[Biblemat] S:> Defining Our Spiritual Association
Ethan R. Longhenry
disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Tue Sep 25 00:57:26 CDT 2007
http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html
Defining Our Spiritual Association
I. Introduction
A. We live in a confusing religious landscape
1. We live in a country full of people professing
Christianity!
2. We agree with most such persons on many issues
3. We may even feel many times that together we stand
against various problems in the world
B. Because of this reality, we must ask ourselves: how do we
relate to such persons?
1. Do we consider them "fellow Christians"?
2. Do we maintain spiritual association with them?
3. Do we need to convert them?
C. They also may ask similar questions of us
1. Do we think that they are Christians?
2. Do we think that they are saved?
D. Let us spend some time considering these matters
II. Understanding Association in the New Testament
A. We cannot answer our questions without first understanding
the nature of association in the New Testament
B. Association: Greek koinonia, "fellowship, association, joint
participation, community"
C. In the New Testament, the term is used to describe the
relationship among Christians (Acts 2:42)
D. It is important to realize, however, the origin of this
association
E. We must have association with Christ and cleansing in His
blood to have proper association with one another!
1. 1 Corinthians 1:9
2. 1 John 1:3, 6-7
3. If we walk in the light as Christ is the light, then and
only then do we have association with one another
F. Association, then, is not something we choose on the basis
of our own desires, wants, or beliefs: our association is
based upon a joint walk with the Lord
1. Road illustration
2. We walk together not because we made a previous
arrangement...
3. ...we walk together because we come to Christ and then
see others who are in Christ who share that same goal
G. It is Christ, then, and walking in His footsteps that
establishes our association
H. How can this help us establish our spiritual association?
III. Establishing Spiritual Association
A. It is manifest, then, that we must walk with Christ if we
are going to have association
B. But what is the definition of "walking with Christ"?
C. Some claim that "walking with Christ" only represents the
"essentials" of the faith
1. Such is prevalent in the ecumenical movement that is
popular amongst denominations today
2. As long as certain tenets, mostly of belief, are
observed, it is believed that all are part of Christ's
church
D. What does the Bible teach?
E. 1 John 2:3-6
1. It is not based on profession alone, but the way in which
one walks
2. One is to walk according to His commandments
3. One can only know Jesus (or have association with Him) if
he or she obeys God's commands
F. The definition of "walking with God" is to be an "obedient
servant"
G. Our association, then, must be with obedient servants of God
IV. Obedient Servants of God
A. What, then, constitutes an obedient servant of God?
B. It is not perfection
1. Romans 3:23: all continually fall short of God's glory
2. 1 John 1:8: we all still have sin
C. Cleansing from sin
1. Isaiah 59:1-2: sin separates from God-- separation is
against the idea of association
2. Sin, then, must be purged
3. According to the NT, immersion in water for the remission
of sin is the only way to receive this cleansing
(Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-7, 1 Peter 3:21)
4. If one is not immersed in water for the remission of sin,
where in the New Testament do we get the idea that such
a one is clean?
5. Baptism, however, is not enough: one must continually
confess and repent of sin that is committed afterward
if one desires to maintain one's relationship with God
and the continual cleansing in Christ's blood
(1 John 1:6-9)
6. We know that the church will be entirely clean
(Ephesians 5:25-27); if we are part of that church,
we must be clean!
D. Avoiding immorality / doing righteousness
1. Galatians 5:19-24
2. Those who have association with God do His will, and part
of that is not doing that which is wrong and doing that
which is right
3. Romans 12:9
4. We may stumble in this, but we will persevere and
continue to strive if we are of Him
E. These are some of the many attributes that comprise
obedient servants of God
V. Collections of Obedient Servants of God
A. From what we have already established, we logically flow
into the next aspect: the collections of obedient servants
of God
B. Those who have been cleansed by Christ's blood, who are
striving to avoid sin and trying to do that which is right
will seek persons who do the same
C. Hence God's plan for the church, both universal and local
D. An obedient servant of God, part of God's universal Church,
will seek to assemble with fellow obedient servants as part
of a local congregation to build one another up
(Hebrews 10:24-25)
E. This will only be possible where there is unity
(1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:2)
1. There is but one faith, as there is one Lord
(Ephesians 4:4-5)
2. If there is not agreement about the faith, there cannot
be the encouragement desired by God in the local church!
