Beth-El Baptist Church

11/11/2012

Greg Tomlinson


What is the difference between God's relationship with the believer and our fellowship with Him?


Fellowship with God and it meaning has been a contentious issue for many years. One aspect of fellowship with God is identified by what is known as the Lordship of Jesus Christ which associates faith not only words of profession but also with actions that are in agreement with the profession. This is held in contrast to what some term “easy believism” which associates faith with words of profession independent of action.


  1. What is meant by fellowship?

Acts 2:41-42 1 Corinthians 1:5-10; 10:20-24

Philippians 2:1-4; 3:8-11 Romans 8:29

Ephesians 5:28-32


Fellowship with God is the intimate engagement of two who are in love. It is described by Paul as a marriage relationship. A marriage in which the partners spend little to no time together is not a marriage that will stand up to scrutiny as a model. The goal of fellowship with God is to become more like Christ and seek to live according to His commandments and be recognized as someone whose life is shaped and guided by the continual presence of God.


  1. What does lack of fellowship look like?

Ephesians 5:3-12 Romans 12:1-3

Hebrews 5:12-14; 10:25-29


Lack of fellowship with God is a withdrawing your presence with God. It is demonstrated by a refusal to assemble with other believers. It is demonstrated with a life that looks more like a life being lived by an unbeliever. It is a life that does not seek God's presence as much as it can in order to know more and more about the one it claims to love. Lack of fellowship with God and God's people will be marked by a lack of growth in his relationship with God.


  1. Will God reject a true believer that is not in fellowship with him?

2 Timothy 2:13-14 1 Corinthians 11:28-32

Romans 6:1-6; 8:35-39


One who is a true believer in Jesus Christ can never be separated from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus. God will never throw away those who are is. No one should ever use the fact that God does reject the ones He has redeemed unto Himself as a justification or as a covering for deliberately living in Sin.


  1. What does lack of fellowship mean?

1 Corinthians 4:1-4 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

1 John 1:5-10; 2:18-19 Jude 1:4-5


Lack of fellowship could mean that the person is weak and does not understand the importance of continual fellowship with God and God's people. At a minimum, it means that the person is no longer growing in his wisdom and knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. At worse, it could mean that the person is actually not a true believer but has rejected the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but identifies himself as a Christian for some purpose other than a true heartfelt conviction concerning the person and the work of Jesus Christ as Lord and as God.