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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

HEBREWS 12:5-7

I use this section of scripture as a text because in it is found the idea of being more than just a son of God. This passage not only deals with God's children; it also deals with God's special dealings with his children.

The purpose of this message is to show you that it is one thing to be a son of God; it is quite another to be in fellowship with God. Many believers have never grasped this simple truth; and though they are children of God they are not children in fellowship with him. They stopped at sonship, thinking all the things we do in order to have fellowship with God are things which are not important now that they have become a son of his.

First let me say that only believers may have either sonship or fellowship. No unbeliever has either, and it may also be said that all believers have sonship (John 3:36) while only a few believers have fellowship.

I. First, let me show you some important facts related to son-ship:

A. Sonship deals with our standing, relationship, or position before God:

1. The Bible calls the saved the "sons" or "children of God. "

a. This text speaks of us as both "children" and "sons", Heb. 12:5-7.

b. I John 3:1-2 calls the saved "sons".

c. Gal. 3:26 says, "for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. "

d. Gal. 4:6 says, "ye are sons. . .

2. Now, all of the saved have entered into this direct and close relationship before God.

B. This relationship is reached exclusively by faith, in Him as personal savior:

1. Notice that Gal. 3:26 says we become children of God "by faith in Christ Jesus. "

2. I John 5:1 says "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. "

3. Rom. 4 is devoted to showing how our relationship with God is obtained by faith alone.

C. Whether we like a relative or not has no bearing upon whether that relative is ours. Relationship is predicated upon birth:

1. It is a physical birth that makes us natural sons.

2. It is a spiritual birth that makes us God's sons:

a. It is in view of this that Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be born again in John 3:1-7 .

b. So it is that I Pet. 1:23 says believers are "born again" and I John 5:1 says we are "born of God.

3. A son is not a son because he's good or bad; he's a son because he was born that way.

D. The result of sonship is life:

1. The only way a child may have life is from his parents.

2. When we are born as sons of God, He gives us life:

a. John 10:10 Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life."

b. John 6:33 He said He's heaven's bread that gives life to the world.

C. Acts 2:28 He made known "the ways of life."

d. John 20:31 says that in "believing ye might have life through his name."

e. And, in John 8:12 Jesus said men might have life through Him.

E. The duration of the life we receive from Him thru sonship is eternal:

1. In other words sonship is not ours merely so long as nothing goes wrong.

2. It is an eternal standing or relationship:

a. Many scriptures call it "eternal". John 3:15, 6:54, Rom. 6:23.

b. Others call it everlasting. John 3:16, 36 and 5:24.

F. The relationship of sonship is maintained by the power of God, apart from our efforts:

1. In other words the relationship is not dependent upon us.

2. I Pet. 1:5 clearly says we are "kept by the power of God.

G. The relationship is unaffected by our conduct or sins:

1. It grows no stronger or weaker regardless of how we act.

2. Rom. 8:35-39 says nothing shall sever the relationship.

3. It would be preposterous to think the sins of a child could ever sever his relationship to his parents.

H. Thus, sonship is a relationship which never has to be regained:

1. Since we can't lose it, we won't need to get it back.

2. Thus, Heb. 9:12 says, "by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

II. Now let us contrast and compare fellowship: (it is a different thing altogether)

A. Fellowship deals with our communion, concord, or agreement with God:

1. Remember that sonship deals with relationship, standing, position.

2. Numerous scriptures speak of fellowship; I John 1:3, 6, 7.

B. It is reached by the believer wholly dedicating himself unto the Lord:

1. Sonship comes by faith; but fellowship by submission and dedication to Him.

2. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

3. Mt. 22:37 That, in a nutshell, is the sum total of our responsibility before God as sons.

C. Our fellowship with God is predicated upon our conduct:

1. Conduct will not affect your relationship to another; but it will grossly affect your communion with that person.

2. The entire I John 1 deals with having fellowship and that our conduct or walk before God affects it.

3. II Cor. 6:14-17 shows how poor conduct seriously hinders fellowship.

4. The whole scope of our conduct from baptism, church affiliation, prayer, worship, services, ect. is directly related to what kind of fellowship we will have with God:

a. If our conduct is good, fellowship will be good.

b. If it is bad, fellowship will be bad.

D. Sin will break and destroy fellowship:

1. Remember that sin has no bearing at all on sonship.

2. But, sin will break our fellowship with God:

a. This is specifically stated in Isa. 59:2.

b. The text of II Cor. 6:14-17 shows this truth.

c. I John 1:6 makes it quite clear.

E. Thus, it becomes evident that once a person has achieved fellowship with God; the walk should continue upright that fellowship might be maintained:

1. Sonship depends upon the power of God; while fellowship is maintained by right walk before Him.

2. Listen to the Scriptures:

a. Rom. 12:1 yielded bodies ... acceptable to God.

b. II John 4 God is pleased as we walk in truth.

C. II Tim. 2:21 If a man is purged and clean he can be useful to God.

3. So, notice too that unlike sonship which is eternal, fellowship is temporary and had only so long as one is walking in truth. See Gal. 5:1 and 4.

F. Once fellowship is lost, it can only be regained through confession:

1. Sonship can't be lost, so it doesn't need regaining.

2. But, fellowship, which can be lost, can only be regained through confession. See I John 1:9.

a. Notice Acts 22:16, "wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

b. Also see Ps. 32:1-5 and Ps. 51.

G. The result of fellowship is joy and abundant life:

1. Sonship brings life.

2. Fellowship brings abundant life:

a. John 13:17 Happiness comes in doing God's will.

b. James 1:25 A blessed man.

c. John 10:10 Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

3. No man knows what it means to really enjoy living until he lives in fellowship with God:

a. Here he can pray (James 5:16), be useful to God (Rom. 6:13), have victory over sin (Rom. 6:14), and on and on.

b. Without fellowship, chastening must come. Heb. 12:5-7.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"