God’s holiness, justice and righteousness demand that God judge sin, but Christ in His death appeased or satisfied the holy righteous demands of God against sin.  Now God cannot judge Christians because He has judged Christ in their place.

Christ does not plead the Christian’s innocence but His own death which has brought a perfect salvation to the believer in Christ. God deals with his children as a Father not a Judge. Christians will be disciplined for their sins but never will they be eternally judged for them because Christ has been that judgment for them. Christ’s death is effective to all true Christians but is potentially available for anyone in the world who will trust Christ for salvation.

Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”   He also said, “Whosoever cometh unto me I will in no way cast out.”  But He said a person must come to Christ by believing in him personally, for He is the only way of salvation.  He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life:  no man comes unto the Father but by me.”

As a Christian we have an urgent message we need to proclaim. But before we proclaim this message we need to examine our lives to see whether or not we have fellowship with God or not. 

Just as we have recieved this invitation to share in this joy and fellowship with God and other Christians we are also called to share this invitation with others. Our study has been divided into two sections:

1. The Invitation to have Fellowship with God (1 John 1:1-4)
2. The Requirements for Fellowship with God (1 John 1:5 – 2:2)

Getting Started

1. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

2. Most of us have received spam emails trying to convince us we have won a lottery or have inherited a million dollars, or emails that try to convince you to purchase a fake Rolex watch or college diploma. What is the most outrageous scam or con that you have had to deal with?

 Digging Deeper

3. One of Satan’s biggest cons must be the deception of false religion. True Christianity is Jesus Christ—revealed, experienced, and proclaimed with joy. Is it possible to separate knowing God (theology) from following God (ethics)? Read verses 5-10.

4. Some define faith as a leap in the dark (blind faith). Why is Christian faith not blind? According to 1 John v.1-4, what is Christian faith based on?

5. Is it possible to know the gospel and proclaim the gospel, without believing the gospel?

6. How can we help people avoid the deception of thinking that they are walking in the light, while really, they are walking in the darkness? (1 John 1:7)

7. If we’re forgiven at the cross, why do we still need to be forgiven (1 John 1:9)?

 The Heart of the Matter

8. Christians have a message we joyfully want to proclaim. What is this message? Summarize this message in one sentence.

9. Is it possible to know the gospel and believe the gospel but not proclaim it to others?

10. Do you apply the light and truth of God’s word to reveal what is sound teaching in both your walk and your talk? What are some hindrances to doing this? What are some practical ways we can do this better?