Can God Really Do That?

 

Can God Really Do That?

ROMANS 9:1-5 (Vs 14)

SUBJECT: ROMANS/ ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: the foundation of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon his nature and character; therefore, we can breathe easier without any probability of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

INTRODUCTION:

If God is fair in his dealings with Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him.  However, if he was unfair in his dealings with the nation of Israel, then how can we as Gentile Christians even begin to rest in him for our own eternal destiny?

There are several questions I hope to answer from this passage and this chapter in Romans:

1) Is salvation based on our good works or is it based on the calling and compassion of God?     

2) What does it mean when the God of love says he loved Jacob but hated Esau?

3) How can we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human responsibility?    

4) Have the promises of God failed Israel? Will they fail us also?   

5) After looking at his record, can God still be trusted today?

RELEVANCE: Basically, God exercises the prerogatives of a sovereign God and man functions within the orbit of God’s will as a free moral agent. In both instances neither violates the opportunities and choices of the other. It is this understanding that sets the stage as we come into Romans chapter nine.

MESSAGE:

I.    A Sincere Desire to See the Nation of Israel Saved. Vs 1-4. Paul’ s burdened for the salvation of his kinsman, the nation of Israel.    

Rom 9:1, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

II. Yet, The Nation of Israel Is Not Saved. Vs 4-5.

Paul recounts the privileges of Israel, but still they are not saved nationally.  

Rom 9:4-5, Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; [5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

    A.  THE DIVINE FAVOR, GOD’S GRACE, ON THE NATION OF ISRAEL

This section places great emphasis on divine sovereignty and human responsibility.  Romans 9 deals primarily with His Sovereignty and Chapter 10 will balance things out concerning Human responsibility. Notice that God extended his sovereignty to grant Israel’s opportunities rooted in his grace.

            1.   They Were Privileged with Divine Adoption     Vs 4, ...  to whom pertaineth the adoption.... Adoption has to do with the placing of a son and God had adopted the nation of Israel to be His son.  He was a father to Israel.

Exod 4:22-23, And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: [23] And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Jer 31:9, They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.   (Hos. 11:1; Deut. 14:1)

APPLICATION: What a Privilege is Ours to be the very Sons of God, Adopted into His family and made Joint Heir with Jesus Christ! Romans 8:15-17, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Eph. 1:4, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

1 John 3:1-2, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

           2.  They Were Privileged with Divine Accompaniment   Vs 4, ...and the glory

The Glory Cloud or Shekinah Glory that visible luminous appearance of God's presence. It was a symbol of God presence, guidance, and protection of His earthly people Israel.  What a privilege to have God’s Leadership as a Nation!

                A)  It led them across the wilderness (Exod. 13:21-22; Num. 9:17-22).

                B)  It protected them at the Red Sea (Exod. 14:19-20,24).

                C)  It filled the tabernacle during Moses' dedication (Exod. 40:34-38).

                D)  It filled the temple during Solomon's dedication (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron.

5:13-14).

                E)  It was removed during Ezekiel's time (Ezek. 10).

APPLICATION: What Great Privilege is Ours to Have the Glory of God in Us; to be indwelt by the Holy Ghost.  We have Power for living in the Filling of the Spirit, Guidance in life, and the very Presence of God With us always. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

          3.  They Were Privileged with the Divine Agreements Vs 4, ...and the covenants

                A) The Abrahamic Covenant-Promising a Mighty Nation (Gen. 12:2-3,7;13:14-17; 15:5, 18; 17:8).

                B) The Palestinian Covenant-Promising the land from Egypt to the Euphrates   Gen. 15:18; Deut. 30:3

                C) The Davidic Covenant-Promising an Eternal Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12-16; 23:5;2 Chron. 13:5).

                D) The New Covenant-Promising New Hearts (Jer. 31:31-34).

APPLICATION: As New Testament (New Covenant) Saints We Will share in all the Blessed Promises with the saved Nation of Israel at the time of their National Redemption. Hebrews 9:14-15, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Christ offered His own blood as the sacrifice for our sins, He is the mediator of a new covenant (see Heb. 8:6). He focuses on God's promise of forgiveness of sins under the new covenant. Christ is not an abandonment of these Jewish roots. Instead, he is a fulfillment of that heritage. 

           4.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Articles Vs 4, ...   and the giving of the law

Israel alone were the recipients of the Holy Law of God (Deut. 5:1–22).

It was to Israel that the law was given. They and they alone were its recipients.^[1]

It was to them that the ceremonial and judicial law were given, and the moral law in writing pertained to them. It is a great privilege to have the law of God among us,^[2]

APPLICATION: We today have the entire preserved Word of God. We have the privilege of the great example of Believers from the past to inspire us to live for God.  We have the privilege of knowing what God thinks is important, and what God values.  We can know exactly what to do to please God from the Bible. Also, I always use a KJV Bible, and I hardily recommend that you secure one if you belong to the English-speaking world.  Every scrap of solid evidence, and genuine Christian History points to the KJV Bible as God’s preserved Word in English.

           5.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Administration Vs 4, ... and the service of God. They performed services for God (ministering in both tabernacle, temple, and the priesthood).

