Faithful in Fellowship

Welcome, Passage Turning, & Opening Prayer

**Turn to 1 John CH. 1...

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I. Introduction

Opening: We live in a world at war with absolute truth.

PEOPLE DESIRE to DEFINE RIGHT & WRONG on OWN TERMS...

Problem: SOMETIMES ONE PERSON’S “TRUTH” CONTRADICTS ANOTHER’’S

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CHRISTIANITY = HATED — EXCLUSIVITY/ABSOLUTE TRUTH

OUTDATED//ARROGANT— JESUS is THE WAY, TRUTH, LIFE.

Result: HOSTILITY— RESULTS ,,, BELIEF in DECLINE

Study: (BARNA, 2017) — 28% CHRISTIANS— BELIEVE PRAYER to ANY NAME = PRAYER to SAME GOD...

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Focus: WAR AGAINST CHRISTIANITY/TRUTH = NOT NEW AT ALL...

SINCE 1ST CENTURY— TRUTH = DIVISIVE

C.C.: CULTURAL PRESSURES MAY CHALLENGE US—

— WILL WE STAY FAITHFUL to the TRUTH?

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Transition: JOHN = GOING to SHOW US TODAY,,

the NEED to STAY FAITHFUL in WORLD of MIXED OPINIONS...

HOW WE CAN BE CERTAIN of TRUTH

LOOK W/ ME @ 1 JOHN CH.1… V.1-4

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II. Passage Reading: 1 John 1:1-4

1 John 1:1–4 (ESV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Declaration: This is God’s Word for us today.

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III. Background

Authorship:

APOSTLE JOHN

BROTHER of JAMES/SON of ZEBEDEE

FORMER FISHERMAN

PART of JESUS’ INNER-CIRCLE

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Date:

NEAR END of 1ST CENTURY

2ND CENTURY TRADITION—JOHN FINISHED HIS LIFE in MINISTRY AROUND EPHESUS—AFTER EXILE on PATMOS

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Audience:

PROBABLY CIRCULAR LETTER,, CITIES in REGION of ASIA MINOR:

EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM,

THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, LAODICEA (REV. CH.2-3)??

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Purpose:

ADDRESSING FALSE TEACHERS

DISTORTED MESSAGE ABOUT CHRIST

PROMOTED LAWLESS LIVING

PROMOTING TRUTH

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Themes:

RIGHT BELIEF

& RIGHT PRACTICE

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Transition: 1 JOHN = GIFT to CHURCHES—

KEEP on RIGHT PATH… LIVING UPRIGHTLY & STAYING FAITHFUL to GOSPEL TRUTH...

LET’S DIVE IN—LOOK W/ ME AGAIN @ V.1-2

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IV. Exposition

A. The Word of Life Manifested (vv. 1-2)

1 John 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

JOHN BEGINS W/ ECHOES of “THE BEGINNING”

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

BEFORE a BEGINNING—THERE WAS GOD—FOUNDATION of CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW.

EVERYTHING SEEN & UNSEEN = MADE BY HIM.

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Transition: LIKEWISE ONE W/ GOD @ BEGINNING

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Eternality of LOGOS:

John 1:1–4 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

THIS ONE = HERE in 1JN. CALLED “WORD of LIFE”

WORD = ETERNAL WITH GOD....

ETERNAL WORD = MADE MANIFEST (V.2)

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

IMMANUEL = “GOD W/ US”

INFINITE GOD CONDESCENDED to BE W/ US!

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“Word of Life”

(V.1c) HE is CALLED “WORD of LIFE” — THAT is “WORD WHO IS LIFE”

Exhort: ETERNAL GOD = SOURCE of ALL LIFE

HUMAN BODY = 96% OXYGEN, CARBON, NITROGEN, AND HYDROGEN (THEN a FEW OTHER GENS)

WE HOLD SIMILAR ELEMENTAL COMPOSITIONS W/ TREES, SOIL & COAL

NATURALISTIC WORLDVIEW,, PROBLEM: WHERE DOES LIFE ORIGINATE?

LIFE DOESN’T COME from NON-LIFE....

SCRIPTURE SAYS:

Genesis 2:7 (ESV)

7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

APART from the DIVINE BREATH of GOD—WE’RE DUST.

FASCINATING—CORPSES DON’T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT…

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WORD of LIFE/AUTHOR of LIFE—BECOMES MANIFEST—

— TAKES on HUMAN LIFE to BRING ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE…

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V.2b— ETERNAL LIFE WAS W/ GOD…

ETERNAL LIFE = PROMISE of GOD

ORIGINALLY in GARDEN of EDEN—TREE of LIFE—ETERNAL

PLAN of REDEMPTION—BRINGING BACK EDEN

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Apostolic Witness:

Focus: THIS ETERNAL “WORD of LIFE” —HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE— JOHN WAS WITNESS of!!

