Five-Fold Koinonia and Complete Cleansing

In the Light

(1 John 1:7, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 31, 2016)

[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Koinonia reviewed

This word (see etymology back from “fellowship” to “partner” to “common” to “with”) is barely used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX), and was only tasted by prophets and worshipers prior to the incarnation of the Son of God. It comes to life in the New Testament community and appears about twenty times, with this rich theology. This fellowship includes:

GOD koinonia: Through gospel faith in Christ, it is possible for humans to have a real koinonia with God including all three persons of the Godhead (1 John 1:3, 1 Cor. 1:9, 2 Cor. 13:14).

CHURCH koinonia: This fellowship with God results in a deeper fellowship with others who share in this koinonia with God, His message, and His mission in the world (1 John 1:3, Phil 1:5).

LORD'S SUPPER koinonia: This church connection with God and His people of faith is reflected in a sacramental koinonia that we experience at the Lord's table (1 Cor. 10:16).

GIVING koinonia: That sacramental communion is to shine forth in a living and giving togetherness that is an essential part of what the church did from the beginning (Acts 2:42-47).

SUFFERING koinonia: All of this rich theology and Christian experience leads us to view even our sufferings in a very new and powerful way because of our fellowship with Jesus and His church (Phil. 3:10, Phil 2:5-11).

If

“If we walk in the light...” Remember that John has an expectation that the people receiving his letter ARE engaged in the spiritual battle of the Christian life, and they are WINNING that battle. (2:12-14) Can we have that same understanding of our own condition, that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us? If so, we understand the warnings in this letter not as a condemnation of ourselves, but as an aid in the fight against sin (2:1) for all believers.

Walk in the light as He is in the light

What does it mean to walk in the light? We have already been told that God is light. We certainly know that He is in the light, with all of the moral excellence that this includes. We understand that the Lord has commandments, and that we are called to follow His Word. We do that by the power of the Holy Spirit. Walking in the light is the same thing as living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). It is also what Jesus calls us to do when He says to His disciples, “Follow Me” (Mark 1:17).

Even without these other equivalent expressions, there are other beautiful passages that tell us more about what it means to walk in the light of the Lord using the words “walk” and “light” such as Isaiah 2:5, John 8:12, and Ephesians 5:8. But here is one passage from James 3 that gives us a good picture of the Christian life contrasting the good conduct that flows from the wisdom that is from above with its earthly counterpart:

[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This is what it means for us to walk together in the light of the Lord. Back to 1 John 1:7, if we walk in the light as He is in the light (and we will), we should expect two wonderful results.

Fellowship with one another

First, we have koinonia with one another. We were made by God to bond with Him and with one another, not to be isolated, despite the fact that we may frequently choose what is not good for us—a reclusive life. A life without fellowship may seem safe or just plain restful, but it is not what is best for us. [New understanding of addiction: Not all chemistry. Bonding choices.]

The bonding of koinonia is more than the togetherness that the world can provide. All five elements of the kingdom of heaven life are supposed to be evident in the church. They are a package deal, and that is what makes koinonia so special. God, His people, the Lord's Supper, ministry and mission, and even suffering—Where else can you find this? But we have it in the body of Christ. It comes to those who walk in the light as Jesus is in the light.

The blood of Jesus, the Son of God, cleanses us from ALL sin

Second, we have the antidote for ALL sin—the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. The blood of Jesus is not some magic substance or incantation. It refers to the death of Jesus as our substitute. Jesus, the Son of God, with all the moral light of full divinity, became man, lived for us and died for us without any sin. But that was not the end of the story of His fight against sin in our lives. In His current place of authority at the right hand of the Father, He sends forth the Spirit of holiness to His koinonia people who walk in the light as He is in the light.

In an amazing process that we call sanctification, or growth in holiness, the Lord works mercifully in us to expose wrong thinking and living. He not only provides forgiveness, but cleansing for us. And look at the extent of this great work of moral renewal. He “cleanses us from ALL sin.”

Many people are so ashamed of who they are that they feel that they cannot tell the truth. Some refuse to join into the Lord's koinonia, because such intimacy and honesty seems like it could never work. What this means is that they cut themselves off from the Lord's people before they even have an opportunity to experience what God has for them within the body of Christ.

James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Too many people dwell in their sin without any experience that the blood of Jesus could truly cleanse them from all sin. They choose death and darkness rather than life and light. You don't have to make that choice. You can see the light, come to the light, and walk in the light as Jesus is in the light. You can have the gift of belonging to something that is bigger than yourself and that will never end. You can experience justification, adoption, sanctification. Do you want that? Start with the message of the gospel and surrender to Love Divine. Then walk in the light of Jesus as He is in the light. Receive the gift of five-fold koinonia and complete cleansing from all your sin.

Old Testament Reading—Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – The Choice of Life and Death

Gospel Reading—Luke 4:14-30 – Rejected at Nazareth