NEW LIFE SERIES
Lesson 2
BEGINNING YOUR NEW LIFE OF FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

Every Christian can experience fellowship with God moment by moment as he learns to confess sin in his life. To live in fellowship with Jesus Christ is to experience a full and abundant life.

When you received Jesus Christ, you established a personal relationship with Him. You became a child of God (Jn. 1:12). You received His life so now you bear His name “Christian.”

A common that many ask is, “what happens when I sin and do things that are displeasing to God?” In other words, “Is my relationship broken?” “Does Jesus leave my life?”

The answer to this question can best be understood if we distinguish between our relationship with God and our fellowship with God.

RELATIONSHIP

We can illustrate the difference between our relationship to God and our fellowship with God by the father-son relationship in a human family. When a boy is born into a family, he is the son of his father, because he has his father’s name.

Let’s suppose the son decides to leave home and does many things to disgrace his father. Is he still his father’s son?

The relationship of the father and son is permanent. This relationship exists regardless of the behaviour of the son.

FELLOWSHIP

However, what would happen to their fellowship? Because of the action of the son, their fellowship has been broken. What must the son do to restore their fellowship? The son must go to his father, admitting he is wrong and asking for forgiveness.

Let us relate this illustration to our relationship with God. Our relationship with God, our Father, is permanent. We are His children. This relationship never changes. But when we sin and do things that are displeasing to God, our fellowship is broken. So, in order for our fellowship with God to be restored, we must admit to him that we have been wrong and accept His forgiveness.

We can illustrate the difference between our relationship and our fellowship with God using three circles. Write the answers in the blanks below. Read 1 Cor. 2:14 to 1 Cor. 3:3

  1. How is the non-Christian described in in 1 Cor. 2:14? (No. 1) ______________________________________________________
  2. How is the Christ-directed man described in 1 Cor. 2:15? (No. 2) ______________________________________________________
  3. How is the self-directed man described man described in 1 Cor. 3:1-3? (No. 3) ________________________________________________________________

While the natural man does not have Christ in His life, Christ is in the lives of both the spiritual man and carnal man; they are Christians. Now, let us examine each circle to see which one has both a relationship and fellowship with God. Write the answers in the corresponding blanks.

Circle No. 1

 

 

 

  1. Does the natural man in circle No. 1 have a relationship with God? (No. 4) ___________________________________________________________
  2. Does the natural man in circle No. 1 have a fellowship with God? (No. 5) __________________________________________________________

Circle No.2

  1. Does the spiritual man in circle No. 2 have a relationship with God? (No. 6) ___________________________________________________________
  2. Does the spiritual man in circle No. 2 have a fellowship with God? (No. 7) __________________________________________________________

Circle No.3

  1. Does the carnal man in circle No. 2 have a relationship with God? (No. 8) ___________________________________________________________
  2. Does the carnal man in circle No. 2 have a fellowship with God? (No. 9) __________________________________________________________

The carnal man in circle No. 3 can restore his fellowship with God by confessing his sin. Confession involves three things: agreeing, thanking, and repenting.

When we confess, we AGREE with God that what He has revealed to us as sin is sin. We also THANK God that this sin has been paid for by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Confession is a change of attitude which will result in a change of action.

The Christian needs to understand that when he does and takes over the direction of his life once again, he should immediately confess his sin and God will restore him to fellowship.

Read 1 John 1:9

  1. According to this verse, what are we to do with our sins? _________________________________________________________________________
  2. What did God promise to do when we confess our sins? _________________________________________________________________________

SUGGESTED READING

Read 1 John Chapter 1.