THE LIGHT SIDE OF LIFE
1 JOHN 1:5-2:2
INTRODUCTION... The Intimate Date (adapted from John Bevere, The Voice of One Crying, 1993)
My wife and I went out on a ’date’ this past Wednesday. We went to dinner and a movie. We went to get away from the kids and to eat at a good restaurant. It was a time for us to reconnect and to have a good time just the two of us. Can you imagine me approaching my wife, during this time that was meant to bring us closer, with a outlined card in front of me. Step one: Tell her she is beautiful. Step two: Hold her hand. Step three: Look into her eyes and say, "I love you," How far do you think I would get? What kind of message am I sending? She would feel like I am obligated to be there and was very insincere. Yet, this is the relationship people eventually have with the Lord. We many times seek Him out of obligation and not because we desire His presence. We don;t do what we should do. We should communicate from our heart. We should hate sin because we love God and want nothing between us. To take the example of my wife and me one step further, let’s suppose I set up our time together for fellowship every day from 5-6 P.M. Anything she had to say would have to wait until 5 P.M. Then to make matters worse, at 5 P.M., I did all the talking for the entire hour. She could not get a word in edgewise because I talked nonstop. Then at 6 P.M. sharp, I got up, said it was wonderful, and left. What kind of relationship is that?
Today I would like us to turn in our Bibles to 1 John and we are going to look at our relationship with God
and the light side of life that this relationship brings to us. Let’s read.
READ 1 JOHN 1:5-2:2
I. THE KEY WORD: “FELLOWSHIP”
The Apostle John seems very interested in ’fellowship’ in this passage. In fact, he talks about fellowship in 1:1-4 and identifies that “our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (verse 3). What is this fellowship that he is speaking about? In verse 6, he indicates that we as Christians are claiming to have fellowship with God. In verse 7, he talks about us having ’fellowship with one another.’ What is he talking about? What does this word, fellowship, mean?
I want you to know that the Apostle John is not the only writer in the New Testament to talk about this word ’fellowship.’ Luke records in Acts 2:42 that the early church was devoted to fellowship. The Apostle Paul when thinking back on his experience with Christians in Jerusalem in Galatians2:9 speaks of the ’right hand of fellowship’ being given.
This word ’fellowship’ is one of those words that has surface meanings and then also a deeper meaning. On the surface, fellowship seems to indicate some kind of community or venture where there is joint participation among the members. You or someone in your family might be part of a club or group that fits this definition. The Kiwanis Club is a fellowship of people with like goals for serving children and improving community life. 4-H is a fellowship of people that are teaching children about leadership, citizenship, and other life skills. I could list organization after organization that fit the definition of a fellowship. They are groups of people that gather for strength in action. They are very much action oriented groups. The church is also a fellowship... is it not? We are all gathered here together as a community of believers and we join our gifts together to learn about God and to spread His message. We are action oriented: we gather for worship and Sunday School, VBS, and other programs.
But of course, the church is so much more than that and so is the word ’fellowship’ as the Apostle John uses it. John uses the word ’fellowship’ to mean something a little deeper than gathering together for some common action. When you talk about ’fellowship,’ you also are speaking about intimacy. The best way to explain fellowship is with the word intimacy. John speaks of intimacy with God and Jesus in verse 3. John talks about Christians claiming intimacy with God in verse 6. John wants us to have close intimate relationships with one another. When John speaks of fellowship, he wants us to think of a close personal and very important relationship.
II. THE CONDITION OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (VERSES 1:6-7)
The Apostle John states this kind of fellowship and intimacy that we can have with God in both a negative and positive condition. Johns states the negative in verse 6. We may find others that we know, or perhaps ourselves, that profess to know God, but have little intimacy with God. We will claim intimacy with God, but we ’walk in darkness.’ What does that phrase mean? The Bible often will use the word ’walk’ to indicate the whole of a person’s life. To ’walk in darkness’, then, is to live in the practice of sin. John calls us a liar when we do this. We lie with our lips when we profess to be Christians and we lie with our lives when we choose to live in sin. I hope that you see that there must be harmony between the profession of our mouth and the actions of our lives in order to have intimacy with God.
John states the positive in verse 7. Ephesians 5:8-10 tells us the same thing, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Fellowship with God does mean that we not only profess to know Him, but we act in a way that brings us closer to Him. We find out what pleases Him, and we cultivate those things in our lives. The light of our hearts comes out in our speech, our actions, how we spend out money and our time, and all other aspects of our lives.
