1 John 1:5-10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Requirements of Christian Fellowship

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Walking in the light is a requirement of Christian fellowship.

  2. Confessing our sins is a requirement of Christian fellowship.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s practice the presence of the Lord.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the apostle John’s purpose for writing this epistle?

  2. Compare the purpose of this epistle of 1 John with the purpose of the gospel of John.

  3. How is 1 John like a family picture album?

  4. What is the theme that emerges from the pages of 1 John?

  5. What is the basis of Christian fellowship? What is the result of Christian fellowship? What are the requirements of Christian fellowship?

ANSWERS

  1. The purpose is to give believers the assurance of their salvation and to encourage them in their faith. “These things are written…that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

  2. The purpose of John’s gospel is to lead people to salvation in Christ (see John 20:30-31). The purpose of the epistle of 1 John is to give the believer the assurance of salvation (see 1 John 5:13). The gospel of John is about relationship and union with Christ. The epistle of 1 John is about fellowship and communion with Christ and communion with Christ and fellow believers.

  3. Open an album and you will see your picture there. Open the album of 1 John and you will see your picture there if you are in the family of God.

  4. Christian fellowship – who is in the fellowship and who is not in the fellowship.

  5. The basis of Christian fellowship is Christ Himself. The result of Christian fellowship is joy. the requirements of Christian fellowship are walking in the light and confessing our sins.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Refer to 1 John 1:7. What does it mean to walk in the light? Refer to 1 John 5. What does it mean that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all? Refer to 1 John 1:6-7. Are you walking in the light? Do you check your thoughts and actions in light of the light?

  2. Refer to 1 John 1:8-10. In these verses we have our responsibility and God’s promise in reference to dealing with our sins. Our responsibility is to acknowledge our sin and to confess our sins. If we confess our known sins, God promises to forgive our sins and further cleanse us from unrighteousness in our lives. What a wonderful promise! A clean slate! Do your confess your known sins?

CHALLENGE

  1. Do you practice the presence of the Lord in your life? Do you consider the fact that the Lord is with you in whatever you are doing and in whatever you are saying ? Practicing the presence of the Lord in your life is an important part of walking in the light. Do you talk to Him throughout the day and in the night watches? See Philippians 4:5 and Hebrews 13:5.

KEY VERSES

  • “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

  • If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6

  • 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.” 1 John 1:7

  • If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9



1 John, New Testament, TalksDeb Harms1 John 1:5-10