This had to do with the worship of the tabernacle and temple. They were to be a kingdom of priests. “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exod. 19:6). The nation failed God, but God did not give up His purpose that they should be priests. God took the tribe of Levi and gave them the responsibility of serving and caring for the tabernacle and, later, the temple. In the future, in the millennial kingdom, the nation of Israel will once again be God’s priests upon the earth.^[3]

APPLICATION: it is still a privilege to serve God in the local church, through the in-resident local assembly today. To worship God, teach, be a member of, send the gospel to the world, to assemble, disciple, to encourage each other, to hear the Word preached/explained, and to pray and call upon God in the church body is what we are to do. The great properties of belonging, fellowship, and purpose that people look for in other organizations can be found in a proper church body in most cases. What great privileges we take for granted as members of a church of our Lord Jesus Christ! What pleasures we take for granted by being a part of Christ’s functional body on earth. How honored we are to be a part of our Lord’s sweet precious bride, the church!

1 Cor 12:26-28, And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (See Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 14-20; Eph. 1:23; 4:12; 5:23; 5:30; Col. 1:18 & 24)

           6.  They Were Privileged with The Divine Affirmations Vs 4, ... and the promises….

In addition to the covenants mentioned above, God made innumerable promises to Israel of protection, peace, and prosperity.^[4]

APPLICATION: We who are saved have the promises of an eternal inheritance; eternal life, eternal home, and eternal glory. Heb 9:15, And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

“The promise of the eternal inheritance” takes us back to the inheritance that God promised to Abraham, where we become heirs through having the same faith as Abraham. It includes justification by faith, being part of a spiritual nation, a new immortal body, and eternal life. (See Gal. 3:15-18, 29; Rom. 8:15-17; 1 Cor. 15:50-58)

           7.  They Were Privileged with Their Human Ancestry    Vs 5, ...Whose are the fathers, ... (See Matt. 1:1-16). This is the Jewish heritage and family line.

The Jewish people rightfully claim the patriarchs as their own—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob. These were the forefathers of the nation.^[5]

Later in New Testament times we as Christians can point to Matthew, Paul, Peter, John etc.

APPLICATION 1: If you have parents that brought you up in church and on the Bible, then you should make a point of frequently thanking them for their faithfulness to the Lord. They have given you one of the most valuable gifts, a spiritual family heritage in Christ. We should appreciate them for not quitting on us, not resorting to other philosophies, and not allowing themselves to get out of church and backslidden. You have a steadfast heritage because of their faith. This is a wonderful gift!

APPLICATION 2: Perhaps you don’t have the family history I just described. In fact, you experienced quite the opposite! Though you have the pain and scares from the past, it still all can begin with you. You can be the “Abraham” in your family lineage.  The one who believes God and separates from the old trends and ways of the family looking to the promises and provisions of God as you journey to the land of promise! You can be the “David” in your home who leads your family to victory after victory through the many battles of life. The one who leads your family to having a heart for God. By the grace of God, it can begin with you regardless of the challenges and unfavorable circumstances! Relinquish the grip of victimhood and embrace the hope of responsibility under God’s economy!

APPLICATION 3: We too have the privilege of a great spiritual ancestry in the servants of God of yesteryear.  In people like D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, George Whitfield, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliotte, Corrie Ten Boom, C. T. Studd, John R. Rice, Amy Carmichael, W. W. Wiersbe, and many others.  These men and ladies trusted God, believed God to work in their lives and He did.  My how this should create a hunger and thirst in our souls to see revival come to our hearts, to our churches, and to our nations. It happened with these men and women, why can’t it happen with us!

           8.  They Were Privileged with The Highest Aim      Vs 5, . . .and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

They are the nation that God chose to bring our Savior into the World, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Messiah Himself.  How would you like to be the people from which the Sovereign of the Universe was born, the eternally blessed God of Heaven.  It is through the Messiah that all of the promises and privileges afforded Israel will realize their ultimate fulfilment and consummation!

APPLICATION:  Divine Favor is not enough to make salvation complete.  God did all that He did with Israel because of a Sovereign Choice, but that alone didn’t save them.  In fact, great privilege means great responsibility. Thus, we learn that even when God acts Sovereignly in our lives, we are still accountable and held responsible for our actions. We are still liable for our failures.

Basically, God implements the choices of a sovereign God and humanity acts within the path of God’s will as a free moral agent. In neither case do the parties violate the opportunities and options of the other. It is this dynamic that Romans chapter nine seeks to highlight.

     B.  THE DOWNFALL OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL INSPITE OF GOD’S GRACE

Rom 9:31-33, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

          1.  Their Works and Self Righteousness Was One Reason for Their Downfall

Rom 9:32, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.

          2.  Their Willful Rejection of the Savior Was Another Reason for Their Downfall

Rom. 9:32, For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

APPLICATION 1: The primary focus of this entire chapter is the Sovereignty of God, but from the very start of the chapter we see strong testimony here to the responsibility of man in the matter of salvation.  It is difficult to reconcile these two doctrines, however, both are clearly taught here and will be in the next chapter.  God may give us today great privileges, blessings and benefits, but in the end it all boils down to whether or not we have trusted Him in a saving capacity or have we rejected His grace for our own works and self-righteousness.

APPLICATION 2: As Christians we can fail in our responsibilities to trust and serve God. God in His sovereignty has blessed us richly as Americans, but are we taking advantage of the privileges He has afforded us to trust Him to work in our lives and through our lives individually and institutionally?  With great privilege comes great responsibility and we as Christians have a wealthy heritage, the power of God, and the blessings of God. Are we executing his will with gratitude? God is not about to change because he is absolutely faithful; it seems the ball is in our court now.