What things please God? What should be spend our time doing? What things will bring us into an intimate relationship with God? [allow congregation to answer]
III. THE RESULTS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (VERSES 1:7-2:2)
RESULT #1: Deep fellowship with others. Verse 7 tells us that when we cultivate an intimate and personal relationship with God (vertical) that we also gain intimacy with other people around us (horizontal). Author James Packer says, “Christian fellowship is two-dimensional, and it has to be vertical before it can be horizontal. We must
know the reality of fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ before we can know the reality of fellowship with each other in our common relationship to God (1 John 1:3). The person who is not in fellowship with the Father and the Son is no Christian at all, and so cannot share with Christians the realities of their fellowship” (Your Father Loves You, 1986).
RESULT #2: Forgiveness and purity from God. Verses 8-10 tells us that when we have an authentic and honest relationship with God, that He will forgive us of our sins. We must be honest with God. If any of us claim that we have not sinned, the Apostle John says that God has no place in our lives. We would not need Him if we were perfect. We would not need Him if we have never sinned. Yet, we are not perfect and we do so desperately need Him in our lives. We need His grace and mercy. We need His strength and protection. Those things will only come when we have a deep and personal fellowship with God.
RESULT #3: An advocate. Verses 1-2 of chapter 2 tell us that we, because of our close relationship with God the Father, gain an advocate in this life and in the next. Jesus Christ is our atoning sacrifice and stands for us against the wrath of God. Sin must be punished. That is a reality of the Universe. Those of us who have a deep abiding relationship with God know that we have an advocate that will speak for us and wipe our slate clean... Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION... “A Good to See You Sunday” (Jimmy D Brown, 2004)
It’s another "good-to-see-you" Sunday morning. A few more handshakes and I’ll make it to my pew.
"Doing great," I answer, a smile spreading quickly across my face. Lord, I hope these eyes don’t give my thoughts away. A kind word to the preacher, a hug to an elderly lady and I arrive at my familiar spot. I’m sure glad those visitors aren’t in my seat again this week. Well, just look at that song leader, he wore that tie last week. Please Lord, not that same old hymn again. As I routinely move my lips to another favorite, I’m surprised to see a new couple walk the aisle and stand across from me. I hope someone welcomes them here today.
The man who grips the gospel gun stands behind the pulpit ready to fire away. It’s time again. Only forty more minutes to go. "Let’s pray," he says. "Turn in your Bibles to..." My thoughts drift away. Where will I go this time? The deer woods? No, that was last Sunday. What’s for dinner today? Hey, there’s a bit football game tonight, I wonder who will win... I lose myself to one more day’s indifference. The clouds start rolling in again as a fog covers my mind. Lord, if that baby doesn’t stop crying...
Point number two, we’re moving right along. I do wish those teenagers would stop giggling, though. They are going to distract someone. I’ve said it a thousand times before, if you’re mind isn’t on the message, God won’t speak to you. A chorus of "Amens" break my concentration. "Preach it, brother!" I unknowingly say aloud. I like to be involved, you know.
It’s five ’til twelve, he better start winding it up. Well, look who’s in church today. It’s about time she got back in church. I just hope it’s not too late. "We’re going to have a hymn of invitation," the preacher says. "Praise the Lord," I mumble softly. We bow our heads. "Let’s pray," the preacher says again. Well, I guess I’d better pray too. "Dear Lord, Mrs. So- and-So needs to repent. Show her the error of her ways. Help that preacher to start getting us out on time. Lord, thank you that I’m not like the rest. Amen." That wasn’t so bad. Wait a minute, why is everyone crying? Where are all of those people headed? What’s happening here? "The Spirit is really moving this morning," the preacher announces. "Won’t you come?"
I bow my head, ashamed I’m feeling nothing. I’m here, but my heart’s a thousand miles away. I search my heart for signs of something that’s long gone. "God is calling someone this morning to get their relationship right with him," the preacher continues. "Won’t you come right now?" Is he talking about me? Should I go down there?
What will everyone think? Oh, I feel so empty. I need to go down there. I know something is missing. Something isn’t right. Ok, I’ll go...no, no, no. I’ll wait until next week. Oh, no. Not another verse. Why is he dragging this out? Hurry up. I’m getting hungry. It’s past time to go. "Invitation time is over. I hope you did what the Lord told you to do," he finally says. "Let’s pray."
A few more handshakes and I’ll make it to the door. "Have a nice day," I exchange pleasantries with a few people. Don’t forget, Lord, send someone to welcome that new couple, I think silently. "Good service, preacher. I really enjoyed the message. I can’t wait until next week," I say with a smile on my face. Praise the Lord, I’m walking out the door.
Christian, does what you have just read sound familiar? Does this article that I wrote about myself many years ago ring a bell? Maybe not all of it, but some of it? What about it, friend? Are you headed for another "good-to-see-you" Sunday morning? You can have your joy restored, you know. You can get your peace back. All you need to do is go before the Lord and ask Him to reach out and touch your heart. I think I see Him reaching for you now.
