True Heart

One of God's wonderful purposes in our salvation is that we might have fellowship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3, 3:24). Before Adam and Eve sinned, they had fellowship with God. But with the entrance of sin, that fellowship was broken (Genesis 3:24). Now, however, those who trust Christ are brought into a new relationship with God that makes fellowship with Him possible again.

God is perfectly and unchangeably holy, and since two cannot walk together or fellowship unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3), we must fellowship with Him according to His standards. He walks "in the light" and requires that we also "walk in the light"(1 John 1:7). This means that the believer's life must be characterized by purity and uprightness, made possible through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).

The key to a life of fellowship with God is obedience to His revealed will. By His Word and the privilege of prayer, God makes possible our continual fellowship with Him and makes His will known to us. Furthermore, Christ indwells us through the Holy Spirit to work in us, that which pleases God (Hebrews 13:20,21).

We just learned that fellowship is maintained through obedience to the revealed will of God. When God's will is not obeyed, fellowship is broken. Sin, no matter how small, will break fellowship, since fellowship hangs on the slender thread of obedience. When a Christian sins, he opens the door for more sin. Coldness develops in the heart toward God and the Bible. Unless restoration is speedily made, the habits of the old life soon take over, to the distress of the believer and the dishonor of God. If we persist in sin, God may have to use strenuous measures to restore the believer to Himself (Hebrews 12:3-15). If the Christian persists in sin, God's dealings must be drastic and severe (1 Corinthians 11:28-32).

Some people believe they need to be saved again when they drift from God, but the Bible doesn't teach that. Through Christ's work as Mediator, the relationship between God and His sinning child is maintained. "My little children," we are told, "these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). The reason He can be successful in His advocacy for us is that when we sin, the case He pleads before God is not our case but His own-that He has already paid the price of our redemption for sin (1 John 2:2).

Fellowship is restored by confession. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The word "confess" means "to agree with." The only sins God can't forgive are the ones we refuse to admit as sins. However, the moment we confess and repent of or turn away from the sins that have come between us and Him, we are brought back into complete fellowship. Forgiveness is assured; we must believe that God will provide it. Christ's blood was shed for all sin, which includes the present, and therefore is for continual cleansing (1 John 1:7).

David is an example of one who sinned, lost his fellowship (not his salvation) and then was restored. When brought face to face with what he had done wrong, David broke down before God and cried out, "Have mercy upon me, O God. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. . . . Restore to me the joy of Your salvation; and uphold me with Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways; and sinners shall be converted to You" (Ps. 51:1,2,12,13).

Learn this lesson early in your Christian life. When something comes between you and God, confess it (acknowledge it) to Him immediately and specifically, whatever it may be. Remember, Satan did not want you to be saved in the first place. Since he has failed in that, he will try to keep you from fellowshipping with the Lord. Satan knows that "for without Me [Christ] you can do nothing" (John 15:5). When you are not in fellowship with the Lord you do not grow spiritually and you are not able to serve Him as His witness. Trust the Lord, however, to give you grace to defeat the enemy and thus bring joy to the heart of God through walking with Him "in truth" (3 John 4).