One of the most

1
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• When I speak of fellowship I speak of those who
  God accepts and then those we should recognize
  and accept as Christians. (1 John 11-3)

2
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• 1 John 11-3 (NKJV) - That which was from the
  beginning, which we have heard, which we have
  seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
  and our hands have handled, concerning the Word
  of life

3
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and
  bear witness, and declare to you that eternal
  life which was with the Father and was manifested
  to us3 that which we have seen and heard we
  declare to you, that you also may have fellowship
  with us and truly our fellowship is with the
  Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• The reason this subject is difficult for many is
  that our tendency is to accept others on our
  tastes and standards. (Example sincerity)

5
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• The reason this subject is difficult for many is
  that our tendency is to accept others on our
  tastes and standards. (Example sincerity)
• Whenever we begin to look at an objective
  standard as the basis of who we accept as
  Christians, then the world will attack you (both
  outside and inside local churches).

6
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• Nevertheless God has clearly given an objective
  standard in both how we become a Christian and
  how a Christian should walk. (1 John 16-7)

7
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• 1 John 16-7 (NKJV) - If we say that we have
  fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie
  and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk
  in the light as He is in the light, we have
  fellowship with one another, and the blood of
  Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• I believe this has been a neglected subject in
  churches today.

9
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• I do not know of a more important subject in the
  Bible. (2 John 9-11)

10
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• Galatians 16-10 - I marvel that you are turning
  away so soon from Him who called you in the grace
  of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not
  another but there are some who trouble you and
  want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even
  if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
  gospel to you than what we have preached to you,
  let him be accursed.

11
One of the most controversial subjects in
todays culture is fellowship

• 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if
  anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what
  you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For
  do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to
  please men? For if I still pleased men, I would
  not be a bondservant of Christ.

12
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Joshua pointed out how to deal with the question
  concerning Jehovah God and Baal. (Josh
  2414-15)

13
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Joshua 2414-15 (NKJV) - Now therefore, fear
  the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth,
  and put away the gods which your fathers served
  on the other side of the River and in Egypt.
  Serve the Lord!

14
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord,
  choose for yourselves this day whom you will
  serve, whether the gods which your fathers served
  that were on the other side of the River, or the
  gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.
  But as for me and my house, we will serve the
  Lord.

15
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• How was the answer to this question to be known?
  Was Joshua a legalist that took away the
  freedom of those who were open-minded to Baal?

16
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• How was the answer to this question to be known?
  Was Joshua a legalist that took away the
  freedom of those who were open-minded to
  Baal?
• When you honestly seek truth, then all of the
  smears of the world mean nothing!

17
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• How was the answer to this question to be known?
  Was Joshua a legalist that took away the
  freedom of those who were open-minded to
  Baal?
• When you honestly seek truth, then all of the
  smears of the world mean nothing!
• When you know the truth you stand and seek those
  who practice it.

18
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Could someone have believed God was true but
  remained with the Baal worshipers so as to teach
  them while yet worshipping Baal?

19
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Could someone have believed God was true but
  remained with the Baal worshipers so as to teach
  them while yet worshipping Baal?
• The truth of any question must be taught to each
  generation.

20
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Could someone have believed God was true but
  remained with the Baal worshipers so as to teach
  them while yet worshipping Baal?
• The truth of any question must be taught to each
  generation.
• The Baal question was not resolved for a later
  generation. (1 Kgs 1821)

21
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• 1 Kings 1821 (NKJV) - And Elijah came to all
  the people, and said, How long will you falter
  between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow
  Him but if Baal, follow him. But the people
  answered him not a word.

22
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Why couldnt Elijah just accept the Baal
  worshipers as sincere seekers of God?

23
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Why did this generation not know? It was because
  of a lack of teaching in the home and because of
  the power of human relationships. (Ex 2328,
  32-33)

24
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Exodus 2328 (NKJV) - And I will send hornets
  before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the
  Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you.

25
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Exodus 2332-33 (NKJV) - You shall make no
  covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They
  shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you
  sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it
  will surely be a snare to you.

26
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Human relationships are Satans most power weapon
  against the truth of God.

27
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• How many in their desire to marry make a change
  for the sake of the one the have fallen in love
  with? (Ex. Charlie Brown and the red haired girl
  Thatll change your theology in a hurry!

28
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Those who have kept statistics about those who
  marry outside of the Lords church show that over
  70 fall away.