CONCLUSION:

God’s past dealings with the nation of Israel are based on two things, His grace and government.  His grace refers to his character and nature. His dealings with them in grace involved the privileges of being Israelites, the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, promises, the service in the tabernacle, and the fathers. The most important blessing is Christ, the Messiah.  God’s governmental dealings with Israel involved His wisdom, will, and Word.  God was governed by fixed principles and not capricious whims.

The basis of God’s entire economy of redemption rest upon the foundation of his nature and character, therefore we can be assured without any possibility of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

Furthermore, the Scriptures say that we all are sinners. Unless God, pure and righteous, take our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The Apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–18: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.   

Jesus’ death on the cross for us never needs to be repeated, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement (Romans 5:20-21; 6:10-11). Yes, Christ died for us. Jesus came so that you and I might transfer our guilt to Him, and accept, by faith, that He is the guiltless One who has received our sin and taken it to Himself.

So, in this light, the only thing you need to do to receive salvation is to literally receive God’s forgiveness. And when you do, you truly have made a choice for life. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus or be forgiven for any reason though. We must believe the Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him up again from among the remaining dead people the third day for our justification before The Father (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom 3:21-31). I need you to understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us…that grant us eternal life through Christ (Rom. 1:14-17). Again, receive God’s salvation even now. You can experience God’s spiritual new birth right now!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2216.

^[3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 4 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 711.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

^[5] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1716.

God's Provisions For Growth

 2 Peter 1:1-4

Subject: Spiritual Growth 

Theme: acknowledge God’s provisions in order to stimulate and pursue real spiritual growth.

Introduction:

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1–4)

Building a life that reminds God of His darling Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is no small undertaking. If our estimation of the Lord Jesus is anything near the Bible’s presentation of Him then you understand this is a monumental task! Assuming the responsibility of genuine spiritual development is our obligation, but we must make use of God’s supplies for the task. Well, what has our Heavenly Father given us? Peter, the Lord’s apostle, wrote to inform us that everything we need has been supplied! Our job is to make use of these provisions to build lives that mirror our Lord’s.

Yes, in Christianity, we have what we need for spiritual progress…all of what is needed. Peter demonstrates that being firmly established and abounding in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, involves:

·        Diligence in our personal spiritual growth (2 Pet. 1:1–11; Jude 20, 21)

·        Faithfulness to the apostles testimony concerning the Lord Jesus (2 Pet. 1:12–18)

·        Adherence to Scripture as the Word of God (2 Pet. 1:19–21)

This study will focus on what God has given us to grow. His provisions to us are essential to our spiritual journey! In order to stimulate spiritual growth, acknowledge God’s provisions (2Pet. 1:1-4).

Message:

I. God Provided a Preacher (2 Pet. 1:1)

Notice Who was Writing. “Simon Peter” introduces himself: As “a servant” (bondslave, Matt. 23:11) “and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (see Rom. 1:1; Titus 1:1). Immediately we are struck by his simplicity and humility. Near the close of his life, at the zenith of his apostolic authority, he was Christ’s slave first, and His apostle, one sent with a commission, second.  He was a bondslave by choice; an “apostle” by divine appointment. He uses no pompous titles or symbols of status. He has only a grateful acknowledgment of his obligation to serve the risen Savior.

Notice Why He was Writing. He is both a concerned pastor and a champion of sound theology. His purpose was to call Christians to spiritual growth (chapt. 1) so that they can combat apostasy (chapt. 2) as they look forward to the Lord’s return (chapt. 3). He passionately pleads for Christians to mature and guard against false teachers; he was driven by the fact that His time was short (1:13-15) and that these congregations faced immediate danger (2:1-3).

Notice to Whom He was Writing. “them that have obtained like precious faith”. The recipients of this letter are the same as those who received Peter’s first letter (2Pet. 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:1).  It is also written to you and me for our edification! These believers had “obtained,” “received,” or “attained by divine will” their salvation. Peter emphasized how salvation was not attained by personal effort, skill, or worthiness, but came purely from God’s grace. The original churches to whom this Letter was written had obtained the same precious faith as Peter and his colleagues. Have you also received God’s salvation gift in Christ? (Rom. 6:23; John 6:16)

II. God Provided a Process; Notice What We Have (2 Pet. 1:1-4)

The Process Starts with Salvation: We have a precious faith (1:1)

It is the Same Faith. The phrase “like precious” generally was used to designate equal rank, position, honor, standing, price, or value. Peter was emphasizing that Christians have all received the same precious, priceless saving faith. There are no first and second class Christians in spiritual, racial, or gender distinctions (Gal. 3:28). Since Peter was writing to mostly Gentiles, he was emphasizing that they have received the same faith as the Jews (Acts 10:44–48; 11:17, 18). Like precious faith: These Gentile believers had received the same kind of faith as believing Jews, a faith that was in no way deficient. All who are saved by the grace of God enjoy equal acceptance before Him, whether they are Jews or Gentiles, male or female, slave or free. The faith given them by God was of equal honor or privilege with that of the apostles’ faith. Here Peter foreshadowed his purpose by stressing that the faith of the apostles was no different from the faith of any believer. Anyone who has faith in Jesus has the same access to God as any other believer.

It is Saving Faith. This is because it involves God’s initiatives.  Peter is speaking of a subjective faith, i.e., the Christian’s power to believe for his salvation. Faith is the capacity to believe (Eph. 2:8, 9). Even though faith and belief express the human side of salvation, God still must awaken that faith. God initiates salvation when the Holy Spirit awakens our soul in response to hearing the Word of God (Acts 11:21; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:2). Further it is because it involves God’s righteousness. “Through the righteousness” tells how believers share the equal gift of salvation because God’s righteousness is imputed to us. This righteousness recognizes no distinction between people except that the sins of some are more heinous than others. So, not only do we have salvation because God gives it to us, we are saved only because God imputes righteousness to us (see Rom. 3:26; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8, 9). It was obtained when we were given the gift of righteousness (justification). The righteousness believers are given is the righteousness of Christ Himself.

