Austin CFC 2016 - Zac Poonen conference - Session 1 -Fellowship with God and with one another
- Building Fellowship And the Body of Christ - Session 1 - Fellowship with God and with one another
Summary
The speaker argues that many Christians focus only on forgiveness for heaven rather than living out the 'life of God' on Earth. He uses the analogy of Israel's journey—from Egypt (unbelievers) to the Wilderness (relying solely on past cleansing) and finally to Canaan (the New Covenant)—to illustrate spiritual progress. True fellowship and building the Body of Christ require moving beyond the endless cycle of sinning and repenting, which is necessary for overcoming sin.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What does it mean to go on sinning willfully?Hebrews 10 speaks of a specific category of believers who have known the truth that sets free from sin, yet continue to sin willfully instead of walking in victory.
The three spiritual locations of God's peopleThe journey of the Israelites through Egypt, the Wilderness, and Canaan pictures unbelievers, forgiven believers trapped in a cycle of defeat, and New Covenant believers who conquer spiritual giants.
Conquering the giants of sin in our livesJust as David defeated Goliath through faith in God rather than human armor, believers must face and conquer the powerful sins that rule their flesh, such as anger and sexual impurity.
Treating the blood of Christ with reverenceTaking sin lightly means treating the precious blood of Christ like cheap tap water, insulting the Holy Spirit of grace.Hebrews 10:26
Singing an ever-fresh song about the blood of JesusIn heaven, the redeemed sing a new and ever-fresh song about being purchased by the blood of Christ, which should be our foretaste and preparation on Earth.Revelation 5:9
Fellowship with God and with one anotherTrue biblical fellowship is like the two arms of the cross; we cannot have genuine fellowship with one another unless we first have fellowship with God.1 John 1:3
The serious warning about loving our brothersScripture plainly states that if someone claims to love God but hates or cannot love their brother, they are deceiving themselves and are called a liar.1 John 4:20
Jesus died to destroy human divisions and make us one bodyChrist died on the cross to break down all dividing walls of culture, race, and background—such as Jews and Gentiles, or Greeks and barbarians—to form a single church.Colossians 3:9–11
Reconciliation through the crossJesus abolished the enmity between different human groups in His flesh on the cross, reconciling both Jews and Gentiles into one body to God.Ephesians 2:13–16
Investing our lives in building the churchJust as Noah built the ark to survive the flood, believers must give themselves to building the church and the body of Christ, which is the only thing that will remain when this world is destroyed.
