Friday Finale - Rules That Break Fellowship – Episode 10
Key Takeaways
- True, unbroken fellowship with God comes from walking in the revelation of grace rather than constantly cycling in and out of fellowship based on perceived sins.
- Living by man-made spiritual laws and rules—rather than being led by the Holy Spirit—is what truly breaks fellowship.
- Scriptures like 'you reap what you sow' are often taken out of context regarding a sinful life, when they actually refer to principles of finances and giving.
- Paul states in 1 Corinthians that everything is permissible, highlighting that consequences stem from overindulgence and lack of control rather than legalistic punishment.
- Instead of relying on rigid rule books, believers are called to start their day by asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, love, self-control, and daily direction.
Originally written October 14, 2011
posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/14/the-rules-that-break-fellowship/
1 John 1:7
7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. (Amplified Bible)
I grew up in a denominational church that taught us we were constantly in and out of fellowship with Christ. I am sure they used the scripture above as their basis for this.
We would do something that we thought was a sin, and then we were told we were out of fellowship with God. To repair that, we would have to repent and get “right” with God, and then our fellowship would be restored.
But from everything I’ve been studying in depth over the past year, I have found that theology to be incorrect.
The scripture above says that as long as we are walking in the light as He is in the light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations.
The light is the revelation of the grace of Jesus Christ. How His death on the cross broke through so that we no longer had to live by the law.
As long as we walk in grace, we have true, unbroken fellowship. So when we are not walking in grace, we have broken that fellowship.
There are only two forms of existence for Christians. One is living in grace, and the other is living by the law. You are always doing one or the other.
So if you are not walking in grace, then you are living under the law, and that breaks your fellowship. In grace, sin has no effect on you. You cannot come under its penalty. But if you are living by the law, then you must suffer the penalty of that sin and therefore your fellowship is broken.
We have taken many phrases from the world, and we have adapted them to our thinking.
“You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.”
“If you dance, you have to pay the piper.”
But there is one that we have actually taken from the word, but have taken it out of context.
“You reap what you sow.”
Where this scripture is taken from is a teaching on finances and giving. It is not talking about a sinful life. That may be the case if you are not born again, but if you are ‘in Christ’ then you are covered by His grace. If it were true, then everything Jesus died to give us on the cross would have been in vain.
So let’s talk about the law. I don’t think many of us have much problem not following rabbinical or Levitical laws, but what about all the other man-made laws that we ourselves have made through the years?
There are only two commands that Jesus himself commanded us to live by. Beyond that, every rule regarding how to live life is a man-made law.
Now, when talking about this, do not confuse the laws governing our communal living, such as speed limits, etc.
I’m talking about spiritual living and laws of that nature.
- If you get a tattoo, you are in sin.
- If you’re a women and don’t wear dresses, you are in sin.
- If you have long hair, you are in sin.
- If you sing praise songs written after the 18th century, you are in sin.
- If you use credit cards, you are in sin.
- If you smoke, you are in sin.
- If you don’t go to church each week, you are in sin.
- If you drink alcohol, you are in sin.
These statements are all wrong. You have fallen out of fellowship, and the blood cannot cleanse your sin if you are in fact living by these laws. You have stopped living by grace and begun living by the law.
Now that I have your attention. Let me give you this scripture.
I Corinthians 6:12
12) Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me.
I Corinthians 10:23
23) Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up.
In the first scripture, Paul is talking to the Corinthians about sexual behavior. In the second one, he is talking to them about eating. But his statement that everything is permissible brings it into the realm of not being sin. But no doubt it can lead to a damaging life. There are consequences to our actions. But that isn’t punishment from God for our sin.
What is the key here? If we are permitted to do anything, then what do we use to govern our lives? If we don’t have a set of laws like the Ten Commandments to live by, how do we know what to do?
By the Holy Spirit. We must, absolutely MUST, learn to live by the governing of the Spirit.