29
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Jesus knew this and warned us ahead of time. (Mt
  1035-37)

30
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Matthew 1035-37 (NKJV) - For I have come to
  set a man against his father, a daughter against
  her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
  mother-in-law 36 and a mans enemies will be
  those of his own household. 37 He who loves
  father or mother more than Me is not worthy of
  Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me
  is not worthy of Me.

31
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• Consider one example of the power of
  relationships. (Jn 922)

32
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• John 922 (NKJV) - His parents said these things
  because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had
  agreed already that if anyone confessed that He
  was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

33
Fellowship with God demands a personal faith that
will take a stand

• The blind man had unassailable evidence and
  reasoning but the others were not
  operating on that basis!

34
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Why have differences on the subject of water
  baptism historically demanded a separation
  of fellowship?

35
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Jesus placed baptism as a foundational doctrine
  for all Christians. (Eph 44-6)

36
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Ephesians 44-6 (NKJV) - There is one body and
  one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope
  of your calling 5 one Lord, one faith, one
  baptism 6 one God and Father of all, who is
  above all, and through all, and in you all.

37
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Paul indicated that all Christians were brought
  into fellowship with Christ and His blood at the
  point of baptism. (Rom 63-4 Gal 326-27)

38
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Romans 63-4 (NKJV) - Or do you not know that as
  many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
  were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were
  buried with Him through baptism into death, that
  just as Christ was raised from the dead by the
  glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
  in newness of life.

39
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Galatians 326-27 (NKJV) - For you are all sons
  of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as
  many of you as were baptized into Christ have put
  on Christ.

40
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• In the reformation movement the Anabaptist were
  severely persecuted for their correct
  belief that only believers should be baptized and
  that baptism was a burial.

41
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• In the reformation movement the Anabaptist were
  severely persecuted for their correct
  belief that only believers should be baptized and
  that baptism was a burial.
• The Bible teaches that only believers should be
  baptized. (Mk 1615-16 Acts 836-38)

42
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Mark 1615-16 (NKJV) - And He said to them, Go
  into all the world and preach the gospel to every
  creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will
  be saved but he who does not believe will be
  condemned.

43
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Acts 836-38 (NKJV) - Now as they went down the
  road, they came to some water. And the eunuch
  said, See, here is water. What hinders me from
  being baptized? 37 Then Philip said, If you
  believe with all your heart, you may. And he
  answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ
  is the Son of God.

44
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still.
  And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the
  water, and he baptized him.

45
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• The Bible teaches that baptism is an immersion.
  (Rom 63-4 Col 212)

46
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Romans 63-4 (NKJV) - Or do you not know that as
  many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
  were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were
  buried with Him through baptism into death, that
  just as Christ was raised from the dead by the
  glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
  in newness of life.

47
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Colossians 212 (NKJV) - buried with Him in
  baptism, in which you also were raised with Him
  through faith in the working of God, who raised
  Him from the dead.

48
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• This created tremendous political and social
  upheaval. Many lost their lives in proclaiming
  this truth. Modern day Baptist churches come from
  this stand.

49
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Consider the confusion and future compromise if
  this was made an opinion and both truths could
  be equally taught and believed.

50
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Whenever this type of compromise is presented,
  then Gods word has been laidaside and the
  future beliefs of that group will be determined
  by human relationships. Men ask Was is the
  easiest doctrine to practice? (1 Kgs 1228)

51
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• 1 Kings 1228 (NKJV) - Therefore the king asked
  advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the
  people, It is too much for you to go up to
  Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which
  brought you up from the land of Egypt!

52
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Consider the danger of assimilation. After the
  civil war nearly 10,000 from the south moved to
  Brazil.

53
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Consider the danger of assimilation. After the
  civil war nearly 10,000 from the south moved to
  Brazil.
• The Confederados also have an annual festival,
  called the Festa Confederada... The festival is
  marked by Confederate flags, Confederate
  uniforms.

54
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Great controversy exists over the purpose of
  Baptism.

55
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Great controversy exists over the purpose of
  Baptism.
• Baptism is the final step to find forgiveness of
  sins. (Acts 238 Acts 2216)

56
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Acts 238 (NKJV) - Then Peter said to them,
  Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
  the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
  sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit.

57
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Acts 2216 (NKJV) - And now why are you waiting?
  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
  calling on the name of the Lord.

58
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• A failure to understand the purpose of Baptism
  can result in men being sincerely immersed
  in water but never having received the baptism
  Christ instructed. (Acts 191-5)

59
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Acts 191-5 (NKJV) - And it happened, while
  Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed
  through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And
  finding some disciples 2 he said to them, Did
  you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
  So they said to him, We have not so much as
  heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.

