HOW TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

This summer we’re going verse-by-verse through the book of First John in a message series called, “Living Confidently For God.”

Last Sunday Tim talked about how important it was to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ in order to have joy in our life.  This morning we’re going to look at how to have fellowship with God in 1 John 1:5-10.  If you have your Bible you can turn to that passage or use your message notes.

What’s the difference between having a relationship with God and having fellowship with God?  Here’s the difference.  Relationship is you POSSESSING GOD, but fellowship is GOD POSSESSING you.

Having a personal relationship with God is becoming a member of His family by faith in Jesus Christ.  Having fellowship with God is experiencing Jesus Christ everyday of your life.  DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

You can never have fellowship with God until you’ve first established a personal relationship with Him through his Son Jesus Christ.  One of the reasons why some people lack confidence in God isn’t because of their relationship with God but it’s because they’re out of fellowship with Him.

So, let’s talk about fellowship with God.  Here in our text John gives us a four-fold formula for fellowship with God.  These are absolutely necessary in order to have fellowship with God.  The first thing John says we have to do in order to have fellowship with God is...