1 John - Grace of Fellowship
In this message, Stephen emphasizes the importance of fellowship with God and one another, rooted in the light of Christ. He begins with a prayer acknowledging that true love comes from God and seeks guidance from the Holy Spirit to understand His word. Stephen references the first letter of John, highlighting that God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness. He explains that walking in the light is essential for genuine fellowship; if we claim to have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, we deceive ourselves. The essence of this fellowship is life in Christ, which is inclusive yet exclusive, allowing all believers to partake. Stephen outlines three conditions for experiencing this fellowship: it must be in light, righteousness, and love. He stresses that walking in the light reveals our sins, necessitating confession and cleansing through Jesus' blood, which restores our fellowship with God and each other. As believers grow in their relationship with God, they transition from being children to young adults and eventually to spiritual fathers, each stage marked by deeper knowledge and responsibility. Ultimately, Stephen encourages believers to walk daily in the light, fostering growth and communion with God.
- Introduction and prayer for guidance
- God as light and the nature of fellowship
- Conditions for real fellowship: light, righteousness, love
- Importance of confession and cleansing
- Stages of spiritual growth: children, young people, fathers
- Encouragement to walk daily in the light
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Chapter 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
