◄ Fellowship and Unity - Study in Prayer (5) ►

STUDY in PRAYER

If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

Plan of Redemption

Every member of the human race is a sinner – so all are under God’s condemnation, but God’s plan of redemption was so designed that sin could be eternally forgiven – the Lord Jesus willingly took the punishment to forgive the sin of the whole world.

Free Gift of Grace

God’s wrath and condemnation for the sin of the world was poured out on Christ. All that man has to do to receive this free gift of grace is to believe on Jesus Christ – simply believing puts us in union with Christ and places us into the family of God. Neither sinner nor saint are condemned for their sin, for all sin has been forgiven. Neither saint nor sinner will be judged for their sin for God's judgement fell on Christ. We are all judged for our works.

God’s Judgement

Jesus bore the sins of the world for sinner and saint alike. The price for all sin was paid at the cross. Those who believe are not condemned but those who do not believe remain under God’s condemnation. God’s judgement for all sin fell on Christ, but believer and unbeliever alike will be ‘judged’ on what they thought of Christ. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:17-18

Blood of Christ

So if our sin is already forgiven – what does it mean when John tells us that: the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin? Well – this is not a verse that is telling the unbeliever how to be saved – This verse is telling the child of God how to remain in fellowship with the Father.

Permanent Union

The union we have with Christ when we first believed is eternal and can’t be broken. When we trusted Jesus as Saviour all our sins – past, present and future were forgiven – and we were placed in everlasting, permanent and unbreakable union with Christ.

Broken Fellowship

Union with Christ can never be severed but Communion with God can be broken. Every believer can enjoy fellowship with the Father – but it can be interrupted. We were placed in permanent union with Christ the moment we were saved. Directly we are born again we are positioned in Christ for time and eternity, but fellowship with God and unity with the Spirit can be damaged and broken.

Access to God

From the moment of our rebirth, we have direct access to the Father’s throne of grace. Directly we become a child of God we can enjoy sweet fellowship with the Father. But access to the Father and fellowship with Him is always broken when we sin. When we sin in thought or word or deed we erect a barrier between God, and us. Living a fleshly or carnal life, instead of a spiritual one is disobeying the Lord – and prayers and intercessions will only be received from the one that is pure.

Confession Restores Communion

Oh! the cross dealt with forgiveness of sin – but confession restores communion. When we discover we are out of fellowship with God we need to confess our sins. When we realise we’ve sinned we need to go straight to the throne of grace and confess – and when we do we are restored into loving fellowship with our heavenly Father.

Penitent Heart

OH! – by ‘confession’, I do not mean attending a man-made confessional,  but coming to the feet of the Father with a humble and penitent heart, A heart that is broken before the Lord is the heart that is cleansed and restored.

Fruitless Intercession

Intercession is fruitless without a heart that has been cleansed of all sin. Intercession is fruitless without a heart filled to overflowing with the love OF Jesus. Intercession is fruitless without a heart filled to overflowing with love FOR Jesus. Intercession is ineffective – without the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. Intercession is empty words from a believer who is out of fellowship.

Effective Intercession

Effective intercession rests on fellowship with God and demands a clean heart. Fellowship with the Father – is through the Son – in the Spirit of love and truth. This is the reason that it is critical to understand what is behind 1John chapter 1. if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:7;8

Forgiven and Cleansed

Sins are finally and forever forgiven at the cross – all sin. A penitent believer who sins is cleansed by simply telling the Father – Father I sinned. The grace, faithfulness and justice of God forgave all your sin at the cross. The grace, faithfulness and justice of God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Let us fly to the throne of grace the moment we find we have sinned against God – and find grace to restore and help us in time of need.