It is not a bad thing to eat, but to overeat is gluttony. It is not a bad thing to drink alcohol, but in excess it is drunkenness. Having sex is not a bad thing, but outside of marriage it is fornication. What is the pattern here? Overindulgence - excess.
Once we cross that line from moderation to excess, we have allowed that behavior to control us, and we are no longer controlling the behavior. If a behavior is controlling us, then we are not being governed (led) by the Spirit but by the desire to engage in the behavior.
To live in grace, you must be led by the Holy Spirit. When you live by the law, the rules lead you.
Grace gives life; the law brings guilt and condemnation, and death.
Now rest assured that the Holy Spirit will not lead you to overindulge in any area. But his plan to get you out of debt, help you lose weight, work on a project, minister to others, succeed in business, etc. may not be how the rule books tell you it should be done.
If we get too comfortable living by plans, which are rules, then we get desensitized to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We fall into a rut of following the leader to achieve a goal, and it is a mindless trap.
Start your day with an acknowledgement of the Spirit. Ask him to lead you in every area of the day.
If you need love, ask Him for love. If you need joy, ask Him for joy. If you need peace, ask Him for peace. If you need to be patient, ask Him for patience. If you need to be kinder, ask Him for kindness. If you need to be good, ask Him for goodness. If you need to be more faithful, ask Him for faithfulness. If you need to be gentler, ask Him for gentleness. If you need self-control, ask Him for self-control.
The Holy Spirit is the author and container of these things. If you need them, and we all do, get them from Him. Get them by fellowshipping with Him. God is on the throne. Jesus is at His right hand, but the Holy Spirit is her...
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about rules that break fellowship?
According to 1 John 1:7, true unbroken fellowship is maintained by walking in the light of God's grace. Believers break this fellowship not by everyday human failings, but by choosing to live under man-made laws rather than grace.
Are Christians supposed to live by the Ten Commandments and man-made rules?
Beyond the two core commands given by Jesus, spiritual rules created by humans—such as dress codes, dietary restrictions, or specific lifestyle regulations—are man-made laws. Believers are meant to be governed by the Holy Spirit rather than legalistic rule books.
How do we know what is right or wrong if we don't live by a strict set of laws?
Instead of relying on a legalistic system, Christians are guided by the Holy Spirit. While 'everything is permissible,' the Holy Spirit helps believers avoid overindulgence, excess, and behaviors that control them.
What does the phrase 'you reap what you sow' actually mean in context?
This scripture is frequently taken out of context to apply to a sinful life, but it is actually a teaching rooted in principles of finances and giving, as believers are already covered by Christ's grace.
Friday Finale - Rules That Break Fellowship – Episode 10
Originally written October 14, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/14/the-rules-that-break-fellowship/
1 John 1:7
7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. (Amplified Bible)
I grew up in a denominational church that taught us we were constantly in and out of fellowship with Christ. I am sure they used the scripture above as their basis for this.
We would do something that we thought was a sin, and then we were told we were out of fellowship with God. To repair that, we would have to repent and get “right” with God, and then our fellowship would be restored.
But from everything I’ve been studying in depth over the past year, I have found that theology to be incorrect.
The scripture above says that as long as we are walking in the light as He is in the light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations.
The light is the revelation of the grace of Jesus Christ. How His death on the cross broke through so that we no longer had to live by the law.
As long as we walk in grace, we have true, unbroken fellowship. So when we are not walking in grace, we have broken that fellowship.
There are only two forms of existence for Christians. One is living in grace, and the other is living by the law. You are always doing one or the other.
So if you are not walking in grace, then you are living under the law, and that breaks your fellowship. In grace, sin has no effect on you. You cannot come under its penalty. But if you are living by the law, then you must suffer the penalty of that sin and therefore your fellowship is broken.
We have taken many phrases from the world, and we have adapted them to our thinking.
“You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.”
“If you dance, you have to pay the piper.”
But there is one that we have actually taken from the word, but have taken it out of context.
“You reap what you sow.”
Where this scripture is taken from is a teaching on finances and giving. It is not talking about a sinful life. That may be the case if you are not born again, but if you are ‘in Christ’ then you are covered by His grace. If it were true, then everything Jesus died to give us on the cross would have been in vain.