60
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• 3 And he said to them, Into what then were you
  baptized? So they said, Into Johns baptism. 4
  Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a
  baptism of repentance, saying to the people that
  they should believe on Him who would come after
  him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard
  this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
  Jesus.

61
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• This truth is why those churches of Christ had to
  separate from the various denominations and
  stand with other Christians upon this truth.

62
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Can one who believes Gods will on the purpose of
  water baptism work together in fellowship in a
  denomination that does not?

63
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• You may be tolerated if only give financial
  support to those who differ with you. If you
  allow all who want to receive Christ be taught
  contrary to what you say you believe. And that
  only preachers and literature that teaches
  contrary to what you say you believe be used.

64
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Also you are forbidden to cause division by
  pushing (teaching) what you believe with anyone.

65
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• Could you accept those conditions and be taken
  seriously by anyone that you believe what you
  say you believe? A separation of fellowship is
  demanded!

66
Fellowship and Water Baptism

• There is a certainty of assimilation with this
  kind of faith.

67
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• The most common cause of a compromised fellowship
  is pride. (1 Cor 51-2, 6)

68
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 51-2 (NKJV) - It is actually
  reported that there is sexual immorality among
  you, and such sexual immorality as is not even
  named among the Gentilesthat a man has his
  fathers wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have
  not rather mourned, that he who has done this
  deed might be taken away from among you.

69
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 56 (NKJV) - Your glorying is not
  good. Do you not know that a little leaven
  leavens the whole lump?

70
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Again men will judge by their own sense of
  relationships and freedom.

71
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Again men will judge by their own sense of
  relationships and freedom.
• This intellectual superiority brings compromise!
  (2 Cor 113-4, 19-21)

72
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 2 Corinthians 113-4 (NKJV) - But I fear, lest
  somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
  craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from
  the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who
  comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not
  preached, or if you receive a different spirit
  which you have not received, or a different
  gospel which you have not acceptedyou may well
  put up with it!

73
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 2 Corinthians 1119-21 (NKJV) - For you put up
  with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
  20 For you put up with it if one brings you into
  bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from
  you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on
  the face. 21 To our shame I say that we were too
  weak for that! But in whatever anyone is boldI
  speak foolishlyI am bold also.

74
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• A compromised fellowship is a sure path to
  unbelief.

75
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• A compromised fellowship is a sure path to
  unbelief.
• Do you realize how few churches believe in the
  inspiration of the Bible today?

76
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Tolerance and ecumenism are like father and son.
  The grandfather is a lack of respect for the
  authority of the Bible. The existence of
  ecumenism demands tolerance. The movement the
  ecumenical unity has involved the discounting of
  more and more that might be important enough to
  differ over. Bob Waldron, The Jewel of
  Consistency

77
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• A poll conducted by Jeffery Hadden in 1987 of
  10,000 American clergy. 3 They were asked whether
  they believed that the Scriptures are the
  inspired and inerrant Word of God in faith,
  history, and secular matters

78
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 95 of Episcopalians, 87 of Methodists, 82 of
  Presbyterians, 77 of American Lutherans, and 67
  of American Baptists said "No.

79
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Do you realize how many churches are accepting
  homosexuality?

80
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• A Biblical faith will always stand with those who
  stand in the truth. (Heb 1135-38)

81
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Hebrews 1135-38 (NKJV) - Women received their
  dead raised to life again. Others were tortured,
  not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain
  a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial
  of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains
  and imprisonment.

82
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were
  tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered
  about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
  destitute, afflicted, tormented38 of whom the
  world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts
  and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

83
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Should I have left the Baptist church?

84
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Should I have left the Baptist church?
• Should I have left a local church that was moving
  into liberalism?

85
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• The reason I left is because the freedom I found
  in Christ allowed me to be freed from a practice
  of sin. (Rom 617-18, 20-22)

86
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Romans 617-18 (NKJV) - But God be thanked that
  though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
  from the heart that form of doctrine to which you
  were delivered. 18 And having been set free from
  sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

87
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Romans 620-22 (NKJV) - For when you were slaves
  of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
  21 What fruit did you have then in the things of
  which you are now ashamed? For the end of those
  things is death. 22 But now having been set free
  from sin, and having become slaves of God, you
  have your fruit to holiness, and the end,
  everlasting life.

88
The fruits of a compromised fellowship

• Where would my children be today if I had not
  taken such a stand?