Fellowship through Confession

Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of the dark. We know that kids might be scared of the dark when they are young. While not all of us are scared of the dark, we all should be scared to be walking in darkness. Last week we talked about how through Jesus we can have the joy of salvation and the joy of fellowship. This week we are talking about maintaining that fellowship with God. And that comes through being in the light. Fellowship is different from salvation.Fellowship is the daily walk with our God. Salvation is the one-time moment, where we in faith trusted Jesus Christ as our savior. John keeps saying “we” referring to believers. We as Christians need to live in fellowship with God.How can we have fellowship with God?

Realize His Holiness 1:5

God is light, meaning there is no darkness

Light and darkness are 2 opposites, like male and female, or saved and lost

God is so holy that even one sin will separate someone from His presence for eternity

Gnosticism believed that the creator was the one who created evil, a lesser God

Since Jesus was God, He did not sin

Hebrews 4:16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God also does not tempt us with evil

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Walk in the light 1:6-7

When we realize His holiness, it should cause us to want to walk in the light

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

What is meant by walking in the light? Walking according to the Word

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

When we walk in darkness, that is according to the world and our old life

Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

`A Christian walking according to their darkness lies because they are showing that they are not in fellowship with God, and they say they love God

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

We have true fellowship one with another when we are walking in the light

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Ephesians 4:20-32 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Are you walking in the light or in darkness?

Confess your sins 1:8-2:2

We know we need to walk in the light, yet we fall daily. Even multiple times a day, what do we need to do? Confess

But in order to confess, you have to be honest, verses 8 and 10 mention 3 different times about this (deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, we make him (God a liar)

You need to be honest before God. You can fool men, but you cannot fool God. Have people you are honest with, because they might be able to help you. Better to be helped and victorious through honesty, than to be defeated by pride

What does confess mean?

It means to say the same thing as God about your sin, understand it is sinful. It is also in the present and continual form. Meaning it is something we do continously.

However John 13 when is talking about Jesus’s washing the disciples feet is about servant leadership but He also says “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” Meaning someone who is clean does not need to get reclean, but wash their feet. Someone might get clean, but get their hands dirty and still need to wash them.

What happens? When we are open and honest and confess all our sin, we become clean. Accept it by faith.

Psalm 51:2-9 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

We can accept it by faith because of our Lord

Jesus is our advocate

An advocate has the idea of a courtroom

Satan is the accuser, God is the judge. Jesus is the advocate or one who defends the accused

Satan will say he deserves hell, yet Jesus will say “He belongs to me. I paid his or her punishment”

How can he say that because of v. 2 in chapter 2. He is the propitiation for our sins meaning His death satisfied the penalty for sin.

When you sin do you confess?

We need to walk in the light because God is light. Yet when we mess up we can confess and have fellowship restored.