Third mark of true fellowship

My first YF in CCCB (youth fellowship, something like cellgroups/bible studies for the youths)

#3: The third mark of true fellowship

They did a brief recap on the first two marks of true fellowship with God (I went on their last session when they discussed about the third mark) and they are: Righteous living (obedience) & Loving others

The word of life - Read 1 John 1:1-4.

·      Question: What is John’s purpose for writing this letter?

Ø  V4: so that our joy may be complete

Ø  V3: may have fellowship with us

Ø  V2: proclaim to you the eternal life

The third mark of true fellowship – Read 1 John 2:18, 4:1-6, 5:6-13

·      Question: From these passages, what is the third mark of the one who truly has fellowship with God?

Ø  2:18: confess both the son & father, abide in the son & father, let the message about Jesus abide in you

Ø  4:1-6: spirit of truth= from God, spirit of error= not from God

Ø  5:6-13: testimony

·      Question: What would you say are the foundational truths to be held and believed about Jesus Christ? (consider what John says in this letter; consider what the rest of the NT says)

Ø  Jesus died for our sins

Ø  Jesus was fully man & fully God

Ø  Offers eternal life (1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. Whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have the son of God does not have life.”

·      Question: What benefits and assurances are given to those who believe and hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ the son of God?

Ø  Eternal life

Ø  Abide ( live/ close fellowship) in the son and the father

Threats to the truth – Read 1 John 2:18-27, 4:1-6, 5:6-13

·      Question: What are the threats mentioned in these passages? How are we to respond to these threats?

Passage	Threat (who they are, what they do)	Response (how to not fall to the threat)
2: 18-27	Many Anti Christ Deny Jesus is the Christ, Father and the Son	V27: anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you V20:anointed by the Holy one & we have knowledge
4:1-6	False prophets Does not confess Jesus is from God	V1: test the spirit to see if they are from God V6: if they listen to the teachings, bible, etc

The three marks of true fellowship

The three marks of true fellowship we have seen in 1 john are: obedience/righteousness, love and truth.

Read 3:18, 3:19-24, 5:1-3

·      Question: how are these three marks connected?

Ø  V23 “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as it commanded us.”

·      Can they be separated? Why or why not?

Ø  No. Because when we know the truth, we would obey and obedience is expressed through the way we love others.

Implications and Applications