"FELLOWSHIP AND SIN"

>>>Everyone struggles w/sin-even Christians!

>>>1 John has a theme of fellowship-fellowship with God/other believers.

>>>Sin stops fellowship.

>>>John talks about the relationship between sin/fellowship.

1 JOHN 1:8-10 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

>>>(v.8) For people to say they have no sin in their lives, they are lying.

*Ultimately lying to themselves-not acknowledging the problem to themselves.

>>>To continue to claim innocence shows that the truth of God is not in our hearts-the truth that sin is real in our lives.

>>>(v.10) For people to say they have no sin in their lives, they call God a liar and have not been changed by His Word.

*God says that all have sinned (Romans 3:23)

>>>These two verses says that the denial of sin is deception-lying to ourselves/calling God a liar.

DENIAL=DECEIVING

>>>In the middle is v.9

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.”

>>>Confessing sins allows for God to forgive.

CONFESSION=FORGIVENESS

>>>Instead denying sin, deceiving ourselves, confessing/acknowledging sin puts us in a place to further experience the grace/forgiveness of God in our lives.

>>>God does not desire for us to have sin.

===============================================================

1 JOHN 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

>>>(v.1) John says that the reason he is writing to believers is for them to no longer be in sin.

*The goal for believers should be sanctification-being set apart for God and growing in Him.

>>>“IF” there is sin, believers have Jesus pleading their case before God, allowing for restoration for continual sanctification.

THE GOAL FOR BELIEVERS IS SANCTIFICATION.

>>>We should not be okay with sin that is in our lives. The reason Jesus came was to save us from sin. What if we did not expect to sin?

>>>Jesus is our hope to keep striving to be sanctified.

1 JOHN 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

>>>Jesus is the sin offering/atonement for all the world. He made a way to be set free from sin and to have fellowship with God/other believers.

>>>Notice the use of present tense. Jesus continues to be the sin offering.

JESUS KEEPS BELIEVERS IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD.

>>>Jesus is the biggest cheerleader we will ever have in our journey toward sanctification.

>>>Jesus’ sacrifice is still available to any of you not in relationship with Him.

===============================================================

FREEDOM FROM SIN ALLOWS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

>>>Being justified through salvation and growing in sanctification is how we can maintain fellowship with God. Let Him set you free from sin.