5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  1 John 1:5-10

A.  Knowing the Elements for Fellowship

1.  Proper knowledge of God: 1 John 1:5, Exodus 15:11, Job 9:32, Psalm 50:21

2.  Like-mindedness with God: 1 John 1:5-6, Ephesians 5:6-9, Amos 3:1-3, 2 Cor. 6:14-17, Psalm 24:1-4, Genesis 5:22-24

B.  Hindrances to Fellowship with God

1.  Self-deception of mere profession: 1 John 1:6, 8, 10

a.  No weighing the cost of fellowship

b.  Impulsive or delayed commitment

2.  Toleration of an unholy lifestyle: 1 John 1:6, 1 John 3:6-10, Psalm 32:1-5

3.  Lack of understanding of sin

a.  Root of sin: our nature:c1 John 1:8, Gen. 6:5, Ps. 51:5, Eph. 2:1-4

b.  Fruits of sin: our actions: 1 John 1:9, Rom. 6:15-23, Rom. 7:4-5, Gal. 5:19-24