Abiding Fellowship

 

“But if we walk in the light as He [Elohim] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

We are to walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, and then we will have fellowship with one another.  He, however, is not only ‘in’ the Light, He is the very Light Himself. The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinonia, that is to have: fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse.  The reason that, relationships which are in the Light are an expression of positive intimacy is because of the nature and character of the Light.  We all know, and perhaps have memorized, Galatians 5:22-23: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness” etc. In his writings John ‘lumps’ them all together into one word - “love”.  He concludes that if we walk in the Spirit of the Light, these characteristics will bind us together in perfect harmony with one another.  Even though we cannot attain to these characteristics of the Light on our own, we receive them by the Spiritual oneness with Messiah Yeshua. “Elohim is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Yeshua our Messiah and Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). 

Yeshua said: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4 emphases added). The Greek word for “abide” is men'-o; a primary verb: to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand.  The generic understanding of ‘abiding’ refers to a living entity which exists in a given place.  How much more for us, who “live and move and have our being in Elohim”! (Acts 17:28).  Thus, if we dwell/abide in the Light all the attributes of Light will, or should, be manifesting from our mortal being.  However, we do have a problem, in that Sin is still a power that also works within us, that is in our flesh.  Yet Sin is easily discernable, because its nature is marked by “unloving” characteristics.  Our opening scripture instructs us that we need to always keep in mind and believe that the Blood of our Heavenly Father’s Son, Yeshua, cleanses us from all unloving expressions. We are not to let sin rule us, or to have its way in the members of our soul (mind, will, and emotions), as we are spirit beings, living in a spiritual Light House that Yeshua prepared for us.  Abiding in Him, the power of His resurrected presence of Light drives out the spirit of darkness, so that our soul can enjoy the rule of “Shalom”.  “And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).