1 John 1:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
A
letter to the family of God
1. Warm, loving, and devotional
2. Deals with sin in the lives of believers
3. Shows the inconsistency of being loved and not loving
John’s goals as He begins
his letter
I.
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND HIS FAMILY (vv. 1-3)
A. John and beginnings
1. “In the beginning
was the Word” (John 1:1)
2. “That which was from the beginning” (v. 1)
B. John was an eyewitness
1. “We have heard”
2. “We have seen”
3. “We have looked upon”
4. “Our hands have handled”
C. This eyewitness now gives his testimony
D. Fellowship with God and His family (v. 3)
1. Fellowship with God is the purpose of life
2. Fellowship with believers deepens our walk with God
3. “So glad I’m a part of the family of God”
II.
FULLNESS OF JOY
(v. 4)
A. The human desire for happiness
1. Happiness depends on the happenings of life
2. Joy is better
3. Joy is a spring within, whatever happens
B. Believers are to have the joy of the Lord
1. This is God’s will for us (John 15:11)
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
2. Do you have the joy of the Lord?
C. Hindrances to fullness of joy
1. Lack of full dedication (John 15:7)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
2. Lack of fruitfulness (John 15:8)
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
3. Lack of love for others (John 15:12-17)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
III.
FORGIVENESS OF SINS (vv. 5-10)
A. Contrasting light and darkness (vv. 5-7)
B. The goal is to walk in the light (v. 7)
C. All fall short of that goal (v. 8)
D. When we fail, forgiveness is available
1. “If we confess our sins” (v. 9)
2. “He is faithful and just to forgive” (v. 9)
E. Confession and cleansing are to be our daily
experience.
CONCLUSION:
Fellowship, Joy, and
Forgiveness, all ours in Christ
Let us love the One who
first love us.
Let us also love His family