It is also at such a fellowship
that the sins of the believer are forgiven. Because if we claim to be without
sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not
sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
However, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” but, “Without the shedding of
blood, there is no remission of sins,” therefore, “If we walk in the light, as
He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1John 1:7-10).
The blood which purifies the
believer from sin is the cup of the new covenant taken at the Lord’s Supper.
This arrangement was instituted by Jesus Christ on the night before His death,
when He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to the disciples, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the new covenant, which is
poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew .26:28).
It is through the consummation of
this mystery and reaping of its benefits that the believer can truly testify of
the Way, and, “Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from
the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians
1:12-13).
The trademark of the Way which is,
the fellowship of the believers was what really distinguished the first century
church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ ‘All believers were
together and had everything in common” (Acts.2:42).
Indicating that, when they met,
they all without exception partook of the bread and wine as confirmed by the
apostle Paul who wrote; “So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat,
wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when
you meet together it may not result in judgment” (1Corinthians
11:33).
This chosen group has an admonition
from the Lord saying, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have
with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a
believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between and
temple of God and idols?’
‘For we are the temple of the
living God, as God has said; I will live with them and walk among them, and I
will be their God, and they will be My people. ‘Therefore, come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Most people equate this warning of
not being unequally yoked with unbelievers, more to marriage relationship
between a believer, and a non-believer, and to some extent in business
relationships. But this warning is even more pronounced in the case where, a
believer, in whom the Holy Spirit of God dwells, the future bride of Christ,
God’s holy temple fellowshipping together with unbelievers, one in whom the
Holy Spirit is not residing, and who has made his/her body an idol of worship.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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