Post on 25-Dec-2015
Fellowship With Each OtherI John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ.”
Two Important Facts:It is possible to have fellowship with God!
Those who are in fellowship with God are in fellowship with each other!
Brief Review of Last Week’s Sermon:Fellowship defined. From koinonia, may be translated “fellowship,” “association,” “community,” or “joint participation.”
Fellowship with God depends on:God’s Provisions which make it possible.
Man’s Response to those Provisions.
In this Lesson:We are discussing the other side of
the coin.We are referring to:
The Communion,The Sharing in, The Partnership, orThe fellowship we have with each other by
reason of our fellowship with God.This kind of fellowship involves
teamwork, Acts 2:42!
Basic Facts:Fellowship Extends in Two Directions
Upward toward God, I John 1:3,5,6. Our fellowship with God is based upon the facts that we:Believed and obeyed the gospel, I
Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.Cooperate with God, I Corinthians 3:6,9;
Mark 16:20Find happiness in the same principles –
holiness, truth, purity, justice, mercy, etc., 2 Peter 1:4; I John 1:5,6.
Outward Toward His Children, I John 1:3; Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9; Philippians 1:3-5.
Basic Facts, con’t:Fellowship, both vertical and horizontal, is regulated by divine truth!Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with God, John 8:32; Romans 1:16.
Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with each other, John 17:20,21; Amos 3:3.
Basic Facts – continued:“Fellowship is often an abused and
Misused Word.Often used to refer to eating together, though
it is never so used in the Bible! Note Ephesians 5:11; Mark 2:16; Hebrews 4:15
Some churches have “fellowship dinners,” and invite both saints and sinners!
Sometimes “fellowship” is used as an adjective to describe a Hall.
Sometimes “fellowship” is a word used to describe inter-denominational alliances and activities.
Basic Facts -- Continued“Fellowship” is often an abused Practice!
Fellowshipping those whom God will not fellowship, I Corinthians 5:1,2; I John 1:5.
Refusing to fellowship those whom God does fellowship, 3 John 9,10.
“Fellowship” is often a Perverted Teaching!A case in point is that of perverting Romans 14
to justify both Moral Sin, and Doctrinal Error!This contradicts I John 1:5,6!This contradicts passages which precede and
follow Romans 14. cf. Romans 13:14; 16:17,18.
God Wants Faithful Christians To BeIn Fellowship with other Faithful Christians!This is implied by Apostolic Example, Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9.
This is Implied by Apostolic Admonition, Hebrews 10:24.“Consider” – fix the mind upon. Consider how to help other Christians be faithful in their duties to God.
“Provoke” – “to call to action.
That God Wants Faithful Christians to Be in Fellowship with other Faithful Christians implied by:
“Fellow-Citizens,” Ephesians 2:19.“Fellow-Helper,” 2 Corinthians 8:23.“Fellow –Laborer,” I Thessalonians 3:1,2.
“Fellow-servant,” Colossians 4:7.“Fellow-Workers,” Colossians 4:11.“Fellow-Soldier,” Philippians 2:25.“Fellow-Heirs,” Ephesians 3:6.
In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Negatively:
Not in the unfruitful works of Darkness!Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Not in Supporting Religious error!2 John 10,11: “If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into hour house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Positively:
Our joint action in Scriptural work, I Corinthians 3:9.
Our joint action in Scriptural worship, Acts 2:42; 20:27; I Corinthians 10:16.
Our support of Gospel Preachers, Philippians 1:5; 4:14-17.
Our support of Needy saints, 2 Cor-inthians 8:1-4.
Faithful Christians Have Fellowship in things they share in Common:
A Common Calling, I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:1.
A Common Standard of Conduct, I Peter 2:21.
A Common Aim – glorify God, I Corinthians 10:31.
A Common Salvation, Jude 3.A Common Goal – Heaven, I Peter 1:3,4.
Conclusion:We have dealt with but two aspects of
Fellowship – with God, and with others.Every Person in Fellowship with God is
one Whom God has Called, I Cor. 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.
You may have many good qualities, but if you are not in fellowship with God, you are lost! But God does not want you to be lost! 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16; Luke 19:10; Rom. 1:16.