Christian Fellowship Reading 1 John 4 7 8

Christian Fellowship Reading: 1 John 4: 7 -8 July 12, 2009 David@Baize. org

1 John 4: 7 -8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Christian Fellowship u VERTICAL FELLOWSHIP u HORIZONTAL FELLOWSHIP u DEMONSTRATING u CONCLUSIONS FELLOWSHIP

VERTICAL FELLOWSHIP u BE HOLY u LOVE u FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

BE HOLY u. A basic requirement of fellowship. – 1 John 1: 5

1 John 1: 5 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

BE HOLY u. A basic requirement of fellowship. – 1 John 1: 5 u Even so must we be holy. – 1 Peter 1: 15 -16

1 Peter 1: 15 -16 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy. ”

BE HOLY u. A basic requirement of fellowship. – 1 John 1: 5 u Even so must we be holy. – 1 Pe 1: 15 -16 u Be holy to have a personal relationship with God now — and later.

LOVE u The greatest commandment. – Mark 12: 30

Mark 12: 30 30 ‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ’ This is the first commandment. ’

LOVE u The greatest commandment. – Mark 12: 30 u We must love Christ and God. – John 14: 21

John 14: 21 21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. ”

LOVE u The greatest commandment. – Mark 12: 30 u We must love Christ and God. – John 14: 21 u We must love God to have a personal relationship with Him now, and later.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD u It ↕ is a Vertical Fellowship — each Christian with God and Christ. u We must be Holy and have nothing to do with sin in our lives. u We must Love God and Christ and we must Keep His commandments. u Fellowship with God is Necessary to ensure our Eternal Life with Him!

HORIZONTAL FELLOWSHIP u CHRISTIANS u LOVE ONE ANOTHER u FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIANS WITH OTHER

CHRISTIANS u God wants us to be in fellowship. – 1 John 1: 3

1 John 1: 3 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son.

CHRISTIANS u God wants us to be in fellowship. – 1 John 1: 3 u Darkness is a deal-breaker. – 1 John 1: 6

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

CHRISTIANS u God wants us to be in fellowship. – 1 John 1: 3 u Darkness is a deal-breaker. – 1 John 1: 6 u Christ came to save us from darkness. – 1 John 1: 7

1 John 1: 7 7 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.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER u The Second Commandment. – Mark 12: 31

Mark 12: 31 31 “And the second, like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’ …”

LOVE ONE ANOTHER u The Second Commandment. – Mark 12: 31 u Be humble towards one another. – Philippians 2: 3 -5

Philippians 2: 3 -5 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, WWJD?

LOVE ONE ANOTHER u The Second Commandment. – Mark 12: 31 u Be humble towards one another. – Philippians 2: 3 -5 – Colossians 3: 8, 13

Colossians 3: 8, 13 8 But now yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER u The Second Commandment. – Mark 12: 31 u Be humble towards one another. – Philippians 2: 3 -5 – Colossians 3: 8, 13 u The real test of love. – 1 John 3: 16

1 John 3: 16 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS u u It is a Horizontal Fellowship. ↔ In vertical Fellowship with God. Love other Christians. Necessary to ensure Eternal Life.

DEMONSTRATING FELLOWSHIP u THE NEW COMMANDMENT u ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN

THE NEW COMMANDMENT u A commandment, old and new. – 1 John 2: 7 -8

1 John 2: 7 -8 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

THE NEW COMMANDMENT u A commandment, old and new. – 1 John 2: 7 -8 u A command to love one another. – 1 John 2: 9 -11

1 John 2: 9 -11 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

THE NEW COMMANDMENT u A commandment, old and new. – 1 John 2: 7 -8 u A command to love one another. – 1 John 2: 9 -11 u We need each other. (Campfire)

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u God found worship distasteful. – Isaiah 1: 13 -15

Isaiah 1: 13 -15 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u God found worship distasteful. – Isaiah 1: 13 -15 u What was wrong? — Inconsistency.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u God found worship distasteful. – Isaiah 1: 13 -15 u u What was wrong? — Inconsistency. Will God accept our worship today? – Matthew 5: 23 -24

Matthew 5: 23 -24 23 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ”

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u Illustration — I broke Jack’s truck.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u u Illustration — I broke Jack’s truck. What does love require? – Responsibility — I must go to Jack. – He has something against me.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP u u Illustration — I broke Jack’s truck. What does love require? – Responsibility — I must go to Jack. – He has something against me. u Do I love my brother? – – Enough to die for him? Philippians 2: 3 -5

Philippians 2: 3 -5 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u What if someone has wronged me? – Matthew 18: 15 -17

Matthew 18: 15 -17 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, 1) go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 “But if he will not hear, 2) take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ’ 17 “And if he refuses to hear them, 3) tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u What if someone has wronged me? – Matthew 18: 15 -17 u Illustration — I broke Jack’s truck. – What does love require? – Responsibility — Jack must come to me. – He has something against me.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u What if someone has wronged me? – Matthew 18: 15 -17 u Illustration — I broke Jack’s truck. – What does love require? – Responsibility — Jack must come to me. – He has something against me. u We must follow Jesus’ pattern. – Love requires it!

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u We have options. – 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7

1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; … 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u We have options. – 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7 u Stew in our own juices. – The affect hate has on our own body.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u We have options. – 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7 u Stew in our own juices. – The affect hate has on our own body. u Do what BCV says. – Do what Jesus would do.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u We have options. – 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7 u Stew in our own juices. – The affect hate has on our own body. u Do what BCV says. – Do what Jesus would do. u Forgive — and forget. – Not bring it up again — to anybody.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRETHREN u Illustration: someone says Steve is a thief & liar. What does love require? – Best to Ignore it? Assume he is innocent? – Ask for evidence, proof, witnesses. – If no evidence, proof, witnesses? — gossip and rumor.

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – In fellowship with God/Christ?

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – In fellowship with God/Christ? u Have we been made holy by His blood? – Are we staying holy?

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – In fellowship with God/Christ? u Have we been made holy by His blood? – Are we staying holy? u Do we love Him with our all? – Are we obeying His commandments?

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – in fellowship with other Christians?

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – in fellowship with other Christians? u Are we maintaining fellowship with God?

CONCLUSIONS u Are we — each and every one of us – in fellowship with other Christians? u Are we maintaining fellowship with God? u Do we love other Christians? – Love enough to be willing to die for them?

CONCLUSIONS u Why is this love so important? – John 13: 35; 17: 20 -21

John 13: 35; 17: 20 -21 35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ” 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

CONCLUSIONS u Why is this love so important? – John 13: 35; 17: 20 -21 u Are we born of God? – Do we know God? – 1 John 4: 7 -8

1 John 4: 7 -8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Christian Fellowship David Baize 8 Margaret Drive Hampton, VA 23669 David@Baize. org