It is the Same Savior. Yes, Peter is identifying Jesus Christ as both Savior and God. “God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Is. 43:3,11; 45:15,21; 60:16; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8). This title of Jesus reflects Peter’s great confession in John 6:69: “Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” The title our God and Savior Jesus Christ is one of many in the NT which indicate the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus. If He is not God, then these words have no meaning.

The Process Continues with Strength: We have grace and peace (1:2)

This blessing of grace and peace is more than a mere formula of greeting. These virtues come through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. The apostle’s lofty prayer for these believers is that grace and peace might be multiplied to them through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Knowledge (1:2) is a strengthened form of “knowledge” implying a larger, more thorough, and intimate knowledge. The Christian’s precious faith is built on knowing the truth about God (1:3). Christianity is not a mystical religion, but is based in objective, historical, revealed, rational truth from God and intended to be understood and believed. The deeper and wider that knowledge of the Lord, the more “grace and peace” are multiplied in the believers life. God wants us to have this knowledge by His sustaining, empowering grace in our everyday lives (2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 40:29-31). He wants our hearts to be guarded by the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7; Rom. 15:13). But this is not to be given in small doses! He desires these blessings to be multiplied in volume, not added in small segments.

How can these blessings be multiplied? It is in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Again the better we know God, the more we experience grace and peace. We do better by dwelling in the secret place of the Most High than by making occasional visits there. Those who live in the sanctuary rather than in the suburbs find the  secret of God’s grace and peace. (MacDonald)

I urge you to take advantage of the “full knowledge” available to us through Christ Jesus. In this way we can grow in spiritual strength to combat false teachers who claim to have special knowledge but who openly practiced immorality.

The Process Continues with Sanctification: We have everything necessary (1:3)       
The Source of the Process; “His divine power” refers to Jesus Christ (1:3). Christ’s power is the source of the believer’s sufficiency and perseverance (Matt. 24:30; Mark 5:30; Luke 4:14; 5:17; Rom. 1:4; 2 Cor. 12:9). The genuine Christian is eternally secure in his salvation and can persevere and grow because he has received everything necessary to sustain eternal life through Christ’s power. We are assured that Christ has made full provision for us to have a life of holiness. Christ’s divine power has provided everything believers need for life and godliness as an evidence of His power.

The Significance of the Process.  We, every Christian, should have (1:3) immense interest in spiritual maturity because it will keep us from falling in this life and assure us of a triumphal entry into the next (2 Pet. 1:10, 11; Jude 24; Heb. 12:15).

The Substance of the Process. “All things that pertain unto life and godliness”; Peter clearly states that God has given us every resource and empowerment necessary to live this kind of life. Notice the words “hath given” (1Pet. 1:3). The genuine believer ought not to ask God for something more to become godly (as if something necessary to sustain his growth, strength, and perseverance was missing). Because we already have every spiritual resource to manifest, sustain, and mature in godly living. Every believer is a divine repository of spiritual affluence! Yes, you are rich in spiritual assets.

The all things that pertain unto life and godliness include the high priestly work of Christ (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:24-25), the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 3:17-18), the activity of angelic agencies on our behalf (Heb. 1:13-14), the new life we receive at conversion (1Jn. 5:10-13), and the instruction of the Word of God (2Tim. 3:14-17). Just like a healthy, newborn baby has all of its parts and everything it needs for a full life at the time of its birth, Christians are given the “god-life in miniature” at our spiritual birth. Every new Christian is given a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3), a new nature (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), the “seed” of the life of God which is opposed to sin (1 John 3:9), and spiritual eyesight to see the things of the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Life and godliness (1:3) refers to “the godly life.” It denotes a reverent and worshipful lifestyle which is fully sensitive to God’s will and obedient to His moral standards.  Living to please God as opposed to yourself or mere people is the focus here.

The Supply Line (Channel) of the Process. All that believers need for spiritual vitality (life) and godly living (2Pet. 1:6; 3:11) is attainable through the knowledge of Christ. Just as His divine power is the source of holiness, so the knowledge of Him is the channel of holiness. To know Him is eternal life (John 17:3) and progress in knowing Him is progress in holiness (Jn. 15:1-8). The better we get to know Him, the more we become like Him. An intimate “full knowledge” of Christ is the supply line of spiritual power and growth (see Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2:2-3). Thus salvation must precede growth; we must know Him before we can grow in Him! It really is WHO you know that matters for salvation; then WHO you know WELL for sanctification! The knowledge of Christ emphasized here is not a superficial knowledge, or a mere surface awareness of the facts about Christ, but a genuine, personal sharing of life with Christ, based on repentance from sin and personal faith in Him (Matt. 7:21).

If we know Christ Jesus more fully, we can know more of His sufficient power and grace in our experience.  If we do not believe He is enough for every challenge, and that we have real access to His sufficiency, we are vulnerable to being led astray—away from Christ and away from the maturity to which Christ calls us (Col. 2:8-10). But, if we have a deepening understanding of Christ and all He has provided for us and all that He makes available to us, we have a solid foundation on which to grow in every area of our lives. A foundation established on the eternal principles of God’s Word must be our focus to have a meaningful, satisfying, Christ-centered, and victorious life.

