What Hinders Fellowship?

1 Cor. 1:9-10 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I. A Lack of Conviction!

1 Jn 1:5-7 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. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.▪Conviction = a firmly held belief or opinion.

the quality of showing that one is convinced of what one believes or says.

The evolution of a lie!(1 Jn. 1:6, 8 & 10)

▪1 Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ▸Lie to others = deny sin▪1 Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we

deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.▸Lie to self = deceive self▪1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we

make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.▸Lie to God = defy the Savior

II. A Lack of Cleansing! 1 Jn 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not

sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

▪These first two points deal with “our part” the last one will deal with “God’s part!”▸Keeping in mind God does this for us!

Walking in the light focusing on what it right!

▪Two key verses here one cleansing!▸1 Jn 1:7 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.▸1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and

just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

▪Just as walking is continual action, this confessing is to be continual!

The Goal is always “forward motion!”

▪Php 3:12-13 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

III. A Lack of Conquest!

1 Jn 2:1-2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone

sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours

only but also for the whole world.▪This is where it really get exciting!

Conviction, cleansing involve me, this one solely involves God!

We are to do our best and believe God will do the rest!

▪A loving Father is never disappointed in His children when they do their best, but yet He still always wants to help them do better!▪Mt 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know

how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Conclusion:

▪When we become a Christian, we enter the sonship of God, and then as we walk with Him we enjoy the fellowship of God!▪John wants us to understand what is

needed to maintain this fellowship!▪Have you enter the sonship of God?

Are you walking in fellowship with God?