1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have fellowship with us… 1. Union. This is the basis of communion. Believers are united to the Father and the Son, and the Father and the Son to them. 2. Community. (1) Of enjoyments. The Lord is ours, and we are His. (2) Community of affections. The Lord and His saints have the same affections, running in the same channel, fixed on the same objects. (3) A community of interest. The Lord and saints have the same ends, the same friends and enemies. (4) Community of privileges. It is His privilege to be omnipotent, and the saint Paul glories that he can do all things, Christ strengthening him. It is the Lord's privilege to be omniscient, yet He vouchsafes some shadow of this to us, when He promiseth the Spirit shall lead us into all truth (1 John 2:20). It is His privilege to be all-sufficient. And what does He promise less to us, when He assures us we shall want no good thing? (2 Corinthians 9:8). And as we partake of the privileges of the Father, so also of the Son. He is king, priest, and prophet, and so are we. Again, Christ is the Son of God, and so are we. What honour is this! (1 John 3:1). Christ is the heir of all things, and we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Christ is the object of His Father's love, and so are we (Leviticus 26:11). Christ is the glory of God, the brightness of His glory, and we are the glory of God (Psalm 11:10). Christ is a judge, and so are we (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3). 3. Familiar converse. (1) The Lord visits us, and we visit Him (Revelation 3:20). (2) A saint walks with God, and God with him; so He promises (2 Corinthians 6:16; Leviticus 26:12; Isaiah 43:2). The familiarity of this walking is held forth in this expression (Psalm 73:23). (3) The Lord talks with us, and we with Him; He speaks to us by His Word, by His providence, by the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost — that still voice comforts, directs, encourages. (4) The Lord feasts the saints, and they feast Him (Isaiah 25:6). And what is that which the Lord counts a feast? (Isaiah 57:15).Use 1. If believers have communion with the Father and the Son, then unbelievers hath communion with the devil and his angels.Use 2. An exhortation to get this fellowship, and continue it. (1) It is most for God's glory. (2) It is best for us. (D. Clarkson, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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