We are created for fellowship – with God and others; for beautiful relationships. While sin has marred this ideal, Christ is restoring it. Are we enjoying what we are created for?
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Key Verse
1 John1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
EVENT TIMELINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Enjoy Fellowship
- Walk in the light (ch 1,2)
- Fellowship
- Cleansing
- Obedience
- Knowledge
- Love
- Grow in purity (ch 3,5)
- Steadfast Hope (ahead)
- Eternal seed (within)
- Atmosphere of God (around)
- Confidence in Prayer (upward)
- Discern the spirits (ch 4)
- Spirit of Christ
- Spirit of Antichrist
- Spirit of Truth
- Spirit of Falsehood
Walk in the Light - Fellowship
1 John 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
Walk in the Light - Cleansing
1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Walk in the Light - Obedience
1 John 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
Walk in the Light
Walk in the Light
Walk in the Light - Knowledge
1 John 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
Walk in the Light - Love
1 John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Grow in Purity
- Steadfast Hope (ahead)
- Eternal seed (within)
- Atmosphere of God (around)
- Confidence in Prayer (upward)
Steadfast Hope
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Atmosphere of God
1 John 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.
The term abide means “remaining in the atmosphere of”
Eternal Seed
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Confidence in Prayer
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him,
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
Grow in Purity - Eternal Seed
Grow in Purity - Eternal Seed
Discern the Spirits
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Spirit of Christ
- Spirit of Antichrist
- Spirit of Truth
- Spirit of Falsehood
Spirit of Christ
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
Spirit of Antichrist
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Spirit of Truth
1 John 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
Spirit of Falsehood
- 1 John 4:1 many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 1 John 4:6 he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Discern the Spirits
Where do we stand?
In today’s evil world, deception is so high that externals are almost undiscernable between believer and unbeliever. Only the Holy spirit can help us discern the spirits
1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Freedom of Conscience
Enjoy Fellowship - Recap
- Walk in the light (ch 1,2)
- Fellowship
- Cleansing
- Obedience
- Knowledge
- Love
- Grow in purity (ch 3,5)
- Steadfast Hope (ahead)
- Eternal seed (within)
- Atmosphere of God (around)
- Confidence in Prayer (above)
- Discern the spirits (ch 4)
- Spirit of Christ
- Spirit of Antichrist
- Spirit of Truth
- Spirit of Falsehood
Enjoy Fellowship Discussion
- Can we be sure of our salvation in this world itself?
- How are we sure of our salvation? (2:3,5:3,11,12 and others)
- What kind of people is it useless to pray for? Why? (5:16) When are our prayers heard? (5:3,5)
- What is the importance of listening to our heart? (3:17-22)
References
1.Matthew Henry’s Commentary