"On A Few Conditions"

The last Sunday night I was able to preach, we began a study of 1 John. John, the writer of the Gospel of John and the man that was one of Jesus’ disciples, writes this to a group of Christians that are struggling with some false teaching and just knowing where they are in their own personal walks with the Lord.

So if we were to do a quick recap, we preached from the first 4 verses of 1 John last time.

We titled the message “This Is My Story.”

John gives some quick reminders that in order to have Fellowship with Jesus, and even before that… you need to have:

A Proper Perspective of Jesus

He was Eternal

He is the Word

The Physical Body of Jesus

Without a body there would be no sacrifice

Jesus had to have a body!!

The Prime Purpose of Jesus

He came so that:

We could have fellowship (1:3)

To take away our sins (3:5)

Destroy the works of the Devil (3:9)

So we could have life (4:8)

So in light of all that John lays out in the first four verses, he continues this thought of fellowship with the Father.

So in light of all that John lays out in the first four verses, he introduces this thought of Fellowship with the Father.

This book of 1 John deals with two main subjects:

Fellowship - the daily relationship

Sonship - being spiritually born into the Family

Chapters 1&2 teach what Fellowship with the Father looks like, by comparing and “Testing” our actions with what God expects.

Growing up in school I wouldn’t stress about tests that much. My thought process going in was, “if I paid attention, did my homework, and studied a little bit, I should be fine.”

Why?

Well unless the teacher was just completely demonic, they would typically test you on the things they have covered. Right?

There was never a time that I would walk into a Spanish class and our teacher had us a test covering “Quantum Physics.”

For all you teachers in here, you should totally do that hahaha.

Our Heavenly Father has taught us very plainly with His Word what He expects from us. Obedience > sacrifice

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Love others.

As He has covered this, John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, begins to give us some questions to the test of whether our Fellowship with God is messed up:

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

What we experienced this morning was absolutely unreal, but to be able to enjoy that wholeheartedly, you have to be a son and your fellowship has to be right!

What are the questions to this test?

But Hayden, how do I know if my fellowship with God is on good terms?

A lot of people say they and Jesus are peachy.

A lot of people think their relationship is great!

So, how can I know that my fellowship is good?!

Georgia Tech versus UCLA

New Years Day 1929 in the Rose Bowl, a young man named Roy Riegels, a team captain recovered a fumble from GT’s Stumpy Thomason.

when he picked the bowl up he was off to the races, and almost ran into the other endzone before his team mate came and tackled him.

after GT blocked a punt for a safety

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halftime was awkward, and silent.

Contributed by Sermoncentral on Jun 18, 2007 (message contributor)

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Tags:  Bible Study

The story is told about “New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels, Team Captain, recovered a fumble for UCLA, that had been fumbled by Stumpy Thomason from Georgia Tech. Picking up the loose ball, he lost his direction and ran sixty-five yards toward the wrong goal line. One of his teammates, Beeny Lom, ran him down and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team.” He was dubbed “Wrong Way Riegels”

Illustration of the Light in face during an interrogation.

right before the second half, their coach spoke up and told them the same team would start the second half.

God has shown His light and Himself, He’s revealed what He expects… so for us, we have no more excuses in our Fellowship with Him:

Everyone got up and left except Riegels… who had a towel over his head. Their coach spoke up and said, “did you hear me riegels?”

“Yes, but I can’t go back our their. I’ve ruined your reputation, I’m an embarrassment, and I’ve ruined the school’s reputation… I can’t go back out there!”

1. The Substance of the Message (God is light)

The coach spoke up and put his hand on Roy’s shoulder, and said, “Get up and get back out there. The game is only half way over.”

Someone in here tonight knows Jesus, but you fell off the path of light and feel embarrassed, but I’m here to remind you that the game isn’t over! And Jesus is here to help your fellowship with the Father!

1. Fellowship Explained (1:5-7)

I want you to notice a few things:

a) 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

Walking through the house at night. You get to know t

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

Psalm 119:105 KJV 1900

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

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

God is light - God is Spirit (), God is love (), God is true ()

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

God is light - He is absolutely pure and perfect.

b) The Meaning of Fellowship

Fellowship means to have in common!

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.

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

Fellowship with God is having in common with Him, walking in the Light… His light!

But what messes that up?

did you know that we can mess up that fellowship?

How? I want you to see:

2. Fellowship Endangered (v. 8-10)

Notice what endangers and messes up our fellowship?

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

a) Lying about our Actions (v. 6-7)

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.

b) Lying about our Brokenness (v. 8)

verse 8

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!

c) Lying about our Flesh (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

b) the truth is not in us.

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

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

a) God forgives us our sins - He deals with our guilt and removes it.

3. Fellowship Extended (1:8-9;2:1-2)

b) “to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” - He removes the pollution brought about by our sin

verse 10 - make God a liar… if we say we haven’t sinned, we are making God’s plan of redemption look foolish.

3. Fellowship Extended (2:1-2)

4. Fellowship and Obedience

a) Keep God’s commandments (3-4)

b) Keep God’s Word (5)

c) Walk as Jesus walked (6)

So if we constantly mess our fellowship up… how in the world can we have fellowship with God, and good fellowship with Him?

a) Confess

say the same things God does about sin.

b) Forgive

Jesus does the forgiving for us.

verse 6 - Walking in darkness makes us liars if we say we have fellowship with Him.

c) Advocate

And Jesus does the sustaining for us!

How can Jesus do that?

There are a lot of people in our community and culture that would say, “Ahh man, me and Jesus, we good.” But wait, don’t you live like the devil? “Yeah but His grace is sufficient...”

Propitiation.

Pause!

Verse 7 - Walking in the Light = good fellowship. Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin.

Gives the truth that we are never going to be without sin this side of eternity.

Verse 8 - flowing, we have and will always sin. we aren’t perfect. So don’t say that you’re perfect. You’re deceiving yourself.

verse 9 - “confess” means to say what God says about it. Also, “Admit to a crime or wrongdoing.”

When we do that, we can be forgiven.

Why? ---> 2:1 (Jesus is our advocate)

Advocate - a person that publicly supports or recommends a person in a case. Pleads for them.

2:2 - Propitiate - to regain favor with God by doing something that pleases Him.

2:4 - Some people say, “Oh yeah, I know Jesus!” but if you don’t follow Him, you’re a liar.

2:5 - if you keep His Word, the love is perfected in you and you know that you are in Him

2:6 - If you abide in Him, you’ll walk like He does.