The Process Continues with Scripture: We have precious promises (1:4)

A Baby Needs Food to Grow.  A baby will not grow automatically even though every life process is in place for it to do so. A new baby needs to have its new life nurtured. It must receive love. It must be kept clean. It must be fed, and fed, and fed! If this nurturing does not take place properly, at best, the child will be stunted and weak. In the worst case scenario, it will grow weak and die.

Spiritual Growth is Not Automatic Either.  In the same way, as Christians we do not automatically grow just because we are alive. We Christians must also nurture the perfect and wonderful new spiritual life. Not only has God provided the new life and power, like a good parent; He also has given the food and the love-nurture needed for our growth! His Word cleanses, heals, and grows the spiritual life of His children. His Spirit in us and His presence in the church provide the environment of fellowship and love which fosters optimum growth (John 14:16–18; Acts 2:38–42).  Casual association with just any congregation will only hinder growth—commit to a solid Bible-believing New Testament Church who is obedient to Christ’s Great Commission!

The Bible Is No Ordinary Book!  The next time you are in a bookstore, wander over to the self-help section. Browse through the titles, and you will be amazed at the large number of books offering guidance for living a better life. Do you need a crash course in how to be more productive? There is a book a two for that. Need to learn how to cope with daily stresses? There are multiple books for this as well. Or, maybe you would like to know how you can improve your family relationships. You will probably find an entire section devoted to that subject (Wiersbe, MacDonald & MacArthur)! Yet, despite all these guides for improving certain aspects of life, only one book gives us guidance for every aspect of our lives—the Bible. God knew that we would require help getting along in this crazy and sometimes frustrating world. That is why He moved men to record His inspired principles, advice, and directives in the Bible. This is why He has guarded and preserved His Word through the centuries.

While skeptics attempt to lump the Bible alongside other religious books, a brief overview of the Bible quickly reveals its uniqueness. The Bible was written over a period of sixteen hundred years, by forty authors from various walks of life, and in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic). Although the majority of the Bible’s writers never met, they present a unified picture of God, a central message of Jesus Christ as God coming to earth as man, and they address some of the most controversial topics of their time (and ours!) without contradicting one another (Wiersbe, MacDonald, & MacArthur). Amazing? It certainly is. God has given us this special book to communicate His personal message in a way we can easily understand. In the pages of the Bible you will discover who God is, how you can get to know Him personally, and how you will benefit from living your life according to His wonderful principles.

God’s Word is the Standard of Truth.  The Bible also provides an objective, trustworthy standard of truth—not society’s perception of truth, but God's absolute truth. In a world that can't make up its mind about right and wrong, the Bible stands as a perfect measuring stick against which every thought, word, and deed can be evaluated.

God’s Promises will Help Us Grow.  Thus, included among the “all things” (1:4) which God’s power has given to promote a life of holiness are His exceeding great and precious promises in the Word. It is estimated that there are at least 30,000 promises in the Bible. John Bunyan once said, “The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take one step without treading upon one of them.” Think of some of the promises that relate to the life of holiness. (1) Freedom from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:14). (2) Grace that is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). (3) Power to obey His commands (Phil. 4:13). (4) Victory over the devil (Jas. 4:7). (5) Escape when tempted (1 Cor. 10:13). (6) Forgiveness when we confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:9)—and forgetfulness too (Jer. 31:34). (7) Response when we call (Ps. 50:15) (MacDonald). The Bible states that all promises given to us are “Yea” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), for He invites us to participate in His life and all the benefits and blessings which flow from it. What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 promise as we come to know Him more intimately?

Like building a new house requires definite consideration of what can be done with the available funds, we Christians must build our lives fully cognizant of what we have in Christ Jesus. Be assured our heavenly Father has richly provided everything we need to become truly godly individuals. The materials with which we build are spiritual and significant; therefore, we should build with confidence in God’s supply and provisions. As in building a house it matter what materials we use! (MacDonald & Wiersbe) 

As genuine Christians, we cannot afford ignorance of God's supplies for spiritual development. In order to live with spiritual integrity from day to day, we must put to use God resources. Peter warns that it is dangerous to build our lives rather haphazardly. He shows that being firmly established and abounding in the knowledge of Jesus Christ is essential. 

Jesus: The JOY of Fellowship

1 John 1:1-4

SUBJECT:  FELLOWSHIP/ INTIMACY

THEME: John gives an absolutely sure testimony of the Reality of Jesus Christ the Son of God.   Then He invites us to join him in fellowship with the Living Word.  Our fellowship with Him today should be as real as it was for the Apostle John 2000 years ago.

INTRODUCTION: Is Jesus Christ really who he said he is? Some have said He was, “a good man . . . yes . . . perhaps one of the best who ever lived . . . but just a man.”  Others disagree claiming that he suffered from delusions of grandeur-----a “messiah complex.”  And the argument continues to rage over Jesus’ true identity.   Whoever he was, they all agree that Jesus left his mark on history(Wierse).

  Hearing these discussions could cause even Christians to wonder and doubt.  Is Jesus really God?  Did he come to save sinners like us?  Was His death of any Atoning value?  What, if anything, does He expect of me?

1.  The Question of Jesus’ Identity Was a Topic of Discussion Even in Our Lord’s Day.   

Matt 16:13-16, When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.   15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?   16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

2.  The Questions of Knowing Jesus Today. The appropriate Questions today are, “Who do you say Jesus is” and “Do you know him with an intimate knowledge?”  “Is he as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?”

