“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” The Revelation of truth (the Word of Life) is precious! The nature of which came with the manifestation of Jesus Was given to eye-witnesses Have confidence in the written word! The Revelation of truth (the Word of Life) is precious! The nature of which came with the manifestation of Jesus Was given to eye-witnesses Have confidence in the written word!

The “revelation” of truth needs declared It is the BASIS for fellowship “Fellowship” is something to seek after; not automatically assumed “that you may have fellowship” The “revelation” of truth needs declared It is the BASIS for fellowship “Fellowship” is something to seek after; not automatically assumed “that you may have fellowship” YOU US FATHER & SON (declare)(believe)

US FATHER & SON YOU revelation Cannot have fellowship with God or one another apart from obeying what is written!

“ 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” US FATHER & SON revelation no fellowship E p h. 5 : 1 1 YOU

Fellowship Defined 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

 YOKED:  YOKED: implies a common labor, i.e., yoking oxen together  FELLOWSHIP:  FELLOWSHIP: “partnership, sharing in, partaking of”  COMMUNION:  COMMUNION: “sharing in common, joint participation, association”

 ACCORD:  ACCORD: “a sounding together” (concord, KJV), like “a chord” in harmony with others  PART:  PART: “a part as distinct from the whole, an assigned part, portion”  AGREEMENT:  AGREEMENT: “a putting together or joint deposit, approval”

Fellowship With Darkness This fellowship is sin! INIQUITYDARKNESSBELIALUNBELIEVERIDOLS RIGHTEOUSLIGHTCHRISTBELIEVER TEM. of GOD

INIQUITYDARKNESSBELIALUNBELIEVERIDOLSRIGHTEOUSLIGHTCHRISTBELIEVER Fellowship Requires Separation! Have No Fellowship With Sin! excludes Ephesians 5:11

Fellowship of Saints: Commonality in Christ 1 Corinthians 1:9 (1 Corinthians 1:9) "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." “ Common Salvation ” (Jude 1:3) "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

Continued “ Common Faith ” “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 1:4) Not Common: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6, 7) “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor. 11:4) Whatever is opposed to what is common “in Christ” must be rejected, not tolerated!

The Basis of Fellowship is Not… Good intentions “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” –Prov. 16:25 (Matt. 7:21-23) Personal relationships “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” –Eph. 5:5-7 Luke 5:1-11; 14:25, 26

The Basis of Fellowship is Not… Agreeing to disagree over doctrine “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me and I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” –Gal. 2:1-5 (cf. 2:11-14; Jn. 17:20- 21)

The Basis of Fellowship is Not… Dismissing doctrine by some supposed “lack of clarity” John taught that the truth is as clear as light is from darkness (1 Jn. 1)! Jesus taught that we stumble only because the light is not in us (Jn. 11:9, 10) Jesus is that light (Jn. 12:35, 36, 46) Darkness needs to be “cast off” (Rom. 13:12)

The Idol of “Subjectivism” Prov. 3:5-7; 28:26

 Jesus taught God’s law regarding divorce and remarriage (Matt. 5:32; 19:9) ◦ “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery”  “whoever”  “divorces his wife”  Except for sexual immorality”  “and marries another”  “commits adultery”  “And whoever marries her”  Who is divorced”  “commits adultery” Clear or unclear ?

 Are you ready to charge the Lord of Glory with these things? ◦ “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged’” (Rom. 3:4) ◦ God’s teaching is only unclear to those who have not cast off works of darkness and fail to arm with light (Rom. 13:12; cf. Lk. 11:34, 35; Jn. 1:5)

 Heard Jesus didn’t think He lacked clarity (Matt. 19:10)  Teach that the Lord’s teaching “lacks clarity,” sin ◦ Are not worthy of fellowship ◦ Kick against the goads ◦ Err grievously and do not know the power of God nor the scriptures  who hold up the hands of those who teach error on MDR have fellowship with them (2 Jn. 9-11) ◦ Those who preach for Christ need to have a spine to call a spade a spade!

 Fellowship with Christ is the foundation for unity of mind, will & action among Christians ◦ 1 Cor. 1:9-10  Fellowship implies unity, Acts 2:42, 44

Fellowship and Unity Eph. 4:1-3; 1 Cor. 1:9-10

↭ ↭   (1 Cor. 11:18-19)

Unity is Disrupted by Sin…No Fellowship! “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

 Teach truth, Gal. 2:9  Practice truth, Eph. 4:1-3  Endorse truth, 3 Jn. 5-8

 Practice error, 2 Jn. 9  Teach error, 2 Jn. 10  Endorse error, 2 Jn. 11

Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”