The New Covenant Life ＂Fellowship＂
Sandeep Poonen teaches that the greatest benefit of the new covenant is fellowship—unity and communion with the divine nature through faith, humility, and the Spirit.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of fellowship in the new covenant, highlighting that fellowship is a key characteristic and benefit of being in the new agreement. The greatest benefit of the new covenant is the opportunity to partake of the divine nature, surpassing all other benefits. The call is to long for unity and fellowship with the divine nature, seeking to be one with God's nature. The sermon stresses the significance of humility, gentleness, patience, and love in preserving the unity of the spirit and progressing towards the unity of faith.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Greatest Benefit of the New Covenant
- Fellowship with the divine nature is the supreme blessing
- Old covenant lacked this fellowship
- Christians often miss this great benefit
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II. Defining Fellowship and Unity
- Fellowship means communion and unity
- Fellowship with the Father and Son is the model
- Unity must begin vertically before extending horizontally
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III. The Journey of Unity
- Start with unity of the Spirit
- Grow towards unity of the faith
- Faith means 'I am nothing, God is everything'
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IV. Practical Outworking of Fellowship
- Walk humbly and gently as worthy of the calling
- Maintain patience and love to preserve unity
- Fellowship requires mutual humility and faith
Key Quotes
“The greatest benefit of being under the new agreement beats everything else... to partake, to share, to be one with the divine nature.” — Sandeep Poonen
“The same unity that I have with the father and the son I have with one another.” — Sandeep Poonen
“I am nothing, God is everything. That is faith. It is impossible to please God without faith.” — Sandeep Poonen
Application Points
- Seek to cultivate genuine fellowship by coming to God and others with the attitude 'I am nothing, God is everything.'
- Prioritize unity with the Father and the Son as the foundation for fellowship with other believers.
- Walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love to preserve the unity of the Spirit in your relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the greatest benefit of the new covenant according to Sandeep Poonen?
The greatest benefit is fellowship with the divine nature, which means being united and sharing in God's nature through faith.
How does fellowship in the new covenant differ from the old covenant?
Fellowship as unity with God and one another was not present in the old covenant; it is a unique blessing of the new covenant.
What does unity of the faith mean?
It means having an attitude of 'I am nothing, God is everything,' where God is central and believers are humble before Him.
Can fellowship happen with anyone who claims to be a Christian?
No, fellowship requires that both parties have true unity with the Father and the Son, not merely a Christian label.
How should believers practically maintain fellowship?
By walking humbly, gently, patiently, and lovingly, always seeking to preserve the unity of the Spirit.