Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Fall 2004                                                              Volume 5, Issue 4

Be Confident Of Your Salvation!

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he apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:3-4, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that you also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ: and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.” Later in this letter he would state, “These things I write unto you, that you may know that you have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

John wants Christians to “know” that they have eternal life. He desires that they come to a fuller understanding of what it means to be in fellowship with God and what is required to maintain that fellowship. By so doing, they can be confident as Christians and sure of their salvation (cf. Heb. 4:16; Rom. 8:1-3).

Notice the order of things that lead to eternal life. First, there is that which John saw and heard--the proofs that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 1:1). He came in the flesh for man’s redemption (cf. 1 John 4:2; Heb. 2:14). Second, there is the preaching of the proof--the apostolic testimony concerning Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. John says, “We bear witness, and declare unto you...declare we unto you...”(1 John 1:2-3). Third, there is the personal reception of the preaching of the truths concerning Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Belief (i.e., faith and obedience, cf. Rom. 1:5; 16:26) that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God” who “became flesh and dwelt among us,” is the basis of fellowship with the

apostles, which is fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ (cf. Jn. 20:30-31; 1:14; Lk. 10:16). Fourth, there is the promise of genuine fellowship with God, which will bring about the ultimate joy for the Christian--eternal life (1:4; cf. 2:24-25).

After John introduces these important points, he focuses in the balance of the book on our fellowship with God. Christ has come. We can enjoy eternal life with God through Christ. But we must receive the teaching of Jesus Christ in doctrine and in daily living.

The letter’s main body begins with 1 John 1:5-10. Fellowship with God is not merely accepting and affirming the truths of Christianity; it is also adopting a way of life--a life consistent with God’s nature and will. This is the kind of life that Jesus led. From a study of these verses, we learn that the Christian life is more than a profession. It is possible to profess something that is not true. In order for us to know (cf. 1 Jn. 5:13) that we have fellowship with God, what we say and what we do must correspond to God’s will.

As we consider these verses, we learn about some errors to avoid, and we learn some truths to embrace. In order to have fellowship with God, we must avoid the following errors:

First, we cannot walk in darkness (i.e., habitually live in sin) (1 John 1:6). Second, we cannot claim that sin has

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Inside...
Page 1 - Be Confident Of Your Salvation | Page 2 - We Must Grow
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - The Beautiful Bride, Part 2
Page 6 - Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Part 4 | Page 7 - Christian Evidences
Page 8 - Suicide - A Modern Epidemic | Page 9 - The Christian Home
Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page
Page 12 - Announcements / Continuations

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