Jan 1950 - Editorial

by Doodson, A. T. | Category: Editorial | Jan 1950

The opening verses of the First Epistle of John contain a very profound statement of the prime conditions of fellowship between believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, conditions which are very often overlooked by those believers who seek to bring about on earth a visible unity among those who profess the name of Christ. The apostle, having in mind the fellowship which should exist between all those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus, tells the wondrous fact that he had had the glorious privilege of having both seen and handled the Word of Life, and he longed to incorporate within that fellowship which he and others of like experience enjoyed, any who would receive his testimony as to the Lord he loved. To him that fellowship is not only with men, but rather it is the outcome of the fellowship which was enjoyed with the Father and with the Son. It is this statement which is profound, that mere creatures could boldly and truthfully say that they were sharers in divine things.

It was therefore not a matter to be judged by earthly standards, this fellowship which had its origins in heaven and which was to be as truly manifested on earth in the persons of redeemed men. One Man had already declared the eternal desire of God that His creatures should be sharers with Himself and His Son. That fellowship which they had had from eternal times had sprung from the true unity of thought and desire, its offspring the deep-seated love in their hearts towards fallen men. They were One in being, One in thought, One in action, and One in purpose. That divine unity and fellowship was fittingly expressed towards men when the Lord prayed to His Father, even as the traitor to His Person and the traitors to their priestly office were conspiring together to manifest a unity of purpose and a fellowship in action which was far, far removed from the divine thing before the mind of the Lord:

"I pray . . . . that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that thee, also may be in Us . . . . that they may be one, even as We are One" (John 17. 20-22).

The Lord first deals with the unity into which the disciples were to be brought, a unity which already existed, which had its root in eternity and heaven for its glorious manifestations, and which brought about in that glorious place an ordered service and sweet communion and fellowship among all the hosts of heaven. It was into this that mere creatures of earth were to be brought, and because of this they were to manifest among themselves on earth that which was a reflection of the heavenly state. So we read above firstly, "that they may be one," for this was to be an earthly picture of a heavenly reality.

It was in the consciousness of the fellowship which was a precious reality for time and for eternity which caused John to yearn after fulfilment of his joy, in that others might be sharers together with him and the rest who enjoyed that sweet fellowship.

Something like this fills our own hearts as we commence this year a series of articles on the important matter of fellowship and unity, and we rejoice in the heart-stirring introduction to the subject by an esteemed co-worker. It is sad that so many so-called Christians seek after unity without Christ, a fellowship based on creeds of men, and a faith shorn of most of the lovely doctrines embodied in "the faith once for all delivered to the saints." Men begin with men. Their unity is that of Babel, and if they could indeed build a spiritual edifice which would reach unto heaven they would try to mould the life of heaven according to their own thoughts. But we, if we will receive instruction from the Word of God, will let the life of heaven mould us. May each reader, therefore, seek to understand the implications of the fellowship which he, as an individual, may have with the Father and with the Son, for, as John points out, that fellowship will soon find its earthly expression with men like-minded, but not, no, not at all, with men differently minded !

In this issue we also include articles by beloved brethren, one the introduction to studies in the epistle to the Ephesians which will bring before us the heavenly ideals and purposes in Christ. So as we proceed in our studies of fellowship and unity we shall have these high things always before us. The other article relates to days when men were troubled by the difficulties which faced them as to fellowship on the one hand with men like-minded in the response to the word of God, and on the other hand with men who were differently minded. The lesson taught by John was then learnt afresh, that fellowship together on earth could not exist between those who walked with the Lord in the light of His radiant Word and those who said that they. had fellowship with the Lord but who were willing to walk, wholly or in part, in darkness. Earthly fellowship and unity must have regard to the fact that "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." May the Lord bless all those who seek to reflect as heavenly men on earth the fellowship and unity of heaven!

Doodson, A. T. | Jan 1950
Editorial