Outline
Ⅳ
In order to enjoy the eternal blessing of the Triune God dispensing Himself into us, we need to enter into and keep ourselves in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the inner flow of the divine life—2 Cor. 13:14; Num. 6:22-27:
A
The fellowship is the flow of the eternal life within all the believers, who have received and possess the divine life; it is illustrated by the flow of the river of water of life in the New Jerusalem—Rev. 22:1.
B
First John 1:2-3 and 6-7 reveal that the fellowship of the divine life has both a vertical aspect and a horizontal aspect:
１
First John 1:2-3 says, “(And the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us); that which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ”:
ａ
The vertical aspect of fellowship refers to our fellowship with the Triune God; the horizontal aspect of fellowship refers to our fellowship with one another.
ｂ
The initial experience of the apostles was vertical, but when the apostles reported the eternal life to others, they experienced the horizontal aspect of the divine fellowship.
２
Verse 6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth”; this is the vertical aspect of fellowship.
３
Verse 7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another”; this is the horizontal aspect of fellowship.
４
The fellowship of life, the inner flow of life, results in joy and in the inner shining, the inner ruling, of the light of life—vv. 4-5; John 1:4; 8:12; cf. 2 Cor. 5:13.
C
We need to see the relationship between the vertical and horizontal aspects of the divine fellowship:
１
If we do not have the proper fellowship with the Lord, it is difficult to have fellowship with our fellow believers; in the same way, if we do not have the proper fellowship with our fellow believers, it is difficult to have fellowship with the Lord; the reason for this is that the divine fellowship is one fellowship—Acts 2:42.
２
When we are not in this fellowship in a practical way, we are out of the Spirit, out of the Triune God, and out of the divine life—cf. 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Cor. 1:9; Phil. 2:1.
３
We should try to have fellowship with our fellow believers as much as possible; this divine fellowship not only corrects us, but it also molds us and even reconstitutes us; this fellowship brings the divine constituent into our spiritual being, causing a change in our being.
Morning Nourishment
1 John 1:2-3 (And the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us); that which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.The fellowship of the divine life revealed in the New Testament is abstract, mysterious, and very difficult to define. The Greek word rendered “fellowship” in 1 John 1:3 is koinonia, which means “joint participation” or “common participation.”
One of the best illustrations of fellowship is electricity. Electricity is mysterious yet very real. Electricity is manifested in light bulbs or fluorescent lamps when the current of electricity flows through them…The bulbs and lamps are connected by the current of electricity…This current of electricity is an example of fellowship. The fellowship is the flow of the eternal life within all the believers who have received and possess the divine life. By the flow of electricity all the homes are kept in oneness. Similarly, by the flow of the eternal life, the fellowship, all the believers are kept in oneness. (CWWL, 1990, vol. 1, “The Triune God to Be Life to the Tripartite Man,” p. 353)
Today’s Reading
First John 1:2-3 and 6-7 reveal that the fellowship of the divine life has both a vertical aspect and a horizontal aspect. The vertical aspect of fellowship refers to our fellowship with the Triune God. The horizontal aspect of fellowship refers to our fellowship with one another.The vertical aspect of fellowship was initially established with the first apostles. The apostles then reported to sinners the eternal life in order that they might have fellowship with the apostles. Before the apostles reported the eternal life to them, the apostles themselves already had the vertical fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (v. 3). The initial experience of the apostles was vertical, but when the apostles reported the eternal life to others, they experienced the horizontal aspect of the divine fellowship.
Verses 6 and 7…also indicate the vertical and horizontal aspects of the divine fellowship. Verse 6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth.” This is the vertical aspect of fellowship. Verse 7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” This is the horizontal aspect of fellowship. Both aspects of the divine fellowship are closely related; therefore, it is difficult to say which aspect comes first. If you do not have the proper fellowship with the Lord, it is difficult to have fellowship with your fellow believers. In the same way, if you do not have the proper fellowship with your fellow believers, it is difficult to have fellowship with the Lord.
Our vertical fellowship with the Lord is affected by our horizontal fellowship with others…The reason for this is that the divine fellowship is one fellowship. Each day we should be in the divine fellowship, vertically and horizontally. Most of us may think that we daily start this fellowship according to its vertical aspect, followed by its horizontal aspect. Most of the time, however, this is not our experience. Since most of us have spouses, other family members, or roommates living with us, our fellowship usually begins in a horizontal manner. If we have a quarrel with our wife, husband, or roommate in the evening, we will find it difficult to start our vertical fellowship with the Lord in the morning. We must maintain both the vertical and horizontal aspects of the fellowship in order to be healthy spiritually.
We should try to have fellowship with our fellow believers as much as possible. This divine fellowship not only corrects us; it also molds us and even reconstitutes us. This fellowship brings the divine constituent into our spiritual being, causing a change in our being. (CWWL, 1990, vol. 1, “The Triune God to Be Life to the Tripartite Man,” pp. 354-357)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1990, vol. 1, “The Triune God to Be Life to the Tripartite Man,” chs. 17—19