1 John 1:1-10
Luis Cruz, GCF Durham
“What is God’s purpose for my life?” Life’s purpose gives you a reason to get up in the morning. It gives you a reason to live. It gives you a reason to be happy and enjoy life. Some say, that life’s purpose is to work, to excel, to achieve great things, and to be concerned with the world’s affair. But these are very temporal as they come and go. We need a more permanent purpose in life, that goes beyond the ordinary things. Fellowship with God and with fellow believers will go beyond this life. It’s greater and more enjoyable than work, achievements and politics.
1. The Gospel brought us into fellowship…
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” 1 John 1:1
· “That which from the beginning” is a reference to the Gospel that John preached.
· He preached it because that was what the world needed the most.
· When received wholeheartedly, it opens the door to reconciliation with God.
Romans 5:10 says, “10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
· The gospel of Jesus brought us peace with God.
The ministry of reconciliation brought us into fellowship...
2. with God.
“2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. “1 John 1:2-3.
· John had fellowship with the Son of God who taught him what God the Father is like, His will and His purposes.
· And because of that fellowship, John was able to describe Jesus as the Word of God. See John 1:1-2.
· Fellowship with God requires knowing Him, speaking to Him, listening to Him and learning from Him.
· Asking God, the right questions as we read the Bible facilitates learning and interaction with God.
· God speaks to us through His Word.
· This brings tremendous joy to a believer, a joy you want to share with fellow believers.
Our fellowship with God encourages us to be in fellowship…
3. with other believers.
“3 so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.”
· Our fellowship with fellow believers is an outflowing of our fellowship with God.
· God is able to display the power of His Word in us when we come together in fellowship.
· The power to convict us of our sins, through the Holy Spirit’s ministry of the Word.
“8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10.
· A constant biblical fellowship will help break the bondage of sin.
What is sin?
Joshua 1:18, “18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
· Sin is disobedience to God’s Word.
· Sin can cause us to lose Christian fellowship.
· We remind, correct and counsel each other privately.
· We show real unselfish concern towards a brother.
How do we break the bondage of sin?
(1) don’t minimize it, (2) be humble enough to admit it (stop blaming others), (3) ask God for forgiveness, (4) believe that God will cleanse you of your sins by forgiving you. (5) Stop repeating the sin.
Psalm 34:18, “18 The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”