I. Introduction: Saving faith puts us in "fellowship" (partnership) with God (The Father and His Son) through the testimony of the Apostles. (I John 1:1-4)

The Word of Life was manifested / revealed. Eternal life was received / experienced.

I John 1:1-3 - See John 1:9-14, 16-17; Galatians 2:20.

Eternal life is to be shared - the fellowship is joyfully growing.

I John 1:3-4 - See Psalm 89:15. Spreading the Gospel is spreading the joy! As we catch the joy from knowing Christ, it causes us to walk in His light. See John 17:13; I Thessalonians 1:5-6; I John 1:5-7; 2:6 cp. Psalm 16:11.

II. We can have true fellowship because "God is Light" (I John 1:5 - 2:29)

I John 1:5-10 - "Fellowship" means "to share in common." It is a partnership. Fellowship with God involves walking and working in the environment of His light. See John 3:16-20; 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36; Ephesians 5:3-17. This does not mean that we always walk according to that light, but we see where we stumble and receive correction, forgiveness and cleansing. The idea of sinless perfection is a lie. We must "confess" our sin - agree with God. The blood of Christ is always our plea before God - not our efforts to be perfect. See Proverbs 4:18-19; Hebrews 12:1-14; Ephesians 1:3,6-7; Hebrews 10:19; 13:20-21.

I John 2:1-2 - An honest warfare against sin on our part, is matched by God with continual grace to forgive and pardon us for Christ's sake. "Advocate" means that Christ stands alongside us and pleads for us - like an attorney who represents someone in court. "Propitiation" means that Christ is the way of obtaining mercy and turning away God's wrath - God is satisfied with the work of Christ on the cross. If a child of God is not having an honest warfare against sin, God will correct and bring us to genuine repentance. This relationship with God is available to both Jew and Gentile. See I John 1:7,9; I Peter 1:2; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:27,31-32; 5:8-10; I John 4:9-10; James 4:6-10; Philippians 3:13-15; Galatians 3:28; Romans 3:9-31; Ephesians 2:11-18.

I John 2:3-6 - The goal is to be like Christ. Our faith leads us to seek His commandments, as well as His promises. True faith manifests itself in desiring to please God. Therefore we "keep" or "take heed" to the commandments of God. See Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 2:8-10; 5:1-2; Romans 13:11-14; Hebrews 11:6; I John 5:2-3; Matthew 28:18-20.