So let’s talk about the law. I don’t think many of us have much problem not following rabbinical or Levitical laws, but what about all the other man-made laws that we ourselves have made through the years?
There are only two commands that Jesus himself commanded us to live by. Beyond that, every rule regarding how to live life is a man-made law.
Now, when talking about this, do not confuse the laws governing our communal living, such as speed limits, etc.
I’m talking about spiritual living and laws of that nature.
If you get a tattoo, you are in sin.
If you’re a women and don’t wear dresses, you are in sin.
If you have long hair, you are in sin.
If you sing praise songs written after the 18th century, you are in sin.
If you use credit cards, you are in sin.
If you smoke, you are in sin.
If you don’t go to church each week, you are in sin.
If you drink alcohol, you are in sin.
These statements are all wrong. You have fallen out of fellowship, and the blood cannot cleanse your sin if you are in fact living by these laws. You have stopped living by grace and begun living by the law.
Now that I have your attention. Let me give you this scripture.
I Corinthians 6:12
12) Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me.
I Corinthians 10:23
23) Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up.
In the first scripture, Paul is talking to the Corinthians about sexual behavior. In the second one, he is talking to them about eating. But his statement that everything is permissible brings it into the realm of not being sin. But no doubt it can lead to a damaging life. There are consequences to our actions. But that isn’t punishment from God for our sin.
What is the key here? If we are permitted to do anything, then what do we use to govern our lives? If we don’t have a set of laws like the Ten Commandments to live by, how do we know what to do?
By the Holy Spirit. We must, absolutely MUST, learn to live by the governing of the Spirit.
It is not a bad thing to eat, but to overeat is gluttony. It is not a bad thing to drink alcohol, but in excess it is drunkenness. Having sex is not a bad thing, but outside of marriage it is fornication. What is the pattern here? Overindulgence - excess.
Once we cross that line from moderation to excess, we have allowed that behavior to control us, and we are no longer controlling the behavior. If a behavior is controlling us, then we are not being governed (led) by the Spirit but by the desire to engage in the behavior.
To live in grace, you must be led by the Holy Spirit. When you live by the law, the rules lead you.
Grace gives life; the law brings guilt and condemnation, and death.
Now rest assured that the Holy Spirit will not lead you to overindulge in any area. But his plan to get you out of debt, help you lose weight, work on a project, minister to others, succeed in business, etc. may not be how the rule books tell you it should be done.
If we get too comfortable living by plans, which are rules, then we get desensitized to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We fall into a rut of following the leader to achieve a goal, and it is a mindless trap.
Start your day with an acknowledgement of the Spirit. Ask him to lead you in every area of the day.
If you need love, ask Him for love. If you need joy, ask Him for joy. If you need peace, ask Him for peace. If you need to be patient, ask Him for patience. If you need to be kinder, ask Him for kindness. If you need to be good, ask Him for goodness. If you need to be more faithful, ask Him for faithfulness. If you need to be gentler, ask Him for gentleness. If you need self-control, ask Him for self-control.
The Holy Spirit is the author and container of these things. If you need them, and we all do, get them from Him. Get them by fellowshipping with Him. God is on the throne. Jesus is at His right hand, but the Holy Spirit is here with us. To try to ‘do it on our own’, is to snub Him, and it is pride.
Let him help you. Let him lead you. That yoke is easy.
This study is a culmination of this week’s Monday Meditation and the Wednesday Word Study. By drilling down on specific scriptures and then specific words, we can gain a better understanding of the Word of God and therefore apply it to our lives more accurately. The Friday Finally episodes take both the Monday Meditation and Wednesday Word Study and pull them together for an overall teaching to equip and train us for a more godly and beneficial life.
Shop all versions of my novels here: Shop Here
My Media Website: NancyJacksonPodcast.com
Check out my website: NancyJacksonAuthor.com
Follow me here:
Substack: https://nancyjackson.substack.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en
