Topic #16 The Barriers to Fellowship – Part F

1 John 1:5

And this keeps on being the message which we [apostles] have heard from Him [Chirst], and it is still ringing in our ears, and we are announcing [it] again to you [to your advantage]; that God [as to His nature] is light and in Him darkness does not exist, not one bit.

Introduction

There are two great obstacles that must be overcome in order for fellowship with God to be experienced. In this article, we will summarize them. The details will be forthcoming as we study the passages together. The first barrier that John mentions has to do with God’s own divine character, and the second has to do with our fallen character.

The Barrier of the Character of God

So, John lays down the principle, “God’s nature determines the conditions of fellowshipping with Him” as John states it, “that God [as to His nature] is light and in Him darkness does not exist, not one bit.” Thus, we see the Father’s own perfect and Holy character forms an impassable barrier. He cannot fellowship with fallen humanity. However, we will learn from John how God, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, removed this great barrier.

1 John 2:2

and He Himself [Christ on the cross] is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

The doctrine of propitiation will be in a future study, suffice for now to know that God removed the barrier of His holy and perfect character through propitiation. Let me explain.

Our God is holy, absolutely righteous, and perfect in all His ways. What does this mean to our study on fellowship? As a Holy God, He has an abhorrence toward sin. Sin is an offense, an insult to God. He simply cannot have anything to do with sin or unrighteousness.

Proverbs 6:16–19

16) There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17) Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,

19) A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Our fallen character demands that God the Father step in and deliver us from that which alienates us from Him. So, in eternity past, God made a sovereign decision to treat sinful man in grace. This is where the remedy begins. God the Father provided a plan whereby man could have a relationship with Him forever without compromising His divine character.

Christ On the Cross Removes the Barrier.

God demonstrated His love for all of us when God the Son, Jesus Christ, became our substitute and was judged on the cross for the sins of the world. He was willing to take our place and pay the penalty for our sins. As sinless humanity, the Son satisfied the demands of the righteousness and justice of God the Father. Because God’s righteousness and justice were satisfied by His Son’s work on the cross, God is perfectly just in forgiving us. Once God’s character was satisfied, it is possible for the blessings of salvation and the Christian life to come through grace to us. Paul writes:

Romans 3:25

Whom God displayed publicly [Jesus Christ] as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.

God's holiness is a forgotten factor in understanding the divine design for the Christian Way of Life. This is true in John's day as well in ours, but John is now reminding us through this epistle that we walk with a Holy God, and His holiness demands our holiness, “be ye holy as I am holy.”

The Holiness Maxim

1. God's nature determines the conditions of fellowshipping with him. He says, "we must walk in the light as He is in the light.”

2. God is holy and righteous, perfect in all his ways. ¹

3. For this reason, God cannot lower His standards, which are perfect and do not need improving, adjusting, or correcting. We must meet His standards if we are to fellowship with Him.

4. Fellowship with God takes place only in the light, 1 John 1:6,7.

1 John 1:6, 7

6) "If [for example] we [including myself] claim 'that we have fellowship with Him'...", and yet are walking in the darkness, [then] we are lying to ourselves and are not practicing the truth;

7) but if [for example] we are walking in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, [then] we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

5. If we want to fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with his unique-born Son, Christ Our Lord, we must reside in the light as He is in the light.

The Barrier of the Character of Man

In this next series of studies, 1 John chapter 1:6-2:2, we are going to examine the second great barrier to fellowship with God, personal sin. In the eight verses of this section, sin is mentioned eight times and darkness, one of its synonyms, twice. Obviously then, by the sheer number of times sin is mentioned, personal sin in the believer's life is a barrier to our fellowship with God. In the first barrier, we find a holy God free from sin, evil, and any impediment; and in the second, the believer is being removed from fellowship because of personal sin in their lives.

John wants us to see how sin affects our daily walk with God in this epistle. It will be a common theme throughout. He says when we are walking in darkness, we have a negative attitude toward the Word of God, 1 John 1:6. We will be defeated by Satan, 1 John 2:14. We will become worldly-minded, fulfilling the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16. We will actually become antichrist in character and conduct, 1 John 2:18,19. Some will pursue lawlessness and immoral conduct, 1 John 3:4. Those who practice sin are under the control of the devil, hate the brethren, show a lack of compassion for those in need. Sin robs us of our fellowship with God.

Also, John addresses the Gnostic teachers, and their flawed humanistic teaching, whose litany of errors, about the nature of man, his fall, and its result led them to the view that they did not need to pay attention to personal sin. They said God is perfect, how can we be like God. They have made the mistake of thinking that since Christ died for our sins, there is no need for us to confront sin. This is a total disregard for what the Scripture says in these passages, as well as so many others.

John presents three examples of their flawed theology brilliantly delivered through the use of three hypothetical cases, "if we claim." The cadence of his arguments is explained in the following outline. First, a CLAIM is made which is false. Then comes the CONDEMNATION. The erroneous view is rebuked. Finally, we get a statement on the CURE--the solution. Here is the outline that we will be following so that we can see the big picture.

THE THREE FALSE CLAIMS

1. First False Claim -1 John 1:6-7

a. The Alleged Claim - "If we claim that we have fellowship with Him.”

b. The Alarming Contradiction “and yet walk in the darkness..."

c. The Admonishing Censure “we lie and do not practice the truth..."

d. The Amazing Cure 1 John1:7 -"but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

2. Second False Claim 1 John 1:8-9

a. The Alleged Claim - vs 8a -"If we say that we have no sin..."

b. The Admonishing Censure vs 8b “we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

c. The Amazing Cure - vs 9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

3. Third False Claim 1 John 1:10 -2:2

a. The Alleged Claim - vs 10a -"If we say that we have not sinned..."

b. The Admonishing Censure - vs10b -"we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

c. The Amazing Cure - 1 John 2:1,2

(1) The Person of Christ - 2:1 " My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; "

(2) The Work of Christ 2:2, "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Summary

This has been a jammed packed study, so let me summarize this topic:

1. Fellowship with God is the general theme of these passages, 1 John 1:5-2:17. They answer the question: How can we have fellowship with God?

2. Certain obstacles hinder our having fellowship with God. First, God’s character imposes an impassable barrier. He is Holy and perfect and cannot tolerate sin or unrighteousness. It is clear from this that personal sin in the life of a believer becomes another barrier to fellowship.

3. As will be noted, we are to walk in the light as He is in the light. The false teachers of that day did not understand God to be holy and therefore took a casual approach to personal sin.

4. John, through debater’s technique, will show the fallacy of their doctrine. Each claim will address an aspect of sin that was being rejected.

Endnotes

¹ Summary of God's Righteousness

1. Absolute holiness and righteousness (Leviticus 19:2b; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 22:3; 47:8; 111:9; Isaiah 6:3; John 17:11; Revelation 3:7; 4:8; 6:10).
2. Goodness (Psalm 25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 119:168; Luke 18:19).
3. Free from sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:5).
4. Perfect in His character and person (Deuteronomy 32:24b; Psalm 7:9;11:7; 97:6; 111:3; 119:137a; Jeremiah 23:6; John 17:25a; Romans 1:17; 10:3; 1 John 2:29).
5. Righteous in all His attitudes, actions, and standards (Deuteronomy 32:4a; 2 Samuel 22:31a; Psalm 119:137b; 145:17; Daniel 9:14; Revelation 19:2, 11).