Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 106:422 (Apr 1949)
Article: Editorial
Author: Anonymous

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BSac 106:422 (Apr 49) p. 129

Editorial

Fellowship with God

There is one thing which means more to God than it evidently does to Christians. It is “fellowship…with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.” Because of His infinite love for those He has saved He desires fellowship with them, and because of a slight love for Him they cherish but little this priceless fellowship. John declares (1 John 1:5) that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” This he states as a message directly from Christ and that in regard to fellowship with the Father and the Son. It is with this holy God that the believer is to have fellowship, not by the holy One coming down to walk in the dark with the child of God, but by the child of God being lifted up to walk with God in the light. To say that we have fellowship with Him when walking in the dark is a complete untruth. It cannot be so. If one walks in the light as He is in the light, fellowship is assured and never fails.

What does it mean, then, to walk in the light? Is it a sinless life? No, it is a willingness to set things right whenever and wherever one is wrong. This one can do when a wholly sinless life seems to be impossible. The apostle goes on to say in this same message from Christ: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As things are set right, the blood of Jesus Christ goes on cleansing from all sin. If it were a matter of sinless perfection, there would be no sin to be cleansed and forgiven.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. It is not to be asked for. It is provided without fail. No doubt, prayer and praise are the means of fellowship. Forgiveness, which follows confession, is not to restore salvation, but it is to restore broken

BSac 106:422 (Apr 49) p. 130

fellowship. The child of God is forgiven all trespasses; but fellowship, which means so much to God because of His love, must be restored by confession, forgiveness, and cleansing.

Lewis Sperry Chafer

Formalism

There is a marked inclination nowadays to multiply ritual. Form and ceremony may be superseding old-time spontaneous joy in the Lord. Bulletins must be printed with the form of service, days must be observed each year, the appeal must go out to hear this or that man preach. Even the assemblies that avoid a one-man type of ministry seem to be missing revival and blessing today. What is wrong?

Can it be formalism and as a result lukewarmness? To speak of formality, of course, is not to despise order and dignity. The church...

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