Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
November 5, 1970
NUMBER 26, PAGE 7-8

Fellowship

Why Are Christians Not To Have Fellowship With Brethren Living In Sin?

Larry A. Bunch

In many articles, bulletins, tracts, etc. we read much on the subject of fellowship and church discipline. Our purpose is to try and answer the question which heads this article with the understanding that our readers are aware of the New Testament teaching on church discipline and the purpose of withdrawing of fellowship.

We sustain a spiritual relationship one to another because we are in Jesus Christ; we have been redeemed with the blood of Christ. Since we are sanctified, Jesus is not ashamed to call us "brethren" (Heb. 2:11) and since we are "brethren" of the Lord, we are "brethren" of one another.

As long as we sustain this relationship with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), we have fellowship with Him, and with one another. But sin, unrepented of, will sever this relationship with God, and since this relationship is severed with God, it is necessarily severed one with another.

Chart 1

Read I John 1:5-10. Here we learn that God is "light" and sin is, therefore, "darkness." If we walk in "darkness," saying we have "fellowship" with Him, we "lie, and do not the truth." However, if we walk in the "light," we have fellowship with Him and with one another — indicating that if we do not walk in the light we do not have fellowship with one another because we have no fellowship with Him! Not only this, but walking in the light does not mean that one never sins, or that he is perfect, for John says that "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth (continuing action, lab) us from all sin." The old argument, "We all sin" does not work! This is where we emphasize the attitude one has toward God and His word — we may have fellowship with brethren who do not agree completely with us, but who are striving their best to do the will of God and whose attitude is, "Not my will, but Thine be done." On the other hand, brethren doing precisely what the Lord says and with whom we agree completely, may not enjoy our fellowship because their attitude is, "Not Thine will, but mine be done." When this attitude comes up against something God says that they don't want to do, they will rebel against God.

Chart 2

Fellowship with God (walking in the light) and with one another is illustrated in chart number one. In this chart, we are speaking of a spiritual fellowship or relationship with God and with one another. We sustain this relationship whether we know the others in this union or not (cf, Acts 2:47 with Acts 8:38). We may take this same chart, and using solid lines between the "men," illustrate a fellowship we may have in a local congregation (pooling resources, eating the Lord's supper, singing, etc.) (see chart number two).

Fellowship with God (walking in the light may be broken. How? By sin — by one's refusing to walk in the light! This is illustrated in chart number three.

Sin has broken the line of communication (fellowship) between the man and his God. He does not have fellowship with God (though he may claim it!). Since he does not have spiritual fellowship with God, he does not have it with other brethren whose relationship with God is unchanged. If he has no spiritual fellowship with God, no spiritual fellowship with other brethren, why do brethren think the relationship formerly enjoyed can still be maintained? Look at the man or woman, professing Christianity, and living in sin:

Chart 3

(1) Has no more sacrifice for sins to be offered (Heb. 10:26).

(2) May fearfully look forward to the judgment of God (Heb. 10:27).

(3) Expects to be devoured by fierce fire (Heb. 10:27).

(4) More punishment than those setting at naught Moses' law (Heb. 10:28, 29).

(5) Trodding the Son of God underfoot! Counts Him as dirt under their feet! (Heb. 10:29)

(6) Counts the blood Jesus shed on the cross as unholy! (Heb. 10:29)

(7) Despises the Spirit of grace! (Heb. 10:29)

(8) Worse off than if they had never obeyed the gospel! (2 Pet. 2:20)

(9) Likened unto a clean sow wallowing in the murky mire again! (2 Pet. 2:22)

(10) Likened unto a sick dog turning and eating his own vomit! (2 Pet. 2:22)

Can we fellowship, in the full sense of the word, a person like this? God does not! If you know of one like this, not a member of the church where you worship, would you fellowship him? If not, why continue fellowship with those in your midst who have turned to this?

Brethren, in order to be pleasing in the sight of God, our "chart" must look like chart number four!

Chart 4

— 509 Evanston Houston, Texas 77015