Sermons From First John - Fellowship With God (1:5-2:2)

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                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"

                     Fellowship With God (1:5-2:2)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the first four verses of First John, we saw that John's aim in
   this epistle is...
   a. To declare the "Word of life", the "eternal life" that was with
      the Father and has been manifested in Jesus Christ - 1Jn 1:1-2
   b. That we might have fellowship with the Father and Son, just as
      the apostles do - 1Jn 1:3
   c. That we might have fullness of joy - 1Jn 1:4

2. So to have fullness of joy...we must experience the kind of life 
   that comes from having fellowship with God!

3. What is the basis for fellowship with God, so that we may have the
   life that produces fullness of joy?
   a. In our text (1Jn 1:5-2:2), John discusses the basis for
      fellowship with God
   b. He also describes the place of sin, and how it can affect that
      fellowship

[With verse 5, we notice...]

I. THE PREMISE FOR HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (5)

   A. "GOD IS LIGHT"
      1. The figure of light is often used in the Scriptures to 
         describe that which to good, righteous, and true - cf. Ep 5:
         8-10
      2. Therefore, God must always be thought of in this way:  He is 
         good, He is righteous, He is true!

   B. "IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL"
      1. The figure of darkness would represent the opposite of light:
         evil, unrighteousness, falsehood
      2. Therefore we can never think of God as countenancing sin, 
         excusing it in any way

[With this basic understanding clearly established of what God is, John
now addresses some...]

II. FALSE CLAIMS CONCERNING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (6-10)

   A. "WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM", YET WALK IN DARKNESS (6-7)
      1. Why is this claim false?
         a. Because fellowship means to have something in common
         b. And we have seen that God is "light" (goodness,
            righteousness, truth)
         c. "Walking in darkness", therefore, would be going against
            everything God stands for! - cf. Ep 4:17-24
      2. What is the result of such a claim?
         a. We are false in our WORDS ("we lie")
         b. We are false in our DEEDS ("do not practice the truth")
      3. Instead, we should "walk in the light as He is in the light"
         a. I.e., instead of living a life characterized by "evil,
            unrighteousness, and error" (all the while claiming to have
            fellowship with God)...
         b. ...we should live a life in harmony with God's "goodness,
            righteousness, and truth"!
      4. Only then will we experience:
         a. "Fellowship with one another"
            1) That is, we will have fellowship with God
            2) Whereby we can share in that life which is eternal, and 
               provides fullness of joy!
         b. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son [which] cleanses us from
            all sin"
            1) This suggests that "walking in the light" does not imply
               sinlessness
            2) Any more than "walking in darkness" implies total 
               absence of good
            3) Rather, "walking in the light" suggests...
               a) A life making progress under the positive influence 
                  of God's "light"
               b) A life enjoying the cleansing power of Jesus' blood 
                  as one meets the conditions of forgiveness outlined 
                  below

   B. "WE HAVE NO SIN" (8,9)
      1. John may have reference to statements made by professing
         Christians who thought they had become sinless
      2. The consequences of such a claim...
         a. Self-deceit ("we deceive ourselves")
         b. Living in error ("the truth is not in us")
         c. I.e., walking in darkness, not walking in light!
      3. Instead, we should freely confess our sins - 1Jn 1:9a; cf. 
         Pr 28:13
      4. Then God, who is "faithful" (trustworthy) and "just" (one who 
         does what is right) will...
         a. "forgive us our sins"
         b. "cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
         ...through His mercy He makes it possible for to continue in 
         fellowship with Him!

   C. "WE HAVE NOT SINNED" (10)
      1. This claim may have been made by some denying they had ever
         sinned
      2. The consequences of this claim are grievous...
         a. We make God a liar! - cf. Ro 3:23
         b. His Word is not in us!
      3. How can anyone who makes such claims as these hope to have 
         true fellowship with God, and thereby enjoy the life such 
         fellowship gives?
      4. Fellowship with God does not occur by making claims that turn 
         God into a liar!

[Though affirming that we do sin, John is not seeking to encourage sin.
Indeed, he is writing to discourage sin (1Jn 2:1).

But fellowship with God requires that a person takes sin seriously.  To
appreciate further how serious God takes sin, we learn that...]

II. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD REQUIRES AN ADVOCATE (2:1-2)

   A. "WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS"
      (1)
      1. The word "advocate"...
         a. Literally means "to call to one's side, to one's aid"
         b. It suggests the capability for giving aid
         c. Used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, a 
            counsel for the defense
         d. Generally, it is one who pleads another's case, an 
            intercessor
      2. Jesus is the perfect "advocate", for He is RIGHTEOUS
         a. As sinners, we are alienated from God - cf. Isa 59:1-2
         b. But since Jesus is without sin, He is a fit representative
            to come before God on our behalf!
         c. The author of Hebrews also makes the point that though 
            righteous, He understands our situation perfectly - cf. He 
            2:17-18; 4:14-16

   B. "HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS" (2)
      1. The word "propitiation" means "an appeasing"
         a. E.g., the pagans would offer sacrifices to appease their
            gods
         b. In the New Testament, it is God, not man, who offers the 
            appeasing sacrifice - cf. 1Jn 4:10
         c. Through His death on the cross, Jesus is the means by which
            God can show mercy to the sinner
         d. This explains how God can be "just" (cf. 1Jn 1:9) and 
            still forgive sin
         e. This wonderful "propitiation" was given to the whole world,
            but is accessed only by those who believe in Jesus - cf. 
            1Jn 2:2; Ro 3:21-26

CONCLUSION

1. In this first chapter, and even into the second, John makes it clear
   upon what basis we can have fellowship with God, and enjoy the life 
   that provides fullness of joy

2. To have fellowship with God, we who are Christians must...
   a. Not walk in darkness, but walk in the light of God's goodness, 
      righteous, and truth
   b. Admit that we have sinned, and do sin
   c. Utilize our "advocate" (Jesus Christ), Whom God provides as the 
      "propitiation" for our sins

In 1Jn 1:9, John explained how those who are already children of God
can appropriate the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus (through 
confession and prayer).  But how about the alien sinner?  - cf. Ac 2:
38; 22:16 (faith, repentance, and baptism)
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