HANDOUT FOR SERMON: Fellowship is with God and In the Light. WALKING IN THE LIGHT/LIVING IN THE LIGHT. June 4th, 2023, Manchester, TN
Introduction: Please open your Bible to First John. My hope is that when you will leave today having a better understanding of this beautiful letter and how it can impact our fellowship with one another. What an amazing Church family to be a part of. I want our fellowship with God and one another to last forever and our fellowship with one another.
Read: 1 John 1:1-4 The Joy of our wonderful fellowship. Take note that we have fellowship with Father (v.4) , with the Christ (v.6), and with one another (verse 7)
Read: 1 John 1:5-10. There God mentions that we can destroy our fellowship. How does our fellowship with God and one another work? Will we always be in fellowship with one another? Are there things that can affect our fellowship or even destroy it?
There are two paths we can take. Walk in the light of Christ or walk in darkness while claiming you walk with Christ. Our fellowship depends on the choices we make. We are going to sin but are we willing to see it and to confess it? To maintain our fellowship with God and one another we must walk directionally toward the light and constantly confess our sin when we fail. God’s grace is there, verse 9. In 1 John 2:2 God reminds us that we have an advocate for our sins.
LESSON: What does it truly mean to walk in the light or to walk in darkness? When does our fellowship end? Can it end? Who is responsible if it does end or is broken? In our study today we will notice three things that must exist and continue to exist to have the fellowship that God intended for us. Three simple truths with which we build everything on! These three foundation things must be in place so all else will stand.
1.BELIEVE IN JESUS CHIRST AS THE SON OF GOD. 1 John 1:3-4 Our fellowship is with Jesus Christ the Son of God. Our faith in Jesus is foundational to our fellowship with God and each other.
Other scripture: 1 John 2:18-24, 3:23, 4:1-3, 5:1-5 & 13 and John 3:16, John 20:30-31
Everything is built upon this and around this. Do you, do I, truly believe and understand this basic fact? The demons did believe but not enough to let Jesus make the decisions in their lives. The big question is: “Do I believe He is my Lord, my master and does He rule everything about my life?” He is not JUST a great sacrifice. He is someone whom we serve, follow and honor because of WHO He is!
Your ability to do things depends on the depth of your belief in Jesus and who He truly is!
2.LOVE YOUR CHURCH FAMILY, 1 John 2:7-11.
Other scripture: 1 John 3:10-19, 3:23-24, 4:7-21 and John 13:34-35
Do we truly love one another the way God loves? How do people of the world love? In general they love people who agree with them. They love and enjoy people they have something in common with or blood kin with. They love people who can give them something or gain from.
What do you remember about the Church in Corinth? This church had major problems. So what did God choose to talk to them about? Read 1 Corinthians 13. It was all about love, proper love! God told the Christian: “We need to talk about love!” If you do not love the people in the pew next to you then you are …” nothing” based on God’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 13.
Loving, as God teaches, proves our walk in the light, it is evidence that we have passed from death to life shows the love of God in me. All we do for God should be done only by love and that love moves us to obedience.
3.KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS. 1 John 2:3-6
Other scripture: 1 John 3:21-24, 5:1-3
The term: “Keep His commandments” is repeated throughout the New Testament. No true Bible student can walk away from scripture and say “keeping God’s commandments” is not important or expected. In First John we learn that maintaining our fellowship with the Father, Jesus and our brethren is done as we walk in the light and keep His commandments.
All three of these points are equally needed to maintain proper fellowship and unity. These all belong together. Let us remember not to complain! God has made His way clear. The whole New Testament reveals it. Obedience pleases God and this is not a burden because it starts with belief and love.
Keep His commandments? How many are there? How many of them must I keep? There are 4 main principles that should guide our lives: 1 Peter 1:5 Be holy, 1 John 2:9 Be righteous, 1 Timothy 5:22 Keep yourself pure, 1 John 4:17 Love one another.
Conclusion: Let us all agree on these points: Let us live in these three foundational truths and grow in these and return to these. This is where you find Jesus and find one another.
