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The 4 Cs of Fellowship

• Conditions

• Cautions

• Characteristics

• Consequences

… an expository lesson from 1st John

Background

• Author: John the Apostle; friend of Jesus• Date: ~90 AD• Location of writing: most likely Ephesus• Purpose: – Strengthen his “children”:

• To avoid worldliness• Refute false teachers (Gnostics)

– Gnostics : matter is inherently evil; therfore no divine being could take on human flesh; resulted in Jesus (the man) and Christ (the spiritual being that came upon Jesus at His baptism)

• To share in the fellowship with “us”, the Father and Christ

1st John - Outline

• Prologue – 1: 1-4• Conditions of Fellowship – 1: 5 – 2:14• Cautions of Fellowship – 2:15 – 27• Characteristics of Fellowship – 2:28 – 5:3• Consequences of Fellowship – 5:4-21

What is Fellowship with God• Definition:

– the condition or relation of being a fellow– friendly relationship; companionship– community of interest, feeling, etc.– communion, as between members of the same church– friendliness

• In the Greek:– Κοινωνια (koinonia) - koy-nohn-ee'-ah– partnership, that is, (literally) participation, communicate (-ation),

communion, distribution, fellowship

John’s Prologue1:1-4

• Wants the readers to remember his experiences• Not just his – but others (“we”) also• Identifies Jesus– “That which was from the beginning…– …the Word of life...– … that eternal life which was with the Father…– …and made manifest to us

• Heard; Seen (looked upon); Touched;

Conditions of Fellowship

• Walk in the Light – 1:5-7

• Confession of Sin – 1:8-2:2

• Obedience to His Commandments – 2:3-6

• Love One Another – 2:7-14

Cautions of Fellowship

• Love of the World – 2:15-17

• Spirit of the AntiChrist – 2:18-27

Characteristics of Fellowship

• Purity of Life – 2:28-3:3

• Practice of Righteousness – 3:4-12

• Love in Deed & Truth – 3:13-24

• Testing the Spirits – 4:1-6

• Love as Christ Loved – 4:7-5:3

Consequences of Fellowship

• Victory over the World – 5:4-5

• Assurance of Salvation – 5:6-13

• Guidance in Prayer- 5:14-17

• Freedom from Habitual Sin – 5:18-21

Invitation

• Are you in proper fellowship with the Father and the Son?

• Obeyed the Gospel?

• Gone astray?

Now is the time to respond to the Gospel