BROKEN FELLOWSHIP

In the beginning, God made a lot of things, but His greatest creation was made in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27). Just as the Father, the Son, and the Spirit have fellowship with one another, man was created to be a part of that fellowship (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Jn. 5:7). Unfortunately, Adam took the word of the serpent and his wife over the Word of God, and in so doing, he broke fellowship with God. Adam sinned, the consequences of which instantly brought about his spiritual death; his fallen nature passed on to all of humanity, and as a result, we all sin (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-10; Rom. 5:12). Sin breaks fellowship with God.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides everyone with the opportunity to be born again spiritually, and as His adopted child, to become a partaker in the fellowship between God and His children (Jn. 3:3-8; Rom. 8:15; 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 15:3-4). By placing our faith in the Father who offered His Son as a sacrifice for our sin, we are no longer enemies of God, but are His friends (Jn. 6:29; 15:15; Jam. 4:4). Sin broke man's fellowship with Almighty God, and His sacrifice restored it.

Sin is such an abomination to God, that He refuses to hear the prayers of those living in sin (Job 27:8-9; 35:13; Ps. 18:41; 66:18; Prov. 21:13; 28:9; Isa. 1:15; 59:2; Jer. 11:11; 14:12; Lam. 3:8, 44; Ezek. 8:18; 20:3; Mic. 3:4; Jn. 9:31; Jam. 1:6-7; 1 Pet. 3:7). However, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn. 1:9).

While it is not always sin that breaks fellowship with our brethren, it usually is; if not ours, theirs. When a brother sins against us, WE are instructed to make every effort to reconcile with him (Matt. 18:15-17). I have often thought that this passage meant to reject him altogether, but I now believe it has something quite different to say. How are we to treat the lost? Are we to be rude to them? No! We are to pray for them, and to continually make every effort to convince them to love the Lord and their neighbor. If we are at fault, Jesus taught that WE are to go reconcile with our brother even before we worship Him (Matt. 5:23-24). If they sin, I am to go to them; if I sin, I am to go to them. It is MY job to restore fellowship if at all possible (Rom. 12:18).

Sin breaks fellowship, and because of that, it is an abomination to God. It is equally damaging to our witness for Christ. Jesus prayed that Christians would be united in fellowship "so that the world would believe (God) sent (Him)" (Jn. 17:11, 21-23). Our unity shows that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, a fact that demonstrates God loves mankind (Jn. 17:23; Eph. 4:3)! God wants us to love one another (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:43-48; 7:12; 22:40; 1 Thes. 3:11-13; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:23)! Fellowship is important!