V1.b:

WE’VE HEARD

WE’VE SEEN

WE’VE LOOKED UPON

WE’VE TOUCHED

—> DONE ALL BUT TASTE!

YET THEY DID TASTE JESUS’ COOKING!!

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JOHN = FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT.... EYEWITNESS of JESUS CHRIST

CALLED AWAY from LIFE of FISHING

TRAVELED DAILY W/ JESUS for 3.5 YRS

INNER-CIRCLE (3-GUYS!)

SAW JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER RAISED

MT. TRANSFIGURATION

GARDEN of GETHSEMANE

AT FOOT of CROSS— ENTRUSTED W/ CARE of MARY

HE SAW EMPTY TOMB—RAN TO IT

MET W/ RISEN CHRIST

ATE HIS COOKING

40 DAYS W/ DISCIPLES B4 ASCENSION— ACTS CH.1:4

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Purpose: JOHN = CLARIFYING HIS APOSTOLIC WITNESS

FALSE TEACHERS— HAVE IDEAS

JOHN HAS EXPERIENCE!

JOHN = RELIABLE SOURCE of APOSTOLIC WITNESS/TRADITION

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Transition: JOHN’S BUILDING TOWARDS SOMETHING...

PURPOSE for HIS WRITING...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 3...

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B. The Purpose of Proclamation (v. 3)

1 John 1:3 (ESV)

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

JOHN = RECOUNTING “SEEN” & “HEARD”

SO THAT

HAVE FELLOWSHIP W/ US...

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Confusing: WHY WRITE “SO THAT” FELLOWSHIP… to CHURCH??

Quote, Colin Kruse: “Their fellowship with him is under threat.”

OTHER TEACHERS HAVE OTHER IDEAS—TEACHING FALSE THINGS...

JOHN = AT PAINS—EXPLAIN the RELIABILITY of HIS WITNESS

JOHN DIDN’T GET HIS DOCTRINE THROUGH GRAPEVINE/TELEPHONE GAME

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Super Essential:

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP = BASED in BELIEF

CHRISTIAN BELIEF = BASED in HISTORICAL EVENTS.

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Fellowship Defined:

“an association involving close mutual relations and involvement” (Louw-Nida)

TO HAVE SOMETHING in COMMON—COMMON ASSOCIATION/PARTICIPATION

Exhort: SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER THAN WHAT WE PROBABLY THINK of “FELLOWSHIP”

I LOVE POTLUCKS

I LOVE CORNHOLE

I LOVE HANGING OUT TOGETHER/KAYAKING/HIKING

FOUNDATION— HOLDING to SAME FAITH.

Beautiful: FAITH in CHRIST BRINGS US TOGETHER—

— PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT.

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Examples of “Commonalities”

SPORTING EVENTS—DIFFERENT TEAM THAN FAMILY—BUT in COMMON W/ THOSE PRESENT

CONCERT—DIFFERENT STYLE THAN FAMILY—BUT in COMMON W/ THOSE PRESENT

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@ CHURCH—WE HOLD CHRIST in COMMON

Exhort: MIGHT SEEM CRAZY to WORLD OUT THERE—BUT HERE YOU’RE FAMILY

BUT THIS FELLOWSHIP = ROOTED in BELIEF...

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Focus: WHAT WE BELIEVE MATTERS.

Quote, P. John Macarthur: YES, DOCTRINE DIVIDES… IT DIVIDES TRUTH from HERESY

WE DON’T NEED to AGREE on 110% of EVERYTHING...

BUT CHRISTIAN FAITH & FELLOWSHIP = ROOTED in BELIEF

Has to be Commonality:

GOSPEL

PERSON of CHRIST

RESULTS in FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH...

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Transition: AS IF THIS ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH...

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(V.3b) — FELLOWSHIP = WITH GOD & HIS SON JESUS CHRIST!

CHRISTIAN —NOT ONLY HAS FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH…

…BUT W/ LIVING GOD!!

WE HAVE a PARTICIPATION in the HOUSEHOLD of GOD!

PLACE in HIS FAMILY!!

GOD CREATED MANKIND for RELATIONSHIP W/ HIM...

… CAME DOWN in GARDEN—WALKED & TALKED W/ THEM...

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Exhort: WE WERE CREATED FOR GOD— TO LIVE LIFE in COMMUNION W/ HIM…

NOT JUST a SUNDAY-MORNING APPOINTMENT,,

PERIPHERY PART of LIFE—

—> BUT ALL of LIFE LIVED W/ HIM & FOR HIM!!