F. From what we have seen so far, then, we can establish
spiritual association
1. Those who come to faith in Christ strive to be His
obedient servants
2. Those obedient servants will seek out fellow obedient
servants with whom they share Christ's walk
3. Such is to represent the local church
G. Let us now return, then, to how we relate to others
VI. Defining Our Spiritual Association
A. It is critical for us to properly define our spiritual
association
B. We do not save or condemn anyone
1. James 4:12, Romans 14:4, 10-12
2. We will all individually stand or fall before our Master
3. Therefore, that kind of judgment is not ours to make
C. It is manifest, however, that discernment must exist within
our association!
1. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
2. Romans 16:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:1-5
3. We are called upon to purge leaven from the church and to
avoid those who teach that which is wrong or act
improperly
D. We will not stand in judgment based on the actions of others;
we will, however, be judged in regards to those with whom we
have spiritual association
E. Therefore, what have we seen?
F. If any are not baptized believers, we cannot maintain
spiritual association with them
1. We have seen that such persons have not been cleansed
from sin and therefore are separated from God
(Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21, Isaiah 59:1)
2. Baptism is no idle concept, nor some minor ritual: it is
the only means by which our former sins can be purged!
3. Since such persons are not walking with Christ, how can
we have association with them?
4. Sure, we may associate with them in the world, but we
cannot give the impression that we think that they are
fine with God and that we are all on the same side!
G. If any are baptized believers, but walk disorderly, we
cannot maintain spiritual association with them
1. 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
2. As we established, baptism is not the end of cleansing--
we must continue to strive to be obedient servants and do
that which is right, confessing sin and repenting of it
3. Those who continue in sin are liable to Hebrews 10:26-31,
2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.
4. Since such persons are manifestly not walking with God,
having their sins cleansed by the blood of Jesus, how
can we maintain association with them?
5. Paul urges us to not even eat with such ones
(1 Corinthians 5:11)!
6. Such persons must learn that there is no godly approval
for how they are living, and there must be a clear
division between them and those who are obedient
servants of God!
H. If any are baptized believers, but teach different doctrines
and do not agree with the sound words of God, we cannot
maintain spiritual association with them
1. Romans 16:17, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-5
2. False teachings have the same effect as immorality
(Galatians 5:9, 10-12; cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7)
3. If such people make it clear that they do not know God
because they teach things contrary to the commandments
of God, how can it be that they are walking with Him?
4. And if they are not walking with Him, how can we have
association with them?
5. Such ones must be avoided!
I. We must have spiritual association with those who are
baptized believers and who strive to obey God, following
His commandments, confessing and repenting of sin
1. This is the exact message of 1 John 1:5-10
2. Such persons are the ones who truly represent Christ's
Church
3. Consider 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
4. If we are not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers, why
would we yoke ourselves in association with people who
are not obedient servants of God?
5. Yes, this takes discernment, but it is the discernment
commanded of us in 1 Corinthians 5
J. We have answers to our questions
1. If one is not cleansed of sin through baptism, they are
in no true way Christians
2. If they do not walk with God, we cannot have spiritual
association with them
3. If one has been cleansed of sin through baptism, one is
a Christian, but must continue to strive to be an
obedient servant; with such persons we are to have
spiritual association
4. If one was cleansed of sin through baptism, but
continually walks disorderly, or teaches things
contrary to God's truth, any association must be
severed with him
K. Let us be considerate of our spiritual association and
strive to please God in our own lives and by those with
whom we labor together in the Lord
L. Songbook/invitation
Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
(http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
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