1John 1:1-4 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This passage from John’s first letter obviously takes us back to John’s gospel and seems to say this letter was written for the same reason as the gospel of John. Apparently everything John preached was about this same thing, bringing people into a life of intimacy with the father and the Son that provided the very essence of the church. Sharing the life of the Trinity makes us not only one with God but brings us into a dynamic spiritual union with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The joy of the Lord becomes our joy and also the joy of the church. Here is how Matthew Henry describes this introduction to John’s first epistle.
“So that believers in it may be advanced to the same happiness as they, as the apostles themselves.…There is a fellowship, a common participation of privilege and position, that belongs to all the saints, from the highest apostle to the lowest believer. The apostles want the disciples to know what it is and where it is: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. See what the Gospel revelation leads to — to the advancing of us far above sin and earth, into blessed fellowship with the Father and the Son. See what the goal of eternal life made flesh is — that the Son might advance us to eternal life in fellowship with the Father and him.”
This introduction to John’s letter shows us what this life is all about. The life that the Father and Son enjoy has been made available to us through the redeeming blood of Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This is the very essence of our life and joy, knowing Christ intimately and enjoying His love passionately. The day you called on the Name of Jesus you were translated into a brand new community. The more we dive into the depths of His love the more we enjoy this fellowship which is the whole point of church. We worship Him together and drink in His love together. This fellowship becomes the attraction of the church to the lost. This fellowship is what our hearts are longing for.