      A.  John Claimed That He Was Currently Enjoying Intimate Fellowship With Christ Even After Our Lord’s Ascension. 1 Jn 1:3,   That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

There is nothing like the testimony of an Eye Witness.  There is nothing more valuable to a court case then an Eyewitness.  A conviction is almost certain in such cases.

John the Beloved here is an Eye Witness of the Person and Ministry of Jesus Christ. John is a Witness to the personal benefits of fellowship with Christ.  John was perhaps the closest disciple of Jesus Christ and his testimony is of Great Significance, value, and interest to us as believers today.

Is he as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?  Are you enjoying fellowship with the Son of God?  Do we really understand the implications of the truth?

       B.  The Apostle Paul’s Life Was a Glorious Quest Of Acquiring the Treasured Knowledge of and Enjoying Precious Fellowship With Jesus Christ.  Phil 3:10, That I may know (complete knowledge) him, and the power of his resurrection, (Experiencing Christ) and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 Do we really know him?  Will we ever move beyond knowing about him in our orthodox doctrine to actually knowing him intimately and experientially? Today we know the faith, the fundamentals, but do we know our lord?

1.  This is the reason why we do not know the will of God for our lives and ministries, but when we engage in fellowship with our Lord He will share this insight with us.

2.  This is the reason why we walk in fear, defeat, sin, turmoil, anxiety, powerlessness, insecurity, purposelessness, and confusion!  We have no Peace, No Joy, No Faith, No Sense of Security, No Direction, No Confidence, and No Love because we do not KNOW HIM. When Jesus becomes a reality to us these problems I have mentioned will soon be dwarfed by His Presence, Power, and Splendor!

ILLUSTRATION: Acts 4:13, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  So it is with all who have actually been with Jesus!  We desperately MUST see our gross NEED to get back to Him!  These men knew God’s purpose for their lives because they were intimate with Him!

MESSAGE:

I.  THE FOUNDATION OF FELLOWSHIP.  (VS 1-2)

Jesus Christ Is the Foundation of Our Fellowship with God!   By Foundation, I mean that Christ is absolutely essential and central to our sharing together with God and our knowledge of God.  Without Him real Fellowship with God is impossible!

        A.   THE GLORIOUS FACT: JESUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED; HE IS THE ETERNAL GOD OF HEAVEN.  Vs. 1, “That which was from the beginning”

John 1:1-2, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2, The same was in the beginning with God.

Rev 1:8, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  (Also 1Tim 3:16)

Fellowship with God is only possible because God made it possible, this evidences His grace and His desire for our fellowship.

ILLUSTRATION: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  God created man for fellowship.  This is the principal reason for our creation!

        B.    THE GLORIOUS PROOF:   JESUS CHRIST IS GOD INCARNATED; JOHN HEARD, SAW, LOOKED UPON, AND HANDLED HIM—HE IS REAL!  Vs 1,  “. . .which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled”

John 1:14,   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

               1)   John Heard Him Who is Life.  He Spoke, Preached, Comforted ect.

               2)   John Saw Him Who is Life.

               3)  John Looked Upon Him Who is Life. ‘Looked upon’ means to study and gaze to grasp the meaning and significance of Christ.

               4)  John Handled Him Who is Life. ‘Handled’ means to hold something for the purpose of close examination.

John made a complete and thorough investigation of the Person of Christ and concluded that this is indeed the Word of Life.  John used every physical and intellectual examination tool at his disposal to look deeply into the person of Jesus Christ and after his careful and penetrating exploration, he not only knew Christ intimately but he was powerfully motivated to share Him with others. He wanted others to fellowship with Christ as He did; he yearned for others to know Jesus as he did.

APPLICATION: Have we really put the time and energy into knowing Christ intimately on a daily basis? Could it be that we don’t trust Him because we don’t know Him?  Have we merely adopted conclusions and views of Him that someone else shared with us or do we really know Him for ourselves? He can be as Real to us as He was to John!

                

APPLICATION: The clear fact of it all is that Jesus Christ is God!  This is the final analysis of John’s complete investigation.  Therefore, John’s testimony of Christ is reliable. He was an Eye Witness; He had Personally Experienced Him.  We cannot know God until we know Jesus Christ and as we learn of Him we simultaneously learn of God!  Through Christ God is not some far off unconcerned being.  God can no longer be perceived as unapproachable, distant and uncaring.  He has not forgotten us and left us in our sin.  God loves and cares for us and He has proven His love by sending His precious Son into the world. This was very evident to John! Now therefore we who are saved must endeavor to know that same Christ intimately and as we do we will discover the meaning and purpose of our Christian life-INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. As a result we will discover our mission to this lost and dying world!

      C.  THE GLORIOUS REVELATION: JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD OF LIFE   VS 1-2      Vs 1,  “. . . of the Word of  life;”

John 14:6,   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:4,   In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jesus Christ made it absolutely clear who God is and what He is like.  The Person of Jesus Christ is the literal living communication of God to man unveiling Himself to the human race.   Jesus is to God what our words are to each other.  Therefore, He is called the Word of Life.  Just think, . . . how  would you reveal yourself  if  you  were God?   Jesus Christ is the Way that God Chose to express Himself to mankind.  Christ revealed to us the Person, Mind, and Heart of God; he is the living communication between God and men.  To know Jesus Christ is to know God!  Do You Know Him?  Are You Saved? He Is Absolutely Essential And Foundational To Our Fellowship!

