1st John 1: 1-3 Divine Fellowship

Intro

Its nice to be here today i did not expect to be asked to speak today but i appreciate the offer from Pastor Steve to preach at the same pulpit my father did. now when i was asked to preach i had no clue what to speak on or where to go with it. i felt nervous and a little intimated as this is my first time preaching in any capacity. After much prayer i accepted the offer and was led to first john verses 1-3 . With everything that is happening in our country and the world i believe that we need to look at the one thing that connects us our fellowship as members of the body of christ.

A. What is fellowship ?

1. "1.a.The state of being together or of sharing similar interests or experiences: COMPANIONSHIP . b. Companionship of individuals in a Congenial atmosphere and on equal terms. 2.A union of friends or equals sharing similar interests:FRATERNITY. 3. Friendship, comradeship... " Webster's Il New Riverside University Dictionary

2.KOINONIA (a) communion, fellowship, sharing in common (from koinos, common) ..."communion...fellowship...communication" a)Now obviously we are not equals with God , nor will we Ever be God or "a god" or a peer (on an equal level with) of God, but He created us to be His friends and fellowship with him

Let us look at some examples of fellowship throughout the bible.

The first example we have is that of God and Adam in the garden.

why was man created? God created Adam and in turn Man to worship and fellowship with him.

B. From the scriptures, there seems to be the indication of a very open relationship and easy fellowship with God

1.And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you ?" And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." Genesis 3:8-10

Genesis 3:8–10 NIV

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

2. We can extrapolate several points from this passage.

a)This visit of the Lord to the garden seems like a regular occurrence. It seems to be part of the normal fellowship of Adam and Eve with God.

b) This fellowship was broken by sin. Instead of being eager to fellowship with their Creator, Adam and Eve, after sinning, wanted to hide from Him instead.

c) They didn't think of God in the way they had previously.

(1) They forgot that He was all-knowing and therefore knew where they were and what had happened.

3.Sin short circuited man's relationship with his Creator

a)The bridge from God to man had been destroyed by sin.

b)This has happened to us as well, in that until we are forgiven by God on account of Jesus' shed blood on the cross, there is no bridge to God across the chasm of sin and rebellion

A. Throughout the Old Testament times, fellowship with God was limited and tense.

1. It was based on obedience to God's law and blood sacrifices covering, but not removing ,personal sin

2.Examples of close fellowship with God in the Old Testament were rare

B. Abraham

1.Abraham had such a close fellowship with God that God

thought it good to share His plans for judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah with Abraham

Genesis 18:17–19 “Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.””

2. James recalled the fact that Abraham's fellowship with God was so intimate that people called Abraham God's friend

a) and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God,

and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. James 2:23 “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.”

3. How would you like that introduction: "Here is God's friend."

C.Moses

1. Moses had such a close relationship with God, that God spoke to him face

to face, just like you speak to a friend.

a) Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.”

(1) That is close fellowship

D. Fellowship with God that was this close is fairly rare in the Old Testament