1 John 1:7 - Walking in Jesus brings Cleansing and Fellowship.
1 John 1:7 - Walking in Jesus brings Cleansing and Fellowship.
1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 (AMP) But if we [really] are living and walking in
the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken]
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses
(removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its
forms and manifestations].
1 John 1:7 (TLB) But if we are living in the light of God's
presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy
with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from
every sin.
1 John 1:7 (CWR) But if we walk in God's light as Jesus walked
in God's light, then we are His friends and have fellowship with
each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ continues to purify us from
every kind of sin.
1 John 1:7 (MSG) But if we walk in the light, God himself being
the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the
sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
God is constantly surrounded by light that radiates from
Himself. The best that Christians can do is to walk in the rays of light
that emanate from God. As a traveler will follow the light of a guide
along a dark and unknown road, so the child of God will follow light
from the Lord along the road of life. [SDA Bible Commentary]
I read a passage in a book that said: "We can only get to
know ourselves and others to the extent that we tune in to the
heartbeat of the universe." Here is a psychologist, a non-Christian,
attempting to put into words one of the greatest truths of
Scripture--namely, that it is only as we have fellowship with God that we can
experience fellowship with ourselves and others. What a pity he could not
see that what he calls "the heartbeat of the universe" is the heart
that was broken on the cross. Isn't it sad that so many philosophers
and scientists come so close to seeing the reality that lies behind
the universe and yet, for some reason, sidestep the great issue of
entering into a personal relationship with God? They struggle to know the
secrets of the cosmos, and yet miss the "open secret" of God's
revelation through Christ which He laid bare at Calvary. Instead, they try
to achieve fellowship through psychological processes that leave
the heart estranged. The astonishing rise in our day of the "group
therapy movement" testifies to the need of the human heart for
fellowship. Almost every country in the world reports a rapid rise of small
groups meeting together to encourage, confront, and stimulate one
another toward good emotional health and maturity. The world is waking
up to the fact that we are made for fellowship. Oh, if only they
could see that fellowship which does not begin with God, does not
begin.
Father, I am so thankful for the discovery that fellowship
cannot be produced by trying but by trusting. It begins and ends with
You. Take me deeper into Your heart that I might take others deeper
into mine. For Jesus' sake. Amen. [Every Day With Jesus Bible with
Selwyn Hughes devotional re Acts 2:42]
Seek fellowship with other Christians. Daniel Rowlands, a
famous Welsh revivalist of a past century, said: "The whole purpose of
the Christian message can be summarized in a single
word--fellowship."
What did he mean? First John 1:3 spells it out clearly: "And
indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ." Listen to it as it appears in The Amplified Bible: "What we have
seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too
may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us.
And this fellowship that we have . . . is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah." At first, John seems to say that
the fellowship is "with us," but he hastens to add that our
fellowship "is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ."
Follow me carefully now, for what I am about to say can be
easily misunderstood: the person who does not know fellowship with God
can never know fellowship with anyone else. It must be noted that I
am here using the word "fellowship" in its highest possible sense.
The one who does not know fellowship with God will feel, consciously
or unconsciously, that he is cut off from the very roots of his
being. He will feel like a spiritual orphan. This is why our horizontal
relationships--that is, our relationship with ourselves and with others--can never be
fully realized until we experience a vertical relationship, a
relationship with God. Only when we are reconciled with God do we have the
potential for experiencing true fellowship with ourselves and with others.
Father, I see that I cannot experience true fellowship with
myself or with others until I have known it with You. Help me to deepen
my fellowship with You so that I might deepen it with others. In
Jesus' name. Amen. [Every Day With Jesus Bible with Selwyn Hughes
devotional re 1Co. 1:9]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Rest in My radiant presence. The world around you seems to
spin faster and faster, till everything is a blur. Yet there is a
cushion of calm at the center of your life, where you live in union with
Me. Return to this soothing Center as often as you can, for this is
where you are energized: filled with My Love, Joy, and Peace.
The world is a needy place; do not go there for sustenance.
Instead, come to Me. Learn to depend on Me alone, and your weakness will
become saturated with My Power. When you find your completeness in Me,
you can help other people without using them to meet your own needs.
Live in the Light of My Presence, and your light will shine brightly
into the lives of others. (Gal. 5:22; 1Jo. 4:12) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
In everything you do, put Me first, and I will direct you and
crown your efforts with success. Putting Me first sounds so simple and
straightforward. But the world, the flesh, and the devil war against your efforts
to do this. You can easily justify letting other things creep into
the space and time you had set aside for Me. If this happens only
occasionally, it is just part of being human. However, if you see it becoming
a pattern in your life, watch out! Your priorities may have been
gradually shifting - until I am no longer your First Love.
Putting Me first is not an arbitrary rule; it is the way to
live vibrantly, joyfully - close to Me. It is also the way to live
purposefully, letting Me direct your steps. When I am your top priority, other
things fall into their proper place. So delight yourself in Me first
and foremost. As you walk in the Light of My Presence, I open up the
path before you - and give you the desires of your heart. (Rev. 2:4;
Psa. 37:4; 1Jo. 1:7) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2001/20011206-0000.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20101130-2333.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
LINKS FOR PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Today Series by Pastor John Bradshaw:
https://revelationtoday.com/other-streams/
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
