Fellowship in His communion

God is Light

1 John 1:5–10 NKJV

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Introduction:

Perspective and reset while in Bethel this weekend. 2021 action plans, and drawing closer to the Lord.

Review first four verses.

Review:

Youngest of Jesus’ apostles. Some suggest John is around 80 years old when He wrote this book. John explains himself very clearly which helps people like me! (Poor reading comprehension). John spells out four purposes for writing his letter:

1)To make our joy full and complete (Vs 4).

2)Warn us about habitual sin (2:1)

3) Refute false teachers (2:26)

4)Assure us of our salvation (5:13)

This book will confront us, it will assure us of our beliefs, and strengthen our walk.

Gnosticism: Heresy that took root in the first century, it becomes a strong hold in the 2nd century. “Gonosko (Greek)- which means knowledge”. Many believed knowledge was the way to salvation. The evil behind it was how that which was physical was evil and that which was spiritual was good. They dismissed that God came in flesh (evil) that he was phantom spirit. “He became flesh and dwelt among us.” “You can whatever you want physically but all that matters is spiritual, which is why John is writing against sloppy christian living here.”

1 John 3:11 “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

A) God is light:

1 Timothy 6:16 “Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, who no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

There is no darkness around God, therefore He will never lead by anything other than light.

“Weirsbe- Every form of life has its enemies. Insects, dogs, birds, etc…The life that is real also has an enemy. This enemy is sin. Nine times in these verses John mentioned sin, so the subject is obviously not unimportant. John makes the contrast between light and darkness throughout these verses. Weirsbe suggest another contrast within this text. “Saying and doing”. Four times john wrote, “if we say”, or He that saith”- 1 John 1:6, 8, 10, 2:4

It is clear that our christian life is to amount to more than just a mere “talk”. If we are in fellowship with God, (in the light) our lives will back up what our lips are saying.

With the old nature we never had conflict within our conscience, after salvation, we have conflict. Our friends want us to go somewhere, but then our new nature is saying no!

Think about what happens during the day verse the night:

Cat and Rat

Cockroach and Butterfly

John 3:19-21: Men have loved darkness more.

B) Practice is a series of failures

Sometimes we don't get it right. “Practicing” allows us to continue trying. There is a hope and desire to seek the truth.

Weirs be: Walking involves progress, and Christians are supposed to advances in spiritual growth.

Abraham became weak in the faith and went down to Egypt and lied to Pharaoh (Gen 12). Later, the patriarch tried to “help God” by marrying Hagar and begetting a son (Gen 16). In both cases God forgave Abraham but Abraham had to reap what he sowed. God can and will cleanse the record, but HE does not change results. You cannot unscramble an egg.

Peter denied the Lord three times, and tried to kill a man in the garden when Jesus was arrested. Christ forgave Peter in John 21.

It is important to remember that when we are born anew with a new nature we are not losing the original nature (Galatians 5:16-26). Only the Holy Spirit can put to death this old nature (Romans 8:12-13).

When light shines in on us, it reveals our true nature (Ephesians 5:8-13) (Weirsbe).

When planting gardens we don't plan for how the darkness is going to affect the garden, but the sun and exposure of the sun. Growth doesn't take place in the dark.

Overall thought: “Sinning saints are not mentioned in the Bible to discourage us, but to warn us” (Weirsbe).

If we say: Why do we try to cover up our sin?

David and Bathsheba: He lusted, committed adultery, He then tried to cover it up, Got Bathsheba husband drunk, had him killed, and then he lied to himself and tried to carry on royal duties as he had done previously.

Weirsbe: “Once we begin to lie to others it may not be long before we actually believe our lie”.

C) Fellowship that results from forgiveness Vs 6

John 8:12 2 Corinthians 6:14 1 John 2:9-11

God will not be reactionary when we meet Him on judgement day and be surprised while talking about our sinful nature… “I didn’t know that!”

God invites us into the fellowship with Him. A qualitative relationship rather than quantitative.

Verse 7: we have fellowship with one another...

We can confess our sins! (1:7,9)

1 John 1:9 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2) Thankfully God cannot close His eyes to Sin! 1 John 4:8)

Psalms 32:5

God’s forgiveness is not cheap! Stop acting like it, by sinning and chocking forgiveness up to a minute act.

An active prayer life is vital to having fellowship. Great book on Prayer by E.M. Bounds.

D) Fellowship of His communion:

Communion: Acts 2:42 “A vital church grows”-

“Light produces life and growth and beauty, but sin is darkness; and darkness and light cannot exist in the same place” (Weirsbe).

Benediction Hymn

May the peace of God our heavenly Father, And the grace of Christ the risen Son, And the fellowship of God the Spirit Keep our hearts and minds within His love.

And to Him be praise for His glorious reign, From the depths of earth to the heights of heaven. We declare the name of the Lamb once slain: Christ eternal, the King of kings!

May this peace which passes understanding, And this grace which makes us what we are, And this fellowship of His communion Make us one in spirit and in heart.

1 Corinthians 11:17-33

“Not for the better but for the worse”

Divisions among you. He is trying to get everyone back to a commonality which allows for sweet fellowship in the light.

Examine: Light vs. darkness (Vs 27-32)

Psalm 51

Big idea: Moving forward as a church

1 Thess. 5:5-11 Acts 2:42

Looking ahead, no matter how grim things look, realizing that He is faithful and just...

He cleanses us from all unrighteousness so that we may have direct fellowship with Him, for He is light!