Page 75 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Study Section 14: Confirmation of Being in the Fellowship with God,
Acknowledgement of Jesus’ Incarnation, and the Response to the
Fellowship with God.

14.1 Connect.

In Zambia, whenever you are signing official or employment documents, there will be a place
where you will be required to enter personal details that are also on the National Registration
Card. This is a card that shows that you are a Zambian citizen. Those details are centralized.
That is, they are under the control by a single authority of Zambia. So, when one commits a
criminal act and it is reported to the police, there will be always one person from the police
department who will enter those personal details, either the passport or the NRC registration number.

Those details are important for confirmation that it is you and that you belong to this particular country.
They also help in arresting criminals. In similar fashion, apostle John lists some reasons that confirms
that one is in the fellowship with the triune God. Let’s dive into this section in order to identify and
describe those reasons.

14.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to explain the evidences that show that truly, someone is in the
fellowship with God the Father and God the Son.

2. The student should be able to understand and describe the reasons why the doctrine of
Jesus’ incarnation should be accepted and embraced.

3. The student should be able to explain the reasons why every Christian should be responding
continuously to the fellowship with God the Father and God the Son.

4. The student should be able to clearly describe what continuous response to the fellowship with God
the Father and God the Son look like.

14.3 Confirmation of Being in the Fellowship with God, Acknowledgement of Jesus’
Incarnation, and the Response to the Fellowship with God (1 John 2:29—5:21).

Confirmation for Being in the Fellowship with God the Father, and God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:29—3:24).

Apostle John (as it has been his routine) addresses his audience as dear friends as
demonstration of his affection and mutual love he has for them. He encourages them to
continue in Him. That is, to continue obeying His commands and serving Him. Possibly, he
mentioned this to them in light of what the secessionists did in 1 John 2:18-19. In order for them not
to fall into that same trap, John’s dear friends needed not to stop obeying His commands and
serving Him alone. Since they know that Jesus Christ is the righteous one, they are expected to do
what is right. That would demonstrate that they are truly born again. So, the first confirmation that
one is in the fellowship with God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is the

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