1. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1 1 John 2:28-3:3 11/02/2008 Dr
“Characteristics of Fellowship” #1 1 John 2:28-3:3 11/02/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles

2. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
Introduction
John has much to say concerning this area of fellowship.
First we want to consider the characteristics of fellowship in relation to our expectation.

3. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
Our Practice (2:28-29).
28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

4. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. (1 John 2:28-29)
Continue in Christ.
Do Righteousness.

5. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
Our Privilege (3:1-2).
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

6. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2)

7. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
‘...We are called the children of God...’
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).

8. ‘“Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
...1 The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (3:1).
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11)

9. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

10. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God (3:2).
Every truly born again believer is a son of God and the Holy Spirit dwells within him.
Are born of the Spirit (cf Jn. 3:5).

11. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
We are baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13).
We are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14)
We are assured by the testimony of the Spirit (cf Rom. 8:16).
We are sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

12. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
2 …and what we will be has not yet been made known (3:2)
2 But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (3:2).

13. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20-21)

14. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)

15. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

16. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
Our Expectation (3:3).
“You have believed…”
3 Everyone who has this hope (1 John 3:3)

17. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
3 … purifies himself, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

18. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

19. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
Conclusion
The mere fact that we are looking for Jesus to return any moment should motivate us to want to purify ourselves for His return.
Now we have considered:

20. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1
our practice (to continue in Christ and do righteousness),
our privilege (to be called the sons of God),
and our expectation (to wait and look for the coming of Christ).

21. “Characteristics of Fellowship” #1 1 John 2:28-3:3 11/02/2008 Dr
“Characteristics of Fellowship” #1 1 John 2:28-3:3 11/02/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles