I had the privilege of visiting Patmos—a small, quiet island accessible only by an overnight boat from Greece. It was inspiring to stand near the cave where John is said to have lived. Though he had some freedom to move around, Patmos was a lonely place, and it was from there that he wrote to the churches with a heart full of concern, love, and encouragement.
The writers of the New Testament letters were often in difficult circumstances themselves. Paul wrote several letters from prison. Others wrote during times of persecution. Yet, even in hardship, they continued to pray for, support, and instruct the church. John wrote his letters for the same reason—to strengthen believers in their faith and encourage them not to give up during seasons of persecution.
In the letter we study today, John focuses on the meaning of fellowship. This is a term we use often, yet many people—both inside and outside the church—think of it in limited ways. In secular settings, “fellowship” might refer to academic honors or membership in a professional board, as when doctors receive fellowship status. In the church, we might think of our “fellowship hall,” monthly luncheons, casseroles, and desserts. While those are certainly forms of fellowship, the biblical meaning goes much deeper.
In Scripture, fellowship is not just gathering or socializing. It is a relationship: a relationship with God and a relationship with one another. It is a way of life—something we experience and participate in as followers of Christ. True Christian fellowship begins with our relationship with God. Without that, our fellowship with one another becomes hollow. John teaches the early church that those who are in relationship with God will naturally grow in relationship with each other.
In verse 3, John writes, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” The perfect model of fellowship is found within the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three persons united in perfect love and unity. When we say we have fellowship with God, we are saying that we share in that divine relationship.
Every Sunday, when I close the service with the words, “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you,” it is this divine relationship I am speaking of. Fellowship is the quality of life that follows us wherever we go, because it is rooted in the unity and love of the triune God.
From creation, God designed us to be relational beings. In Genesis, God said it was not good for man to be alone. Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with God and with each other—until sin entered and broke that fellowship. With sin came blame, distrust, and division. When fellowship is broken, blame comes easily—toward each other and even toward God. But God’s desire has always been to restore fellowship, and He does so through Christ.
This is why our times of communion are so meaningful. Communion is not just a ritual; it is a reminder of the restored relationship we share with God and with one another. The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means sharing, participation, communion. We bring our best for God, and we bring our best for each other. Even our monthly luncheons—filled with home-cooked dishes—are an expression of love, generosity, and community. We give because we love.
Christian fellowship is a spiritual bond of mutual support among believers and with the triune God. It is not merely an activity but a shared life. As Paul writes, we are one body with many members, each belonging to all the others. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” We need each other to function as the body of Christ.
John teaches that fellowship begins with revelation—with the encounter of the living Christ. He writes, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, seen, and touched, this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” Our fellowship does not begin with religion or even with the church—it begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we encounter Christ, our lives change. We are united with God and called into unity and love with one another.
Holy Communion, then, becomes an outward expression of the fellowship we share. In communion, we remember the love of God shown through the sacrifice of Christ. We share His life, love, and grace—and we are united with Him and with one another.
Fellowship also restores our joy. John writes, “We write this to make our joy complete.” Happiness is temporary, but joy remains. It is that deep, abiding joy that comes from being in communion with God and others. Even in suffering, believers throughout history have held onto this joy—a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Fellowship is not something we practice only on Sundays. It is a daily way of life. It encourages us, strengthens us, and reminds us that we are not alone. The author of Hebrews urges believers not to neglect meeting together, because gathering strengthens us and helps us grow. True fellowship means we share in each other’s joys and in each other’s sufferings.
When we meet, when we sing, when we teach, when we pray, when we share our spiritual gifts—we strengthen and build up one another. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:26, everything we do should strengthen the whole body.
Ultimately, fellowship is the quality of life God calls us to enjoy every day—in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. It is the life of the triune God shared with us and through us.
May the Lord bless these words in our hearts as we go forth to live as witnesses of His love, united by the fellowship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and united with one another as one body in Christ. Amen.
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