[Forrest]

Originally Posted by CKG

1 John 1:1-3 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, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

I have often heard our relationship with God cannot be broken, but our fellowship can. Looking at the use of the word fellowship throughout the scriptures I think it has a stronger meaning than in the way we do. If people get together and eat or something like that call it fellowship. The word fellowship in scripture seems to denote more of a partnership. Its interesting that in the Webster-Merriam dictionary under obsolete it says "membership and partnership". I think John is using the word fellowship like we would relationship.

Here are a couple of the main reasons for John writing this epistle.

1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

People were being seduced with false teaching and some were thinking they were saved when they weren't. John is giving true believers assurance and exposing those who thought they were, but weren't.

1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Christians are not in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

True believers, those in fellowship the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ walk in light (vs 5). Those who have been seduced walk in darkness (vs 6). We (true believers, those in fellowship the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ who walk in the light) have been cleansed of our sins.(vs 7). Those walking in darkness need to admit they have sinned so they can receive forgiveness and cleansing (vs 8-10).

We believers (ones in fellowship the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ who walk in light) can sin, but when we do

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins..:

For those walking in darkness,

1 John 2:2 ...and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Am I talking sinless perfection? No. John has admitted we, the true believers, can sin (1 John 2:1).

Doesn't this lead to license? No, not if you believe Romans 6 where Paul addresses this.

Romans 6
1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What has Paul said? "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid!" Why? Because we are dead to and freed from sin!

Notice as you read through the rest of 1 John as he makes contrasts between light and darkness, truth and lies, children of God and children of the devil.

A saved person can sin, but if they do the Holy Spirit will bring conviction and when conviction comes I actually think it is good to confess, recognize and agree with God that you have sinned, but not to get forgiveness and cleansing. We are in Christ and nothing can separate us from God. Instead of seeking forgiveness and cleansing we should look in God's word and recognize, remember and thank Him for what He has done for and in us through His Son Jesus. This will not lead to license, but to growth.