                  1) He ‘Manifested’ Himself; He was Revealed or Appeared!  The Eternal Invisible God was now manifested in the flesh.  Again John Knew Him Who is Real Life. Vs 2,   “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”  INCARNATION (1 Tim. 3:16)

                  2) He Identified With Man, He Gave Us The Opportunity to Know Real Life through Himself.  Jesus Christ is The Foundation of our Fellowship with God and if we know Him then we Know God.  We can enhance our fellowship with God and each other by completely embracing the Revelation of  God in Jesus Christ.

ILLUSTRATION: THE NEW HYDRAULIC TEST STANDS AT WHITEMAN AFB

When the Test Stands first arrived at the shop no one knew anything about them.  I had the opportunity to work on them, learn them, study their systems and subsystems, disassemble and reassemble them.  By time I was done working on those stands I knew them well enough to operate them with my eyes closed. I could even tell you what stage in its operation cycle it was at just by listening to it run.  I knew that piece of equipment because I carefully investigated it and spent much time learning it. 

We would know our God more intimately if we took the time to study the person of Jesus Christ.  Like John, we would conclude that He is REAL!  But not only that, I was excited about teaching and training others on that piece of equipment!

ILLUSTRATION: It is the same as reading a love note from your spouse.  You may read it several times wondering exactly what she or he really means by each phrase.  We need to be reading the Word of Life (Jesus Christ) so carefully that we literally comprehend some things about our God.

II. THE FULFILMENT OF FELLOWSHIP.  (VS 3-4)

Fellowship with God Will Bring Fulfillment and Joy.  I Jn 1:3-4, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Many are leading very empty, meaningless and unfulfilled lives because they fail to live in fellowship with God. We must all ask ourselves a question, “What value will my life have 500 years from now?”   The emptiness or void in our lives should be filled with PURPOSE & JOY; Real Joy is a product of living in fellowship or communion with God.  This should wet our spiritual appetite for fellowship like a T-bone Steak would our physical appetite!

          A.  THE MOST GLORIOUS PURPOSE IN LIFE: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

This is the purpose that Christ came into this world and the purpose for which John is writing to these Believers—Fellowship!  John is inviting us to enjoy and share in the deep sense of satisfaction and purpose that knowing Christ and walking with Him brings.

                    1.  FELLOWSHIP IS SHARING YOUR LIFE WITH GOD: "communion, sharing in common, to share together"; “to have in common”

BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATIONS:  1) There is the Fellowship or Communion of the Lord’s Table, (1 Cor. 10:16, 20-21). 2) There is the Fellowship, Contribution, or Sharing in the Offering for the Saints in Jerusalem, (2 Cor. 8:4; Rom. 15:26). 3) There is the Financial and Prayer Fellowship or Sharing in the Gospel in Missions Endeavors, (Phil. 1:5). 4) Then there is Fellowship or Communion with God, (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Jn. 1:3, 6 & 7). Throughout this book fellowship refers to Sharing in Personal Knowledge of God and a heartfelt Obedience to God through Jesus Christ.

EXAMPLE; A set of Identical Twins would have much in common in their appearance. A Man will marry a Woman if they both have much in common, spiritually, intellectually, socially, and culturally. Two Young Boys will get along well and develop a deep bond if they both like fishing, hiking, camping, sports, card collecting, playing marbles, and video games—they have much in common. Their communion would be a real source of joy and fulfillment. Our lives should be an expression of our communion with God.  How much do we have in common with God? The More we have in Common with God the greater our fellowship will be!

                    2. THE PROBLEM IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD TODAY. The reason we have so very little JOY is because we have so little fellowship.  The reason we have so little in common with God is because we don’t know God—Ignorance, sin, error.  Therefore, our lives are not a grand expression of communion with Him.  We know something ABOUT Him, but we don’t know Him INTIMATELY nor by EXPERIENCE!  We only have a Fellowship of Knowledge, but we need a Fellowship of Experience with Him on a personal basis!  There is no wonder we have so little joy; we have ignored the source of Joy.  Jesus!

                   3. Fellowship with God is to be the goal and purpose of every Christian’s life.  Not the Ministry, not the Mission Field, not Preaching the Gospel, not Soul Winning, not Giving, not Church Attendance, not Bible Reading, not Prayer, nor Church Planting.  But fellowship with God!  But if we are in fellowship with God all these things will be a part of our fellowship experience. All these things we’ll have in common with Him! And all these things will enhance our fellowship and experiences with Him and thus bring greater fulfillment and joy to our lives. But the ORDER must be Fellowship first—Obedience—Ministry—then comes the Joy!

APPLICATION: 1. We must resolve that our fellowship with God is the MOST IMPORTANT THING! 1Jn. 1: 3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”   We are Invited to Join John as He Fellowships With God; This is still possible for us today; God wants to fellowship with YOU!

2. John Wrote That We Might Know the Joy of the Lord Through Fellowship!

Vs 4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

It is obvious here that our Joy comes from our fellowship with Christ.  The reason so many Christians claim that their Christian lives are miserable,  confused, empty, frustrating, and unhappy is because they have failed to recognize that the source of  Real Life is also the source of  Real Joy!

3. Thirdly, the reason we have no joy is because we have believed the lies and promises of Satan concerning Sin.  Sin will give some sort of gratification for a season, but it will sever your fellowship with God and thus you have no Joy!

QUOTE BY W.  W.  WIERSBE

“Once upon a time . . . .”       Remember how exciting those words use to be ?  They were the open door into an exciting world of make-believe, a dream world that helped you forget all the problems of childhood.

