Misc. - "Fellowship with Jesus" - 1 John 1:5-2:2

“Fellowship with Jesus”

Thank you so much for being here this evening.

If you have your copy of God’s Word, I want to invite you to join me in 1 John 1. We’re going to begin reading in verse five in just a moment.

A benchmark assessment is a test or other assessment given to students at different intervals throughout the year. The purpose of the first benchmark assessment is to collect baseline data: to measure the students' skills and knowledge at the beginning of the year before much instruction occurs. The purpose of the subsequent benchmark assessments is to measure how much progress students have made toward mastering certain knowledge and skills.

These tests:

1. Measures Students Understanding

2. Identifies Patterns in Student’s Learning

3. Identify student’s needs

All for the ultimate purpose of helping a student reach his or her potential!

In a lot of ways, 1 John acts as a “benchmark exam” in the lives of believers.

John’s aim in writing this epistle is to assure believer’s of their salvation.

He speaks on a few topics in this letter:

Light vs. Darkness

Love vs. Hate

Truth vs. Error

His main point in chapters 1-2 revolves around fellowship with Jesus.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Introduction

“Fellowship” is the key theme of the first two chapters (see 1:3, 6–7). Fellowship has to do with our communion with Christ, not our union with Christ, which is sonship. Our daily fellowship changes; our sonship remains the same.

This book of 1 John deals with two main subjects:

Fellowship - the daily relationship

Sonship - being spiritually born into the Family

Weirsbe says, “Fellowship is a matter of light and darkness; sonship is a matter of life and death.”

Verse 5 says, “God is light.” - this whole part of the text is all about FELLOWSHIP.

So tonight as we read this passage and go through the text, imagine that you’ve just walked into the classroom with Jesus. The Holy Spirit issues a test and the benchmark exam is around this question:

How is my fellowship with Jesus right now?

Join me as we read our passage:

1 John 1:5–2:2 KJV 1900

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto 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 the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 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. 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1. Fellowship with Jesus Is Explained (v. 5-7)

As a good baptist, what comes to mind when you hear the word “fellowship?”

Fellowship Hall

Chicken

Casserole

Fireworks

a. the Meaning of Fellowship

1 John 1:3 (KJV 1900)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:6 KJV 1900

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7 KJV 1900

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

As we see here, “fellowship” impacts our relationship with others and with God!

that word “fellowship” is “koinonia” (que-no-nia) it means to have close association, participation, and sharing a life with someone.

It’s being known.

It’s being welcomed.

It’s not having anything between you and another person.

I don’t want to move off of this too quickly. I also understand that most of you, especially if you’ve been here for any length of time, have heard this illustrated very well by pastor Chad.

However, fellowship with the Lord is a big deal, and I don’t want to move past this too quickly.

To have fellowship with Jesus is to have in common with Him.

As I mentioned earlier…

Weirsbe says, “Fellowship is a matter of light and darkness; sonship is a matter of life and death.”

I was born into the Crompton Family 3/20/1993.

I became Ronny Crompton’s son.

15 years later… when I was 6’3” and could look down at my dad… my fellowship with him was broken.

What caused a break in fellowship and in my backside?

ME! I no longer participated in the standard that my father set for me.

So, go back to that question… how is my fellowship with Jesus?

To answer that question, we must understand how God’s Word explains what good fellowship requires.

b. The Message about the Father

God is light (Order of the words) and there is no darkness at all (contrast)

This message has order:

GOD… IS… LIGHT!

This message has a message:

Light reveals

It is in God’s nature to reveal HImself to this world!

God shows us who He is, and He guides us on that journey!

What does God reveal about Himself?

pure & perfect.

Comforter

Light produces growth

God is light - God is Spirit (John 4:24), God is love (1 John 4:8), God is true (1 John 5:20)

God is light - light is self revealing. it’s in His nature to reveal and make Himself known.

Light is Pure

“… and in him is no darkness at all.”

This is the One that we are coming into associate with! God sets the standard because He is the standard!

When fellowship gets messed up, it’s not God’s fault.

so for us to have in common with the Father, we have to know His will, agree with His designs and walk with Him!

Walking beside my dad as a little kid.

We were one with one with each other. I was going where He was going! Step in step.

Psalm 119:105

I didn’t look up in the process, why? Because I was too busy paying attention to my dad!

Fellowship:

is being in common with God.

We are good with others

1 John 1:7 - “his Son CLEANSETH us from all sin.”

That word “cleanseth” is present tense

This is not the Justification that we experience at salvation, this is the cleansing we need everyday!

John 13:10 KJV 1900

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Fellowship with God has perks: we are walking in the light like God, have fellowship with Him and others, and we are becoming more like Jesus!

Fellowship is necessary and such a blessing to believers… but we need to remember to fight for this fellowship, because we can mess it up.

How can we ruin our fellowship with God?

2. Fellowship with Jesus Endangered (v. 8-10)

“This then is the message...”

“If we say...” (v. 6, 8,10)

Notice what endangers and messes up our fellowship?

Our spiritual battle wages on agreeing with God’s Truth or the enemies lies.

Well, it can be seen in a few lies we tell:

a. Lying about our Actions

1 John 1:6–7 KJV 1900

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Verses 6-7 are very important, because this speaks of someone that says, “I love God, but I live like the devil.”

“We lie and do not the truth…”

After God created the earth, one of the actions He performed with Adam and Eve is that He WALKED!!!

Walking with God not only keeps us away from sin, but it allows us to know more about who He is.

Road to Emmaus!

Living like the devil only pushes us from who God wants us to be.

It’s interesting to me that John packages endangered fellowship first by pointing out the things we say.

If I told you all that I love my boys, but never spent time with them, would I be a good dad?

If I told you that I love my Hailey, but lived in a different house, would you consider me to be a good husband?

Then how the world have some people convinced themselves that going to church once every few months that they truly love Jesus?

b. Lying about our Brokenness

1 John 1:8 KJV 1900

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We’re messed up broken people to the core… and verse

Truth can be all around us but if we claim sinlessness, we show that the truth hasn’t penetrated our souls!

“we deceive ourselves...”

This mornings message dealt with

c) Lying about our Corruption (v. 10)

This is the person that knows Jesus and has met Him, and has walked with HIm, but there’s some type of temptation that keeps pulling at us.

You may look really good, and Godly… and you might be but there’s that

when we confess our sins, two things happen:3.

3. Fellowship with Jesus is Extended

Your fellowship can be extended and restored by repentance and confession of sin!!

1 John 1:7 KJV 1900

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

by repenting and confessing sin, you will be restored, and I think it’s important to remember what Jesus does to help restore that fellowship!

a. We have an Advocate

This word “advocate” in the Greek is paracletos. which also means Comforter.

This is a legal term that illustrates someone being called to one’s aid in a court of law. The Advocate brings comfort to the person on trial by being his or her spokesperson or representative before the judge in a courtroom.

Some of you right now are remembering your sins. Sins you committed decades ago. Sins you committed moments before you got here. And as you ask yourself the question, “how is my fellowship with the Lord?” the enemy is causing you to feel shame and guilt.

Don’t you let the enemy have a foothold in your heart.

Don’t let the enemy maximize your sin and minimize the work of Jesus.

WHY?

Because He is your advocate! He does it in two ways.

I wonder if Jesus talks with His hands.

b) Propitiation

This is for everyone.

Hayden, I know I’m not saved, so how can I know God?

Propitiation means “to appease God.”

And Jesus does the sustaining for us!

How can Jesus do that?

Propitiation.