1 John 1

[cih1355]

1 John 1:6-7 states, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

What does it mean to have fellowship with God? Is John saying that walking in the light results in having fellowship with one another and being cleansed by the blood of Jesus?

 

[chbrooking]

No, I don't think "results" is the right relationship. That would be causal, as though walking brought about cleansing. Rather, I think John is talking about concurrence, not causation. If we are cleansed, we walk in the light. If we are cleansed, we have fellowship. If we walk in the light, we have fellowship. If we walk in the light, we are cleansed. If we have fellowship, we walk in the light. If we have fellowship, we are cleansed. You cannot have one piece of this puzzle without the other two. But that doesn't mean walking is the cause of cleansing or fellowship.