The 4 C’s of Fellowship with God are as follows:

1. Conditions for Fellowship

2. Conduct for Fellowship

3. Characteristics of Fellowship

4. Consequences of Fellowship

In our last lesson, we looked at the Characteristics of Fellowship. Next, we will turn our attention to the Consequences of Fellowship with GOD.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 

Typically when you see the word Consequences, it derives a negative impression.  We learn at a young age that there are “consequences” to our actions.  Let’s look at a biblical view of consequences.  For instance, the scripture tells us that we have a free will, and may either choose to accept or choose to reject Jesus and the atoning work that he has done to offer us the free gift of eternal life.

The Scripture tells us what the consequences of that decision will be.  If we choose Jesus we get Eternal Life and all the benefits that go along with it; however, if we choose to reject Jesus, we are condemned already, and will not see life.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. – John 3:18

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. – John 3:36

You see, there are two possible consequences depending on your decision.  One is positive, and the other is negative.  It all hinges on your personal choice.  See Lesson 1 in this series for more information on this subject.

Positive Consequences

I want to key on two of the positive consequences that having fellowship with God will have in your life. These are things that you get today; you don’t have to wait for some future time or event to enjoy these consequences.  They are available for your full enjoyment today!

1. Victory over the world.

2. Assurance of Salvation.

Victory Over The World

The first positive consequence is that we now have victory over the world.  The world and its system occupy the minds of the masses, including Christians.  Even though  1 John 2:15-17 tells us that we, as born-again believers should not love the world or any of the “things” that it offers; we still struggle with it.

The things of the world will occupy your mind if you give it place.  The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.  This short little list just showed you what the motivation for the world system is.  At least one of those is the driving force for most everything that is going on around you in this present world.

We strive so hard for  “acceptance” by the world, when according to the Word of God;  if we are living in close fellowship with God we will never be friends with the world.

 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. – James 4:4

 You don’t want to find yourself as  God’s enemy, in fact, if you are in fellowship with him, you can’t also be his enemy at the same time; therefore we can’t be friends with the world and maintain fellowship with Him at the same time.  

Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have any friends in the world or that you should have a lack of compassion for what is going on in the world.  Just the opposite, in fact, we are told, like the Mad Man in Mark 5:1-20;  to go and tell the world what the Lord has done for us and turn as many back to him as possible.

Peace Is Available

At the same time, the world can weigh on you, and beat you up.  That’s what it does, this world and the system operating it belongs to the Devil, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that he is the god of this world.  But in Jesus, we have overcome the world:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33 

Remember the passage we read at the beginning of this article?  Read 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 again.

No matter how much we get beat up in this world, or how dire our circumstances may look on the surface.  We know that we have victory over the world, because we have put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and he has already obtained the victory.

Romans 8:31-37 reminds us that if God is for us (and he is) then who can be against us.  We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  We know that no matter the turmoil that we find ourselves in the Lord promised in Romans 8:28 that all of those things would work out together for good.  Because we have victory over the world through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

In our next lesson, we will discuss the second consequence of having fellowship with God, Assurance of our Salvation.  

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this article provided some encouragement and has helped your Christian walk.