Then----pow!  You turned a corner one day, and “Once upon a time” became kid stuff. You discovered that life is a battleground, and fairy stories were no longer meaningful. You wanted something real.

The search for something real is not new. It has been going on since the beginning of history.  Men have looked for reality and satisfaction in wealth, thrills, conquest, adventure, power, influence, learning, and even in religion.

There is nothing really wrong with these experiences, except that by themselves they never really satisfy.  Wanting something real and finding something real are two different things.   Like a child eating cotton candy at the circus, many people who expect to bite into something real end up with a mouth full of nothing.  They waste priceless years on empty substitutes for reality.

     John had discovered that satisfying reality is not to be found in things or thrills, but in a Person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus Christ is a Living Reality. . . .”

Now that you and I have tried everything else in life, pursuits for money, position, power, influence, things, thrills, learning and even religion.  Why don’t we choose the one who is REAL LIFE?  There is NO satisfaction, Fulfillment or Joy outside of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: We as Christians Must Spend Time Getting to Know Our SAVIOR if we are going to experience fullness of Joy.  Place your Gladness in the Unchanging Hands of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Life will be miserable for the Christian that tries to live on every other HIGH while they ignore the Source of all Joy—Jesus Christ.  We need to stop looking to things and thrills and look to someone Real who can give Real Joy—Jesus Christ! We need to start digging into the inexhaustible Mine of Spiritual Wealth!  Let us make Fellowship With Christ the very purpose and priority of our lives!

          B.   THE MOST GLORIOUS REALITY IN LIFE: AN INTIMATE LIFE WITH GOD HIMSELF. The deeper our fellowship with God, the broader our ministry capacity and the greater our Joy! John is inviting us to experience God!

ILLUSTRATION: GOD WILL SHARE MORE WITH THOSE WHO ARE MORE INTIMATE WITH HIM.  John the Beloved or the Revelator illustrates this truth.   Jesus had many disciples and out of them He chose 12 to be his closest disciples.  He would teach these 12 men more than any of the others.  Jesus would use them more than any of the others.  They would live, eat, travel, pray, preach, and serve with the Lord.  From those 12 he took three (Peter, James & John) and shared more with them than the others. These would have more meaningful and significant experiences with the Lord.  They would witness the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter in Lk. 8.  They would go farther with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Mk. 14 than the others.  These three witnessed the transfiguration and saw Jesus in His Glory on the Mount. They also heard the testimony of God concerning the Sonship of Jesus Christ Mk. 9.  From these three there was one young man who was especially close to the heart of the Savior,  John the Beloved.  This is the one disciple he revealed the Betrayer Judas Isacariot to.  This is the one disciple that was not content to sit beside the Savior at the last Supper, but he wanted to lay his head on the Savior’s chest where he could hear his heartbeat.  It was John only who appeared at the foot of the Savior’s Cross while Peter followed afar off.  This disciple was the one He committed the care of His mother to in John 19.  This is the same disciple that arrived first at the Lord’s empty tomb, the first to believe in Christ’s resurrection John 20.  This disciple was the one our Lord revealed the future of Heaven and Earth to in the Revelation.  Throughout John’s Life he Grew Deeper in His fellowship with the Lord and so should we!

As a result Jesus shared more with him and used him in more significant capacities.

APPLICATION: 1. We all need to determine to go deeper in our fellowship and therefore experience more of the Joy in knowing our God Experientially and then Ministerially.

2.  Secondly, Expect God to share more direction, wisdom, power, grace, and a greater ministry with you as you draw closer to Him! Rev. 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. )  I believe that Jesus wants to share His Life and Joy with us!  I believe that Jesus is now at the door of our hearts tonight and He wants to fellowship with You.  Why not let Him in?   Some have barred the door to their hearts with Things, Thrills, Possessions, Power and Personal Ambitions. Some have locked the door with “Their Will” for their lives. Some have cemented that door closed by their refusal to see the world’s need.  As a result Jesus can not come in and share more with them; typically they have no Joy and no real significance in life!

CONCLUSION:

1. God’s Son has come to the earth, and John here gives an Eyewitness account of Him and what He made possible through His death and resurrection-----Fellowship with God!   God is not disinterested and unconcerned about this world.  He is so interested in your and my welfare that he stepped out of Heaven for a period and went to a Cross so that we could have Fellowship with Him and each other.

2. My friend God has something special that He wants to share with you.  But you must draw closer to Him if you want to know what that something is.

3. We are saved for fellowship with God, but in many cases we want to keep God out of as much of our lives as we possibly can---shame on us . . . .We are out of fellowship with God therefore we walk around empty and unfulfilled. 

4.  We run from this thrill to the next trying to get a cheap substitute for Real Life, Real Significance, and Real Joy.  Why don’t we stop looking to everything else and look to the person of Jesus Christ-- He was  real to John and He wants to be Real to us today. Make it your life’s pursuit to continually and eagerly draw closer to God!

5. Could we today convince anyone as to who Jesus really is?  Do we know Him for ourselves?  Do we know Him by experience?  Should we become intimate subjects of His?

Have we been trying to serve Him when we don’t even know Him?  Have we been trying to share with others someone we don’t know ourselves?

Is Jesus as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?  Are you enjoying fellowship with the Son of God?  Do we really understand the implications of the truth that life can be an intimate reality with Jesus Christ our Lord?  Let me encourage you with every fiber of my soul to begin today to discover the reality of Jesus Christ on a daily basis!