Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now! Part 1 What does it look like personally, individually? 1 John 1-5 4:13 We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and He in God. 1 John 4:13-15 (NIV84) 2

What does it look like for you relationally that Jesus is your best friend?

What do you think prevents you from experiencing Jesus Christ as your best friend?

Samples of Truth will serve a similar function as a yogurt culture starter.

Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now! Samples of Truth Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now!

Samples of Truth #1. What happens to us personally when we participate in the life of Christ now? #2. What happens to us relationally with other believers when we participate in the life of Christ now? #3. How does my participation in the life of Christ now lead me to be an overcomer of evil? #4. How does my participation in the life of Christ now lead me to love my unbelieving neighbors, friends and family members as Christ loves them?

Our relationship with Christ is the foundation for every other aspect of our life!

What does it look like personally or individually to participate in the life of Jesus Christ now? i.e. What happens within me as a result of Christ’s sacrificial love for me?

Participate koinonia fellowship partnership community communion to have in common to share

“Are you alive now in Christ?” Why “NOW?” First, our walk with Christ needs to be in the present tense. “Are you alive now in Christ?” Second, be thinking of who and where Christ is NOW!

Christ’s life on this earth? Christ’s life now as the reigning and ruling King of the universe?

John was still in his teen years when Jesus called him to be His disciple.

John lived to be the last surviving apostle; thus the oldest apostle.

John’s best friend was Jesus.

Jesus being even more so his best friend when He returned to His Father in heaven.

The Jesus that John was having joyful fellowship with and is inviting his readers to join in also, is the Jesus who was then and is now reigning and ruling as King of the universe from heaven.

John is an exceptionally well-qualified eye witness for what a personal relationship with Jesus can do to and within a person.

John grew up into maturity under the mentoring of Jesus.

John’s letters are like a compressed version of the Gospel of John.

What does it look like personally or individually to participate in the life of Jesus Christ now?

1 John 1:1-5 (NIV84) 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1:2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 1:4 We write this to make our joy complete. 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

Jesus as the Word of life to Jesus as the eternal life. Genesis 1:1 (NIV84) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Jesus as the Word of life to Jesus as the eternal life. 23

1 John 1:3 (NIV84) 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

John’s purpose for proclaiming what he had seen and heard is to expand the fellowship to include you and me. 25

1 John 1:4 (NIV84) 1:4 We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:4 1:4 We write this to make your joy complete. 1 John 1:4 (The Message) 4 …: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

A primary feature of our fellowship together with the Father and His Son is joy, joy for all who are in that fellowship. 27

A joyful fellowship is attractive! 28

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? #1. The role of the Holy Spirit in our participation in the life of Christ now. John 16:7 (NIV84) 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 1 John 2:27 (NIV84) 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you…

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? The combination of the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the fellowship of those who are humbly surrendering to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, is, I believe, exactly the fellowship that John is inviting us into.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? #2. The role of walking in the light in our participation in the life of Christ now. 1 John 1:7, 9 (NIV84) 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? #2. The role of walking in the light in our participation in the life of Christ now. Walking in the light is a response to Christ’s sacrificial love. His love for us frees us to be honest about what His light exposes in us.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? #3. what role does the Word of God play in our participation in the life of Christ now?

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV84) [Our new reality:] 2:3 We know that we have come to know Him (since) if we obey His commands. [Our false claim:] 2:4 The man who says, “I know Him.” [Our old reality:] but does not do what He commands [God’s finding:] is a liar, [Our old reality:] and the truth is not in him. [Our new reality:] 2:5 But (Since) if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. [Our new reality:] 2:5b This is how we know we are in Him. [Our true claim:] 2:6 Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? Knowing and obeying His commands or His word is evidence that of our responsive love for Him.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? #4. The role of an ever-present Advocate and a continually, effective Atoning Sacrifice in our participation in the life of Christ now. 1 John 2:1-2 (NIV84) 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

How do I fully enter into that fellowship with the Father and His Son? When we become children of God, we are immediately given an ever-present, legal defense team available every time we sin. 2:1 … But if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Today, in the process of turning away from the dark to keep walking in the light, we meet our Fellowship Maker, our Atoning Sacrifice, our Faithful and Just Forgiver, Our Purifier, and our Advocate. Because of Him, we can walk with Him in the light and have fellowship with one another.

How did God show His love for us?

1 John 4:7–11 (NIV84) 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who (does) loves has been born of God and knows God. 4:8 Whoever does not love (has not been born of God and) does not know God, because God is love. 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

A chiasm the use of bilateral symmetry around a central axis. A………. B…… C… D C’… B’…… A’……… A chiasm the use of bilateral symmetry around a central axis.

How did God show His love for us? 1 John 4:9 (NIV84) 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. Jesus did not only deliver a package of love from God, He was the package.

1 John 4:7–11 (NIV84) 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who (does) loves has been born of God and knows God. 4:8 Whoever does not love (has not been born of God and) does not know God, because God is love. 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

What happens to us as a result of Christ’s sacrificial love?

This kind of love gives the most needed gift at great cost to the giver a gift that the receiver doesn’t have the ability to compensate for.

What is this gift that is God’s love What is this gift that is God’s love? It is God’s Son as our atoning sacrifice.

1 John 4:10 (NIV84) 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

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