1 John 01:03-07 True Fellowship – audio

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Text: 1 John 1:3-7

Introduction

True fellowship means:

• Sharing all things
• Having communion with
• Being in partnership
• Having a close mutual relationship
• Jointly participating with
• Contributing to, or even giving to others

In John’s first epistle, he explains how we can have true fellowship with God, Christ, himself, and others (1 John 1:3-7).

Body

I. We have fellowship with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3,6).

A. From the beginning, God had something in common with man. He created him in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). Later, Christ (who was God in the flesh, John 1:1-2,14) prayed that we would be one just as He is one with God (John 17:20-26).

B. God has called us into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). When we partake of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week (Acts 20:7), we have fellowship with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). This is just part of being a Christian. Paul truly knew that by being baptized into Christ, we fellowship in His sufferings and death (Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:12).

C. When one becomes a Christian, he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). There is only one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4), and when Christians obey that one gospel, we have fellowship with the Spirit (Philippians 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

II. Christians have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:3,7).

A. The fact that we are Christians simply implies that we have fellowship! After all, we are all children of God and are trying to live faithfully unto death (Revelation 2:10).

B. Regardless of background, we can have fellowship in Christ (Romans 1:16; Galatians 2:9; 3:27-28).

C. Those in Macedonia and Achaia are good examples of fellowshipping by helping those who are in need (Romans 15:26-27; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4; 9:13).

D. We have fellowship in spreading the gospel and sharing our faith (Philippians 1:5; Philemon 6; Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3).

E. We are to continue in fellowship (Acts 2:42,44-47; Hebrews 13:16).

III. Just as there are those we can have fellowship with, there are those we cannot fellowship with.

A. We cannot fellowship with demons, or devils (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Paul was speaking in context of serving things rather than God (idolatry).

B. Christians do not fellowship with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 John 1:7; John 1:5; 1 Peter 2:9).

Conclusion

God wants us to be in fellowship with Him, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all believers. It is a wonderful blessing! On the other hand, we must not fellowship with the world. Who are you in fellowship with?