The Greatest Hindrance to Fellowship

1 John 1:1-10

INTRODUCTION: The emphasis of John’s first epistle is not necessarily the saint’s position in Christ, but his daily practice for Christ. For that reason, there is a great emphasis on fellowship with God and other believers. While we all know sin is a great hindrance to fellowship (both between God and men), it is not likely the greatest hindrance. After all, the Lord made provisions for fellowship after sin. Though a man can sin against God and recover to a previous state of fellowship, a man cannot refuse to confess his sins and yet enjoy the sweetness of God’s fellowship.

I. THE MANIFESTATION OF LIFE (1 John 1:1-2)

A. The Preexistence of the Life

1. Was from the beginning (1 John 1:1)
2. That eternal life (1 John 1:2)
3. Was with the Father (1 John 1:2)

B. The Experience of the Life

1. We have heard (1 John 1:1)
2. We have seen with our eyes (1 John 1:1-2)
3. We have looked upon (1 John 1:1)
4. We have handled (1 John 1:1)

C. The Expression of the Life

1. We bear witness (1 John 1:2)
2. We shew unto you (1 John 1:2)

II. THE PRESENTATION OF FELLOWSHIP (1 John 1:3-7)

A. The Purpose of the Declaration (1 John 1:3-4)

1. The purpose of fellowship (1 John 1:3)
a. With us
b. With the Father
c. With the Son
2. The purpose of joy (1 John 1:4)

B. The Message of the Declaration (1 John 1:5)

1. God is light.
2. In Him is no darkness at all

C. The Evidence of the Declaration (1 John 1:6-7)

1. The negative proof (1 John 1:6)
a. A declaration of fellowship—“If we say that we have fellowship with him”
b. A contrary walk—“and walk in darkness”
c. A preeminence of the walk; Note: The walk speaks louder and more accurately than words.
2. The positive proof (1 John 1:7)
a. A truthful walk
1.) If we walk in the light
2.) As He is in the light
b. A rewarding walk
1.) We have fellowship one with another.
2.) The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. This is a practical cleansing. The positional cleansing is finished (Revelation 1:5-6).

III. THE NECESSITY OF CONFESSION (1 John 1:8-10)

A. The Denial of Sin (1 John 1:8)

1. The statement of denial
a. The content of the statement – “If we say that we have no sin”
b. The implications of the statement
1.) Likely scripture makes distinct doctrinal statements in 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10.
2.) The first, “If we say that we have no sin” is likely a reference to the sin nature.
2. The deception of denial
a. We deceive ourselves.
b. The truth is not in us.

B. The Confession of Sin (1 John 1:9)

1. The choice of confession
a. Confession defined
1.) It is the acknowledgement of sin (Leviticus 26:40)
2.) It is agreement with God (Leviticus 26:40-41; Amos 3:3)
3.) It is the acceptance of judgment (Leviticus 26:41)
b. The level of our confession
1.) We confess our sin at salvation
2.) We confess our sins for fellowship (1 John 1:9)
c. The temptations concerning confession; Note: Why do we struggle to acknowledge sin?
1.) To claim innocence (Jeremiah 2:35)
2.) To blame others (Genesis 3:12-13; 1 Samuel 15:24)
2. The reward of confession
a. Forgiveness
b. Cleansing

C. The Confession of Denial (1 John 1:10)

1. We make God a liar.
2. We prove that His word is not in us.

CONCLUSION: Why do we struggle to accept the responsibility for our wrongdoing? Why do we look for others to blame? Why are we willing to sacrifice fellowship on the altar of pride?