Fellowship with GodFellowship with God

Blessings and Rewards

1 John 1:3-10

1 John 1:3-6

3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:7-10

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

FELLOWSHIP

GREEK WORD – partnership, joint participation, communion, fellowship

ENGLISH WORD - “fellows in the same ship” - We are all in the same boat.

PRACTICAL USES OF THE WORD:

More than eat together

Interaction, get to know / understand each other

Share joys / sorrows

Work together on a project

FELLOWSHIP: BLESSINGSFellowship with God

1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Our fellowship is with God, our Father.

We are in fellowship with Jesus Christ.

FELLOWSHIP: BLESSINGS

Cleansed from sin

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

FELLOWSHIP: BLESSINGS

Jesus is our lawyer (advocate)

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Jesus is our lawyer – on retainer

We have Jesus on our side – no matter what the accusation might be.

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

Joyful Life

1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Joy does not come from TV, movies, sit coms, jokes in Reader's Digest

Real joy in life is from our relationship with God.

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

We are in the light – not darkness

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

We are in the light – not darkness

World is in darkness of sin – we are in the light.

Jesus came to bring us light.

John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

We have companionship with others

1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

We are in fellowship with Paul, early Christians

We are in fellowship with each other

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

Avoid a life of sin

1 John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Some think this verse teaches it is “impossible” for a Christian to sin and be lost.

Remember: 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

Avoid a life of sin

“Cannot” can mean – impossible.

“Cannot” also can mean - “I don't want to.”

Illustration: “I cannot play golf in the rain.”

Christians are “sin resistant”

FELLOWSHIP: REWARDS

Avoid a life of sin

Christians are “sin resistant”

We still sin – but we don't want to.

It is not our normal activity. When we sin – we get out ASAP.