1John 1:3-4
Big Idea: John’s letter is full of purpose. God’s desire is that we would find our ultimate Joy in Jesus as we pursue participation in his life-giving Spirit and obey God from Jesus’ power and ability.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
__________________ of Joy
At the heart of John’s message is the fullness of our joy in Jesus.
Pleroo:
If joy is internal instead of external, then our joy is settled, even when we lose our external blessings or our external circumstances are difficult.
John 15:11 (ESV) — 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Matthew 6:19-21, 24
John 12:25 (ESV) — 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
______________________ with Jesus
1 John 1:3 (ESV) — 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
To have fellowship with Jesus is to participate in the life of Jesus and to participate in the life of Jesus is to have our joy filled in Him.
1 John 2:3 (ESV) — 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1 John 2:5–6 (ESV) — 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
We experience fellowship with Jesus as we are called on to obey Christ’s commands. This is not because in keeping God’s commandments we in some way earn God’s favor. It is because it is only by Jesus’ life in us that we can obey God’s commandments, therefore every time we are called upon to act in a way that Jesus would act we have to draw from his presence in our inner-man in order to act that way.
Our fellowship with Christ does not depend on our obedience, our obedience depends on our fellowship with Christ. Our obedience to Christ is not the grounds for our fellowship with Christ, our participation in the life of Christ is the grounds for our obedience.
Questions to Consider
Have you attached your joy to anything in this world? If so, what happens if you lose that thing? What is a better source for your joy?
What does it mean to have fellowship with Jesus in obedience?
In what ways is Christ calling you to obey? How might you depend on his ability in you to fulfill his commands?
