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August 2017 printable .pdf (229 KB)

The July 2017 teaching focused on God's Word as our refuge and strength. We saw an example of how to use the Ministry of Reconciliation God has given to us to witness to an unsaved person. We did a Question-and-Answer teaching on the new birth.

This month's teaching will continue to focus on God's Word as our refuge and strength. We will look at and define our "Standing," "State," and "Fellowship." We will see how God's Word serves as our refuge and strength regarding these terms.

"Standing" is defined in the Bible in Romans 10:9-10. Let's read these verses:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Once we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised him (Jesus) from the dead, we are born-again of God's Spirit. God created His spirit in us which is seed. Let's read I Peter 1:23:

Now we are born-again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abideth forever.

We were born-again of incorruptible seed. As it is written in Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace are you saved through faith [faith of Jesus Christ]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We now are sons and daughters of God forever. Our "Standing" with God is as His children. Turn to I John 3:2:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

According to the scriptures, our "Standing" is one of a son or daughter of God. God is our Father and we are his children. We are of His seed.

I hear people talking all of the time about backsliding once you have been born-again of God's spirit. Backsliding is defined as returning to your old ways before you were born-again. Backsliding is never used in the New Testament. Why? Because once you are a son or daughter of God, it is impossible to be un-born-again!

When I was first born into this world, I was of my earthly father's seed. There was nothing I or anyone could do to change my earthly father's seed. My second birth is of my heavenly Father's incorruptible seed. And there is nothing I or anyone else can do to change that!

Our "State" is our "Fellowship" with God. This is our walk on God's Word. Look at I John 1:3:

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Walking with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ is "Fellowship." Let's continue with 1 John 1:4:

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

If you have no joy in your life, you need to look at your "Fellowship" with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. God's Word tells us we will have joy in our life when we are in "Fellowship" with God. The record in I John continues with verse 5:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is what? Light. And we are children of the light. In Ephesians 5:8, we are told:

For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Let's go back to I John 1:6:

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

When we break "Fellowship," we walk in darkness. We are no longer walking as children of the light. This means we are no longer are walking in God's Word. Let's continue with 1 John 1:7:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleansed us from all sin [broken fellowship].

Our "Fellowship" requires us to walk according to God's Word which is His Will. Once we are walking in alignment with God's Word, we have "Fellowship" with our Father and His son Jesus Christ. Look at I John 1:8:

If we say that we have no sin [broken fellowship], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

To say once you are born-again you do not have broken "Fellowship," we deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us. Remember John 3:6:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Flesh and spirit never overlap in the Bible. The part of us that is born of the flesh is flesh and can break "Fellowship" with God. 1 John 1:9 tells us:

If we confess our sins [broken fellowship], he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [broken fellowship], and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Remission of sins is for the unsaved. Once you are saved or born-again, your sin is considered broken "Fellowship." At those times when we sin or break "Fellowship" with God, we must confess our broken fellowship. The Bible tells us that God is faithful and just to forgive us our broken fellowship. This is God's love! Our Father always goes above and beyond all we can ask or think. God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. What a wonderful Father we have!

Jesus Christ is our intercession and our advocate with the Father. Turn to Romans 8:34:

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

I John 2:1 instructs us:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

When I was born into my earthly father's family, I had to obey his rules or be disciplined. When I disobeyed his rules, I was still his son. I was just a little sore on my back side.

Our "Standing" as a son or daughter of God does not change because of our broken Fellowship with God and His son. Remember this new birth is spiritual; it does not affect your mind. John 3:6 tell us:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Flesh and spirit never overlap in the Bible. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature or creation (see II Corinthians 5:17). This new creation is spirit. When you were born-again it did not make your flesh perfect or do anything to your mind. You didn't feel any different.

So now you are thinking no matter what I do I am still a son or daughter of God. You are correct! Paul addressed the same question in Romans 6:1-23: Let's look at this record. While it is long, I believe it will give us insight into our "Standing" and how to maintain "Fellowship" with God.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.

What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Father's Will is that we walk in "Fellowship" with Him and His son Jesus Christ.

In summary, we defined our "Standing," "State" and "Fellowship." According to the scriptures, our "Standing" is one of a son or daughter of God. God is our Father, and we are His children. We are of His seed. Our "State" is our "Fellowship" with God. This is our walk on God's Word. We learned our "Standing" as a son or daughter of God does not change because of our broken Fellowship with God and His son. We also learned when we break "Fellowship" with God, we need to confess our broken "Fellowship." The Bible tells us that God is always faithful and just to forgive us our broken "Fellowship." This is God's love for us! Our Father always goes beyond all we can ask or think. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. What a wonderful Father we have!

God's son Jesus Christ is our intercession and our advocate with the Father. When we understand God's Word regarding our "Standing," "State" and "Fellowship," we have refuge and strength!

Father, may each of us endeavor to walk in fellowship with you and your son with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And when we break "Fellowship" with you, we have an intercessor and advocate in Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. Thank you, Father, for our "Standing" as your sons and daughters in this day and time. Thank you, Father, for making us free from sin and giving us everlasting life. May the life we now live in the flesh, we live for you Father. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Next month's teaching will continue to look at the Word of God as our refuge and strength.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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