Fellowship

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Fellowship with the Father

["Click here for I John 2:1-29"]

Notice he realizes, as Paul did, the spiritual growth of these people left something to be desired. He calls them "My little children." Paul called them "Babes in Christ". This level of spiritual growth required tack, elementary instructions and patience.

First of all, keep in good fellowship with the Father. Remember, if you sin, you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus will take our case before the Father for He is the one who purchased forgiveness for us and not just for our sins but for the sins of the world.

Secondly, keep God's commandments. By doing this we may know and others may know that we know Him. John says that if we say we know Christ and do not keep His commandments, we are liars. So the second evidence of our fellowship with the Father is keeping His commandments.

Notice some of the evidences that John says will be there if we claim to fellowship with the Father:

1. We will walk in the way Jesus walked. Church attendance, giving of our tithe, praying regularly, a concern about the lost, a concern for the sick, a concern for the hungry and those who greave. These are just a few of the Christ like characteristics that should show if we are fellowshipping with the Father.
2. Love will be evident in all of our lives. Hate is the tool of the Devil. John says that when we hate our brother, we will stumble because we are walking in darkness and are blind.
3. A disregard for the things of this world. We will strive to refrain from the "lust of the flesh" and the "pride of life". These are the two things that John specifically calls out. Verse 15, "If anyone loves the world, love for God is not in him." The rich young ruler asked Jesus, "Master, what must I do to be saved?" Jesus replied, "Sell what you have, give it to the poor and come and follow me." The rich young ruler went away sorrowing, for he had many possessions.
4. Does the will of God. He who fellowships with God, does the will of God and he who does the will of God abides forever.

John says these are four evidences that will show if we fellowship with the Father, a Christian walk, love, a disregard for the things of this world and being obedient to the Father.

"Children, it is the last hour and as you have heard, the Anti-christ has come." Notice how John knew of this. First of all, they has come into the church to whom John was writing, they were the Gnostics, the doubters, the scoffers. They apparently had been asked to leave the church and they did. He describes them further as liars because they denied that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. He who denies the Son, denies the Father.

John says, "I am writing you this that you may not be deceived by these people." "You now have the truth, you do not need anyone to teach you because you have the anointing of the Holy Spirit." "So abide in Him so that at the Second Coming, you may not shrink from Him in Shame." (Gen. 3:8) Have you ever thought what it will be like to face Jesus when we die? Will we be ashamed or will we be confident? John has obviously thought about it and he believed that only by living the best you can, can you escape some feelings of shame at His Second Coming.

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