Working out our Salvation: Fellowship with Jesus

1 John 1:1-10

1 John 1:1–10 HCSB

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Knowing Jesus

Hearing - Listening to words spoken, reading what has been written, acknowledging

Seeing - Physical, Flesh, Human Body, Realty

Observed - Studying, Researching, Comparing and Contrasting

Touching - hugging, kissing, embracing, putting fingers into hands and sides

Testifying and Revealing

Always Existed

Proves the Son of God became flesh

Recording/Writing the findings

Completeness

Experiencing Jesus

Fellowship/Relationship

Peace/Joy/Comfort/Strength

Source of Life

Fellowship with Jesus

Light and Dark

Intelligent - Light is truth and darkness is ignorance or error

Morally - Light is pure and darkness is evil

Jesus is the standard for Holy Living

Cannot walk with God and walk in the darkness

Results of Jesus

Admitting the reality of sin

Confessing, seeking, turning away from sin

The faithfulness, righteousness, and justice of Jesus to cleanse our sin.

Challenge

How does a person work out his or her Salvation? The Apostle John takes time to answer this very question, with his three letters. In the first chapter of this letter John reveals to us that the first step to salvation begins with our relationship (Identity) and religion (Position) with regard to the Son of God: Jesus. Do you and I really believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the forgiver of Sins, the source of all life, the resurrected Christ? Does our religion (position) reveal this belief to others around us? If not, why not? Today, we have a great opportunity to show the world our relationship with Jesus and our friendship with Christ.