6. RELATIONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
DO CHRISTIANS SIN?
Yes, Christians sin every day in thought, word and in deed.
They are guilty of sins of omission as well as sins of commission.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS SIN?
No, God's will is that Christians should not sin. 1 John 2:1.
WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS, DOES HE LOSE HIS SALVATION?
No, salvation is a free gift of God, and once it is given, it
is never taken back again. Romans 6:23.
BUT DOESN'T THE PENALTY OF THOSE SINS HAVE TO BE PAID?
Jesus Christ bore the penalty of those sins when He died on
the Cross of Calvary. God does not require the penalty to be paid
twice.
YOU MEAN, THEN, THAT A CHRISTIAN IS STILL A CHILD OF GOD, EVEN
THOUGH HE SINS?
Yes, his relationship in the family of God is eternal. When a
son is born into a human family, he will always be a son of his
parents. He may subsequently disgrace them by his behavior, but
he is still their son. So it is in the Divine family;
relationship is established by the new birth and nothing can ever
change it. John 1:12.
WHAT DOES HAPPEN, THEN, WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS?
Fellowship is the happy family spirit that results from all
the members having the same interests, and sharing things in
common. Consider the following illustration. A judge in the
criminal court finds a robber guilty and sentences him to twelve
months in jail. When the judge goes home that night, he finds
that his little boy has been naughty. But does he sentence him to
twelve months in jail? No, he no longer acts as a judge, but as a
father in a family. The child is still his son, even though
naughty. Because of sin, the happy family spirit has been broken
and it remains broken until that sin has been confessed and
forgiven. So the child is probably sent upstairs and he remains
there until he is willing to confess his wrong. The great point
is that relationship was not affected but fellowship was.
When a person is a sinner, God is his Judge. But when that
person becomes saved, God is henceforth his Father.
THEN YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT ONCE A PERSON IS SAVED HE CAN NEVER BE
LOST?
That is what the Bible says. "They shall never perish." John
10:28. "Shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from
death unto life. John 5:24; Romans 8:38,39; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1
Peter 1:5; Jude 24,25.
CANNOT A PERSON DECIDE TO BE SAVED AND LATER CHANGE HIS MIND?
When a person has once committed his life to the Lord Jesus
Christ, then his eternal salvation becomes the sole responsibility
of the Savior. John 6:39. The Lord is honor-bound to take that
person home to heaven. And because the Holy Spirit dwells in the
true believer, he will never change his mind about being saved.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT A CHRISTIAN CAN SIN ALL HE WANTS AND STILL BE
SAVED?
A true Christian will not want to sin, because he has a new
nature that hates sin. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
BUT SUPPOSE A CHRISTIAN GOES ON IN WILFUL AND HABITUAL SIN?
If a person lives that kind of a life, it is certain proof
that he was never truly born again. 1 John 3:9,10.
CAN A CHRISTIAN SIN AND GET AWAY WITH IT?
No, he can not. While is it true that the legal penalty of
his sins has been paid once for all at Calvary, it is also true
that God administers parental discipline to his erring children.
Galatians 6:7,8.
HOW DOES GOD DISCIPLINE HIS CHILDREN?
Sometimes it is through sickness or adversity and in extreme
cases through death itself. 1 Corinthians 11:30.
DOES SIN IN A BELIEVER'S LIFE HAVE ANY OTHER CONSEQUENCES IN THIS
WORLD?
Yes. He loses his joy. His prayers are hindered. His
fruitfulness is marred. His guidance become obscure. He suffers
shame and remorse. Opportunities are neglected and privileges
forfeited. Finally his testimony is ruined.
DOES SIN IN A BELIEVER'S LIFE HAVE ANY ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES?
Yes, he suffers loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 1
Corinthians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 5:10.
SUPPOSE THAT A CHRISTIAN SHOULD DIE WITH UNCONFESSED SIN?
As mentioned previously, the penalty for all a believer's sin
was borne by the Lord Jesus. When He died, all the Christian's
sins were future. Since He paid the complete penalty, we can say
He died for the believer's past, present and future sins.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A CHRISTIAN TO BACKSLIDE?
Yes, any child of God may wander away from the Lord.
HOW MAY WE GUARD AGAINST BACKSLIDING?
By reading the Word of God, by spending time in prayer and by
maintaining fellowship with the people of God.
WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR BACKSLIDING?
The cure for backsliding is confession and forsaking of sin,
and, if possible, making restitution for wrongs which we have
committed.
For more information:
Southern Maryland Christian Information Service BBS (SMCIS)
P. O. Box 463
California, MD 20619
modem 301/8623160
SYSOP: Buggs Bugnon