Article for April 7, 2024. Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:26a–29 Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Doubt is a faith killer; the whole world is doubting the word of God and God Himself. Some believe only what they can see and their faith they claim, is only faith in themselves. Thomas is the world in so many ways as He needs to have positive proof. Yet the world doesn’t want proof, only results.
It is strange that a lot of science is speculation and theory. Those who claim to be an authority in some science want you to have faith in their theories. They believe in their theories not because they can prove them without a doubt, but rather it becomes an ego booster for them. We cannot show the world a physical God not because God does not exist, but that God is not ready to be seen. Though we can have faith that we will see God soon.
In truth whether we believe whole heartily in science or in God; it boils down to faith. However, having faith in unproven science is a choice and a gamble, but having faith in God is a gift and God gives assurance that our faith in Him is not a gamble but a sure hope and trust.
1 John 1:3–4 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Some will say you need a personal relationship with God before you can have a fellowship/community relationship with God. Actually, you need to have a fellowship/community relationship before you can have a personal relationship with God. God is not something you can grasp on your own as many people think.
We read the Holy Bible thinking we have the whole story of the people we read about. Abraham was a descendent of Noah who we know his whole family worshipped God. It would stand to reason that there were many who worshipped God from the time of Noah and the time of Abraham, a community of believers. We can also surmise that God selected Abraham to have a personal relationship with as well as a fellowship relationship with Him.
God called Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and all the prophets. Each were called to have a personal and fellowship/community relationship with God. Family is a synonym of fellowship and God calls us all into His family. As one has a personal relationship with those in the family, then yes, we all have a personal relationship with God. And as a person has a family relationship with God, then yes, we all have a family, fellowship, and community relationship of God.
1 John 1:5–6 5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
We cannot claim any fellowship, personal or otherwise, if we do not walk in the light of our God who is the light of the world. There are too many who claim to walk in the light and instead walk just on the outskirts of the light. Most people are on the edge of destruction. There are bad people who do good things and there are good people, use this wording loosely, that do bad things.
1 John 1:7 7But 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.
We need church, that is God’s church, to help and guide each other to understand God’s word and be like minded in God’s word. But church is not just a place to come and learn God’s word, church is also a place to learn how to put God’s word and ways into action. Salvation does not lie in what we do or not do, but if we are to walk in the light of our Lord, we will have good works, and these good works are prepared by God. (Ephesians 2:10)
In other words, our faith that God gives us is used best when we as a church can hold one another accountable to God’s light. Walking with God is having fellowship with God, and having fellowship with God is being family with God. Not that we should be an only child, but that we are many children of the same family who walk in the light of our Father in heaven.
1 John 1:8–10 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
God expects us as His people in fellowship to be honest with ourselves as well as being honest with one another. If we are to be a church family, then it will be through fellowship with one another. We are not in a fellowship that judges each other, but a fellowship that uses our helping hands to live the gospel of Jesus Christ who forgave us from the cross. So, we are to hold each other up instead of tearing each other down.
1 John 2:1–2 1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus died for everyone and was resurrected for everyone. He has risen indeed who’s endeavors are to save the lost and the sinner. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis May