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The Difference Between Relationship and Fellowship!

by Angela Willingham  
5/27/2009 / Christian Living

Is there a difference between Relationship and Fellowship? We believe there is, what do you think? Let's use our relationship with our biological father and the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father to demonstrate.

Once we accept God as our Father, meaning we believe and accept Him our relationship with Him is established. Some people believe you can lose your salvation/relationship. We however, believe if you have truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your salvation is secure. Now don't get confused you can go to church and never really have a relationship. Relationship is not determined by church attendance. We are talking about a real relationship, the type of relationship that those who have truly given their lives to Christ have, not a religious experience.

If you have a relationship God is your Father. The example that could be used here is similar to the example of a father/child relationship. At the time of our birth we have a biological father. That person will always be our biological father no matter what happens. That is relationship.

Fellowship unlike relationship can be broken. Fellowship can be broken by our behavior. We all have had a friend, co-worker or family member that at one time or another we stopped talking to or spending time with because of something that happened. Our relationship and fellowship with God is similar to that. Once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior in relationship that is permanent. But our fellowship can be separated by sin, bad behavior or disobedience.

The key issue to harmony with our Father is obedience. If we are obedient to our Father we will live in harmonious relationship with Him. Our relationship with God was forever settled when we were born into His family. The harmony or fellowship issue is another matter. When we obey God we live in harmony with Him. When we don't obey that harmony is disturbed. If we love God we strive to obey Him. Even when we are in disharmony because of our disobedience, our relationship with Him is not at stake, because, we are related by the blood of Jesus Christ. In Romans 8:35-39, the bible is clear it says, 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Like a loving Father, He loves us even when we are disobedient. He is not happy with our bad behavior, but He still loves us.

Your relationship is set. The only thing you can do is improve the harmony of your relationship with God through your diligent efforts to obey Him.

You will know how to be obedient if you know what is required. Spend some time with Him in prayer, study of His Word and praise/worship to get to know Him better.

If the relationship we are talking about has escaped you. You have found yourself in church for years but not in relationship with the living God we encourage you to develop that relationship. It is not enough to know about Him or to have heard of Him, you need a personal relationship with Him.
Scripture:
Romans 8:35-39:
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

(A) "For your sake(B) we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than(C) conquerors through(D) him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Angela Willingham, CEO New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.
www.mynewtemple.org
Copyright New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.

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