Once and For All | Part Four

"GOD's reputation for abiding faithful over His Word is more important than anything else."

As we saw in the last edition, we have been made righteous by Christ's sacrifice and should, in turn, live righteously. A lifestyle of holiness is not the means to an end (i.e. salvation), but rather a result of that end. We should desire to live holy simply out of appreciation for the redemptive work of Christ--not to be blessed, have our territories enlarged or to experience breakthroughs. Why? Because those things are natural byproducts of our fellowship with GOD: we're entitled to them simply out of obedience to Him (Isaiah 1:19).

Therefore, what we must understand is that there's a difference between relationship and fellowship. And, might I add, we must be careful as believers not to twist the two. I've heard too many brothers and sisters mistakedly use these terms interchangeably. (Doing so only creates confusion in the minds of the saved and unsaved alike, and our hands are already full with correcting the plethora of existing mistaught doctrine.)

So let's start with this key principle: Relationships are BINDING connections. For example, no matter what happens, I will ALWAYS be my father's son. There's nothing I can do to destroy that binding connection because I came from him. He and my mother birthed me into the earth realm. Fellowship, however, is the state of being an associate. When fellowship occurs, there exists a connection of ideas, sensations, even memories that's more loosely held than the binding connection of a relationship (1 Corinthians 1:10). (As a side note, I encourage you to adopt this principle and apply it to your life, as it will ensure you maintain the proper perspective concerning the various people to which you are connected.)

When we accepted Christ and were adopted into the beloved (Ephesians 1:5-7), we became the sons (and daughters) of GOD (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). We were birthed by the Spirit of GOD into GOD's family, thereby becoming heirs of GOD and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). That's a relationship that CAN'T be destroyed because we can not with our own hands mess up what we couldn't create. After all, it's Christ who adds to the church, not man (Acts 2:47).

However, fellowship can be broken. When we're no longer connected to GOD's ideas, His way of doing things, etc., then we're no longer associated with Him. It doesn't mean that our relationship is broken, only the fellowship. He will always be our Father, even when we go astray and turn to our own way; and we'll always be His children. Why? Because He's a covenant-keeping GOD--His reputation for abiding faithful over His Word is more important than anything else. For His name's sake, GOD will not save someone and change His mind about their salvation when s/he sins. 

We must come to an understanding that relationship carries more weight than fellowship with Him. (Sidenote: When it comes to eternal life, too many believers have flipped the script and prioritized fellowship with GOD over a relationship with Him.) If relationship didn't carry more weight than fellowship, then GOD would have thrown Israel away a long time ago...but His arms--even at this very moment--are still outstretched to His chosen people, just as they are to us when we misalign ourselves with His righteousness. It's the relationship that makes fellowship possible, necessary and desirable.

So, by all means, know this: when GOD adopts you, you're in the family for good. Yes, the two of you are going to fall out, disagree and even get upset with each other at times; however, that doesn't get you excommunicated from the family. Thanks be to GOD!!! Even if the two of you don't talk for a while or maybe go some length of time without enjoying each other's presence, the fact can't be denied that He's your daddy. Although you're not perfect, other people (even the unsaved) can see the familial resemblance as they catch glimpses of His likeness in you simply because you carry His spiritual DNA. And that's the power of relationship: it establishes a deeply embedded, lasting connection once and for all.