Tim Conway emphasizes the vital importance of maintaining unbroken fellowship with God by confessing sin promptly and walking continually in the light of Christ's righteousness. This sermon emphasizes the importance of walking in the light and maintaining fellowship with God, acknowledging that while believers may still sin, the key is not to practice sin but to run to the Father for forgiveness. It addresses the lie that Christ rejects us when we sin and encourages confession and seeking forgiveness to maintain a close relationship with God. The speaker highlights the need to prioritize fellowship with God over hiding or ignoring sin, recognizing the depth and beauty of true fellowship with the Savior.
Full Transcript
If you're in fellowship with God, as a practice, you walk in the light. That doesn't mean you're perfect yet and there will be sin. It doesn't mean you practice sin.
Practicing sin is to walk in the darkness. But there is sin. We recognize there's sin.
And when we fall, we need to take it to our Father. We need to run to our Father. Don't fall for the lies.
I'm telling you, this is one of Satan's favorite strategies is to come at you and tell you that when you sin, Christ wants nothing to do with you. But when you see your sin, you know your sin, look, you're going to sin. I write to you that you don't sin.
Little children, this is what John's all about. I write to you that you're not sinning. I want you to walk more fully, more fully, more fully in the light.
But if you sin, what? You walk in the darkness and you have no fellowship with Him and you don't know Him? No! We have a Christ. The Christ. Jesus Christ.
He is the righteous One. He made propitiation for us. We can plead the blood.
We can go and we can confess it. Our access is there. There's no condemnation.
We have full, free access. You go to Him and just remember the fellowship. Oh, this is fellowship.
To be in one with God and to recognize the sin I just did, the sin I just committed against my wife, the sin I just committed against my children, the thing I just did, the misuse of my tongue, God sees it for what it is. The best thing to do, go out with Peter and weep bitterly and confess it. And you know, the next thing you'll find is He'll come alongside and He'll say, Joe, do you love Me? Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.
Well, He sends us to His work. Remember this, brethren. He did not design perfection to happen in this life.
And He did that on purpose. And because He did, part of our fellowship with Him is going to be on a regular basis the picture of the man or the woman with the head bowed before God confessing because they see their sin as God sees it. They know it's exposed to Him and there's no sense hiding it.
And they want fellowship more than they want to go on not acknowledging that sin. If they know that it's going to grieve Him and bring some snare in there and some shadow over the fellowship, I want my fellowship more than I want to go on in my sin not confessing it. Do you not want that? Nothing between.
Is that not what the song says? Nothing between my soul and the Savior. Don't let it go there. Cherish this fellowship above everything else.
Oh brethren, I am telling you, there are depths that God has swept His people in. This fellowship, some of you likely, you can't put words to. I can remember Charles Simeon.
One of his friends came into his room and the lights were off and there was the picture of the penitent. He had been there confessing his sorrow for his sin. And God came to him in such ravishing fashion.
As his friend found him, all he could say is glory, glory, glory. That's the only word that could come out of him. Don't you want that? Nothing between, brethren.
Nothing between. This excerpt was taken from the full sermon. What Does Fellowship with God Look Like? Part One.
Sermon Outline
I. The Reality of Sin in the Believer's Life
Believers will sin but should not practice sin habitually
Recognizing sin is essential to fellowship
Satan's lie: sin separates us permanently from Christ
II. The Assurance of Christ's Righteousness and Forgiveness
Jesus made propitiation for our sins
We have full access to God through confession
No condemnation for those who confess
III. The Practice of Confession and Restoration
Confess sin promptly and sincerely
God desires fellowship more than perfection
Confession restores fellowship and sends us back to service
IV. Cherishing Fellowship Above All
Nothing should come between the soul and the Savior
Fellowship with God brings deep joy and glory
The believer’s ongoing walk is in the light
Key Quotes
“I'm telling you, this is one of Satan's favorite strategies is to come at you and tell you that when you sin, Christ wants nothing to do with you.” — Tim Conway
“We have full, free access. You go to Him and just remember the fellowship.” — Tim Conway
“Nothing between my soul and the Savior. Don't let it go there. Cherish this fellowship above everything else.” — Tim Conway
Application Points
Confess your sins immediately to maintain close fellowship with God.
Reject Satan’s lies that sin separates you permanently from Christ.
Prioritize your relationship with God above all else by walking continually in the light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sin completely break our fellowship with God?
No, sin disrupts fellowship temporarily, but through confession and Christ’s righteousness, fellowship is restored.
Why does God allow sin in the believer’s life?
God did not design perfection in this life so that believers would continually depend on Him and maintain fellowship through confession.
What should a believer do when they sin?
They should immediately confess their sin to God and seek restoration in fellowship.
Is fellowship with God based on perfection?
No, fellowship is based on walking in the light and confessing sin, not on being sinless.
How does Satan try to hinder our fellowship with God?
Satan lies by telling believers that Christ wants nothing to do with them when they sin.
Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior
Tim Conway
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3:56
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