JOHN = STRIVING for HIS AUDIENCE (& US) to STAY FAITHFUL to TRUTHS of GOSPEL...

FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH

FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD

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Transition: ONE MORE PURPOSE

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 4

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C. The Joy of Faithfulness (v. 4)

1 John 1:4 (ESV)

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

JOHN’S GOAL = CONTINUED FELLOWSHIP

CONGREGATIONS STAYING FAITHFUL to TRUTH

JOHN = HAS PASTORAL HEART—LONGING for HIS READERS to COMMIT to TRUTH...

BYPRODUCT—PASTORAL JOY

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3 John 4 (ESV)

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

THERE’S JOY for JOHN & READERS as THEY STAY FAITHFUL to the TRUTHS of the GOSPEL

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Transition: GOSPEL-TRUTH REQUIRES a RESPONSE

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V. Gospel Connection

Quote, C.S. Lewis: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important."

MAN WHO LIVED 2,000 YEARS AGO

CLAIMED to BE ISRAEL’S MESSIAH

CLAIMED to BE GOD-IN-FLESH

—> DIED a BRUTAL, HORRIFIC DEATH

WAS CLAIMED to HAVE RAISED from the DEAD

HUNDREDS of WITNESSES

40 DAYS W/ DISCIPLES AFTER RESURRECTION

ORIGINAL DISCIPLES MARTYRED—WOULDN’T GIVE UP FAITH

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Focus: THERE HAS to BE a REASON for THIS...

Background: FIRST-CENTURY JEWS (MONOTHEISTIC WORLDVIEW) BELIEVING a MAN WAS GOD = INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT…

VERY FIRST COMMANDMENT—NO OTHER gods!

JESUS = NOT ANOTHER GOD—BUT SAME GOD--EMBODIED…

THEY WERE THERE.... THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED

1 JOHN: HEARD, SEEN, TOUCHED, ETC…

MESSAGE DEMANDS a RESPONSE

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Romans 10:9 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST—WE CAN BE SAVED from OUR SINS...

BROUGHT INTO FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH

MOST IMPORTANTLY—BROUGHT INTO FELLOWSHIP W/ GOD.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

NATURAL MAN = @ WAR W/ CREATOR,, REBEL

SAVED BELIEVER = @ PEACE W/ GOD...

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SIN SEPARATES US from GOD...

BUT CHASM WAS BRIDGED by the CROSS...

LOVE & JUSTICE of GOD = MANIFESTED...

Invitation: HERE W.O. HOPE/ASSURANCE—YOU CAN BE PART of FAMILY of FAITH

BY GIFT of GRACE,, RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH...

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Transition: FOR the REST of US—WHAT is JOHN SAYING THIS MORNING?

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VI. Application: Staying Faithful in Fellowship

Preaching Idea: Fellowship hinges on faithfulness to the truth.

FAITH UNITES US—MORE THAN FOOD, ACTIVITIES...

TO MAINTAIN FELLOWSHIP W/ CHURCH & W/ GOD— WE STAY FAITHFUL to the TRUTH…

Focus: JOHN = WRITING to KEEP on STRAIGHT & NARROW.

Quote, ONE SCHOLAR: “JOHN is PURSUING THEIR PERSEVERANCE”

IN WORLD W/ COUNTLESS OPINIONS & HOSTILE to CHRISTIANITY—

— WE NEED to REMAIN FAITHFUL to CHRIST & EXCLUSIVITY of CHRISTIAN GOSPEL…

HOW DO WE KNOW the TRUTH?

IT’S WRITTEN DOWN for US

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APOSTLES = EYEWITNESSES of CHRIST

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE APOSTLES—

— BUT WE HAVE THEIR GOD-INSPIRED WITNESS ENCAPSULATED WITHIN the SCRIPTURE...

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WE REMAIN FAITHFUL in FELLOWSHIP:

W/ CHURCH

& W/ GOD

BY REMAINING FAITHFUL to TRUTH

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Practical Steps:

Stay in Word: WE KNOW TRUTH BY FAITHFULLY STUDYING GOD’S WORD

Stay in Church: & BEING PART of CHURCH—OPENING GOD’S WORD—GODLY RELATIONSHIPS— NEED ENCOURAGEMENT of FELLOW BELIEVERS in HOSTILE WORLD

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Conclusion:

WE NEED THESE GOD-GIVEN HELPS

as WE SEEK to PERSEVERE in TRUTH

for the GLORY of GOD…AMEN?

LET’S PRAY...