The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-11

Fellowship with Christ and
Christians should be happily cx-
perienccd in this life and jOyfully
expected in the life TO come.
FELLOWSHIP ON EARTH
q John ~
Enjoy Christian Fellowship in
This Life. Out of comradcship
with Christians thus affordlng the
richest and rareSt fellowship, hu-
man and divine; that can be found
in all the world.
CD The Source Of Fellowship.
II was from the beginning; or,
eternity unbegun; the dateless era
antedating creation. The person
John I'D who was in the be
ginning with God and was God
was the infinite Word OF "Logos
Of Life" Self-eXistent, eternal,
merciful and holy. He was God
manifest in the flesh, the Father
unveiled in the Son, our Elder
Brother who brought brotherhood
to men.
(2) The Secret of Fellowship.
II is eternal life" That means
more than existence that is end
less. II is the life capacious and
abundant: the life that overcomes
human handicaps; the life that is
perfectly adjusted TO the will OF
God. II therefore produces fell
lowship with celestial flavor. 1t
is the central dynamo Of all our
harmony with each other and
with God.
(3) The Revelation of Fellow
ship. The "Logos of Life" or the
Word, was made visible in the
person of Jesus the Christ. the
Son Of God, our Saviour and our
Lord. Face TO face and identical
with the Father. he existed "in the
beginning" BY him were the
worlds created. Yet he came into
the flesh as tiny and helpless
babe; dwelt in mercy among
men; died for our sins according
TO the Scriptures; and rose from
the sepulcher and assembled to the
right hand of the majesty on
high. Such fellowship was never
shown nor seen except III Christ
the Lord.
(4) The Experience Of Fellow
ship. Comrsdeship with Christ is
not q fiction nor a fancy. The
Apostle was one Of those who
heard the voice of Jesus and VINO
listened To him again and again.
He had seen the Lord with his
own eyes. looking upon him .in.
tently. he had touched the body
of Jesus with his own hands, both
before and after his resurrection.
In brief. he had experienced per
sonal, intimate, and long c0ntinu'
cd fellowship with Jesus.
90 The Testimony of Fellow,
ship. Many years had passed
since the ascension Of Jesus and
the apostle had tested his faith
and fellowship in the fires OF
trial. Now hc darVs witness to, its
abiding and enriching value: "WC
testify 70 IT." eve are announc.
ing il TO YOU"
CO.. The Outreach of Fellow
ship. The apostle gave his teSti'
mony with hand outstretched in
invitation TO his rcadrcS that they
might have the twofold fellowship
graciously available to them
Fmst-"that you may share our
fellowship" or that ye also may
have fellowship Cor, partnership
with u.s." and second 49, realize
that our fellowship is with the
Father and with his Son Jesus
Christ. What wider outreach OF
higher upreach can there be- FOR
our fellowship?
CD The Joy OF Fellowship. AS
John wrote these inspired and n
spring words the stream OF his
happiness ran deeper and strong
er than before: 1--WE are writing
all this TO you that our JOY may
be complete But also he con
tributed'to- the JOY of. his readers,
and that aspect is brought out in
another rnedering of the passage
"We write this 10, you to make
your happiness complete
81 The Message of Fellow.
ship. What has John learned
from Jesus and what does he aft
er long years OF Christian minis
try announce as the gist and
heart of his message? Here it is
in one startling sublime sentence
"God is light. and in him is no
darkness at allw Think of the
infinite knowledge, the absolute
holiness. the eternal blcssedncss
Of God. Is he not Light, the only
light, and all the light there is in
the universe? Not in him is there
a streak or shade or second of
darkness with its dismal ignor-
ance, its corrupting sin. its
wretchedness and misery - none
whatever!
co. The Practice of Fellowship.
Since God is Light we cannot
have fellowship with him if we
Turk or live in the dark. We may
profess partnership with God, but
our practice bellies it and multi
flies it. But if we walk in the light
with God we have with him our
higher fellowship and in conse.
quence we have fellowship with
one another. The practice Of such
fellowship is the hottest and hap
pieSt habit of the Christian life.
(lO) The Purity of Fellowship,
The one thing that foils and spells
fellowship with God and good
men is sin. Fellowship 10 be- per-
feet must De pure. But how can
purity be attained and maintain
ed? The sovereign prescription is
available and at hand: 1.-THE blood
of. Jesus Christ his Son cleanScth
ne from, all sin" The blood that