Walking in Fellowship with God Part. 2

The reason the United States is in trouble is because the church is in trouble – the church is not what God intended it to be.

Summary

Jesus came to save us from our sin.  Any form of Christianity that compromises and leaves people comfortable in sin is not authentic Christianity.  The true grace of God delivers us from sin.

Outline

1. Compassion is the channel of God’s grace and power.
   1. Pr. Mike felt God’s compassion for his friend because he had known him since 2^nd grade.
   2. God has compassion on us because he has known us so long.
   3. God has great compassion for us and loves us.
   4. God will never leave or forsake us, He wants us in heaven and wants us to have fellowship with us.
   5. God did not save us and cleanse us so that we can go back into sin.
   6. The purpose of this message is to prove from scripture that God’s grace is not a license to sin.
2. There is a lot of teaching that 1 John 1:9 is not for believers but for unbelievers.
   1. God knows everything we do and why we do them.
   2. Our lives are not hidden from God but hidden in Christ.
   3. The purpose of these messages are not to make us sin conscious.
   4. The purpose is to convince us through scripture that we have been delivered from the power of sin so we do not walk in it any more.
   5. This whole passage talks about those who claim fellowship with God – this cannot be unbelievers.
   6. The reason the United States is in trouble is because the church is in trouble – the church is not what God intended it to be.
   7. There are reasons we are supposed to walk in righteousness and are not to walk in sin.
3. 1 Jn 2:28 – Abide in Him that when He appears…we are like Him.
   1. If we live our lives any way we want to live it, John warns like Paul that there is a day coming where we will have to give account for our deeds done in the flesh – we need to live in a way that when He comes, we are not ashamed.
4. 1 Cor. 11:30 – God brings correction to save us so that we will not be condemned with the world.
   1. This passage that is very challenging is written to those taking communion – in other words – to believers.
   2. Implied by these verses is that there is a possibility of being condemned with the world.
   3. If God continually corrects us and we continually harden our hearts, scriptures tell us that the Lord will blot our name out of the book of life – this means that someone who belonged to the Lord is cut off.
5. 1 Cor. 3:11 – Every man’s work will be made manifest the day we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
   1. We are meant to do all things as unto the Lord and for His glory.
   2. Why we do things are just as important as what we do.
   3. We need to be servants of the Lord in all things.
   4. We need to walk in fellowship with God.
   5. Paul who talked the most about grace also is the one who talks the most about living right.
6. 1 Tim. 4:16 – Take heed to yourselves and your doctrine – for you will save yourself and those who hear you.
   1. You need to live right and it will save you and those who hear you.
   2. If you are going to live like the devil, you belong to him.
   3. If you are a friend of the world you are an enemy against God.
   4. God loves the people of the world, not their lifestyles.
   5. People often embrace the things of the world and think it is ok, but it makes you an enemy of God – so much of the church is doing that right now.
   6. We are meant to be a light in a world of darkness – there must be something different about us.
   7. The world should not be able to look at us and be like they are looking at themselves in a mirror.
7. 1 Cor. 5:1 – In response to fornication in the church, Paul commands that it be put out of the church.
   1. The church was puffed up rather than mourning over sin in the church.
   2. Paul dealt with people appropriately concerning sin, when he needed to he was harsh and when it was required he was gentle – He ministered true grace.
   3. Does the church today correct people for the purpose of turning them back to the Lord?
   4. Often the church today does not address sin in her midst.
   5. Paul tells us that we are responsible to judge those within the church not those without.
   6. The church often judges those in the world instead of those in the pews.
   7. A motivational speaker will not confront your sin, but a pastor will.
   8. Pastors love the people so they confront sin and correct the flock.
8. 1 Cor. 6:9 – The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
   1. Many believers once walked in great wickedness, but they were cleansed by Jesus.
   2. We are not mere men, we are men with God on the inside.
   3. Many say we are just sinners saved by grace.
   4. We were sinners, now we are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.
   5. We need to wake up to who we are in Jesus Christ.
   6. Think about your life, is someone followed you would they be following Christ?
9. God expects us to live right because of what He did for us and what He has done in us.
10. Titus 2:11 – Grace that brings salvation has appeared – teaching us to live righteously.
    1. Grace teaches us to deny our flesh and live for God.
    2. The grace of God does not allow us in sin, it delivers us from sin.
    3. All scripture is given to teach us to live in righteousness.
    4. The grace of God sets us free from sin and empowers us to live for God.