Sunday Sermons
Fellowship
Fellowship
The following definitions are given for the word fellowship: "Communion, sharing in common" (Vine p. 90). "Association, community, joint participation, the share which one has in anything" (Thayer p. 352). "Sharing, participation" (Zond. Ency. p. 528). " Moulton and Milligan say it was used by the Greeks for the 'closest of all human relationships" (Plain Talk. Robert Turner 13/4/4). “The fundamental connotation of the root koin (common) is that of sharing in something with someone. The important thing is that the words (belonging to the koin family) refer primarily, though not invariably, to participation in something rather than to association with others: and there is often a genitive to indicate that in which one participates or shares” (The New Testament Bible Dictionary, J.D. Douglas). Often the word is used in the sense of “partner” or “partaker” or “share”: “Since the children share in flesh and blood” (Hebrews 2:14); “Who were partners with Simon” (Luke 5:10); (Matthew 23:30; Philemon 17).
What we have in common
“In English, ‘fellowship’ is a ‘ship’ of ‘fellows’, the latter word meaning ‘alike’ or ‘equal to’, ‘of the same kind’. Fellow-creature means one of the same race or kind. Fellow-servants means two or more servants employed together. The word ‘fellow’ is often used in English to translate the Greek term ‘sun’ or ‘sum’, a prefix that means ‘with’, as in ‘fellow-citizens, fellow-disciple, or fellow-heir’” (Robert Turner, The Gospel Guardian, p. 203). “Fellowship exists among true believers because each shares in the nature of God----‘partakers of a divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:4). Christians are sharers in a common state—salvation (Jude 3). They are sharers in a common faith (Titus 1:4). They are sharers in common promises---‘fellow heirs; fellow members of the same body; fellow partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel’ (Ephesians 3:5)” (The Fellowship of Jesus Christ Our Lord, Harry W. Pickup Jr. pp. 6-7). Unfortunately, at times we who are Christians tend to take our fellow Christians for granted, but consider these facts with me: The vast majority of the religious world, even that segment that claims to be "Christian", does not have fellowship with God (Matthew 7:13-14; 21-23; 2 Tim. 4:3-4). Christians, that is, people that really do believe what the Bible says, and who are honest enough to admit such things as baptism being necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16), individuals who will listen to a gospel sermon without getting mad or being turned off (Acts 2:37), do not exist in an unlimited supply. Christians share the distinction being called "sons of God" (Galatians 3:26), which means we share the same Heavenly Father. We all belong to Christ (Galatians 3:29); we were all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13); we share an inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), and we share a common set of beliefs (Ephesians 4:4-6; 3 John 4 "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.")
Fellowship first means one has fellowship with God
· The declared Message:
“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (John 1:3).
“From these verses (1 John 1:1-3) we may draw three irrefutable conclusions in reference to fellowship. Fellowship considered apart from persons is meaningless. One uses things; one shares with persons. The fellowship of Christ is sharing between divine and human persons; also between human persons. The second irrefutable conclusion is that the means to sharing with the Father and the Son is to share with the ‘witnesses’. The third irrefutable conclusion is, in order to share with the ‘witnesses’, one must accept the declared message. Thus fellowship established apart from the declared message is impossible. Fellowship may exist apart from the declared message but it is not the fellowship of Christ” (Pickup p. 10). “To claim the authority of Christ by appealing to something other than His word is a most fundamental error---whether it be the tradition of God’s people—the accumulative thinking of our best minds---what appears to be sensible and practical—even what some imagine the Holy Spirit to teach apart from God’s word. The only Jesus we shall ever know in time is the one that the witnesses saw, heard, handled, and whose message they declared. In whatever a man calls upon the fellows of Christ to fellowship him, he must give as the source for his teaching and practice the declared message” (p. 15).
· God is Light:
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship” (1 John 1:5-7).
Before fellowship can exist between two individuals, it must first be established with God. We cannot work with others in unity and harmony unless we are all in the family of God. Therefore, whatever the Bible requires for one person to establish fellowship with God, it requires for everyone (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 17:30). In addition, our continued fellowship with God depends upon continuing to walk in the light---as God is in the light. Therefore, fellowship is conditioned upon our continuing to serve God faithfully.
· God is love:
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).
Thus fellowship is also dependent upon our love for God, His truth, and fellow believers.
Fellowship Is Active
Fellowship is not something passive, neither is there a mystical condition wherein I am “in fellowship”. In order to have fellowship we must “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7), which means that we must continue to believe and practice His commandments (1 John 2:3-6). “Kiononein is always used of active participation where the result depends on the cooperation of the receiver as well as on the action of the giver (Moulton and Milligan). This point clearly establishes that fellowship is not mere relationship and that it is controlled, at least to some extent, by the parties involved” (Pickup p. 7). It also means that fellowship is a two-sided relationship (Galatians 2:9).
Fellowship brings mutual and common responsibilities
A local congregation is a fellowship of Christians. Christians have specific obligations and responsibilities to the local congregation of which they are members that they do not have to other congregations, for example, the assembly that we must not forsake is the assembly or congregation of which we are members (Hebrews 10:25). The elders with which we must cooperate are the elders who rule over us (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2-3). An individual may have a temporary contact and fellowship with another congregation but it does not alter their special fellowship with the congregation where they are members. This is seen in Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea, even while she was at Rome (Romans 16:1). Or, Epaphroditus, who was still designated a messenger from the church at Philippi to Paul in Rome though temporarily a fellow-worker with Paul while he was there (Philippians 2:25). On a local level, fellowship can be manifested in the following areas: Working with and supporting the elders (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12), or contributing to the work (in fact, the term “fellowship” is often used of a financial contribution (Philippians 1:5; 4:14-16), encouraging the other members (1 Thessalonians 5:14), listening to the preaching (Acts 2:42),. participating in the worship (Acts 2:42), and doing what you can do, by using your talents (Ephesians 4:16).
The Fellowship of Giving
In the New Testament, financially supporting preachers (Philippians 1:5; 4:15; Galatians 6:6), and giving to supply the earthly needs of Christians is called a fellowship (Romans 12:13; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13). In light of such Scriptures, do we take an interest in reading the reports send to this congregation from preachers that we are supporting in other areas? Do we pray for those men, their families and the congregations they are seeking to assist? Let us remember that we do have fellowship with them.
The Fellowship of Suffering Together
When we experience persecution or suffering because of our faith in Christ, we are said to have “fellowship His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13). The same is true when we stand up for, identify with, and defend those who are being persecuted (Hebrews 10:33-34).
The Fellowship of the Lord’s Supper
“Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). This first means that only those who have truly shared in the blood of Christ (have been baptized) can partake of this meal. When I observe the Lord’s Supper I am demonstrating that I have participated in the salvation that Jesus brought. Partaking demonstrates that I actually have fellowship with the sacrifice, that is with Christ. This is one reason why it would be an insult to Christ to partake when one does not have fellowship with Him.
Fellowship is not the same as Socializing
The biblical term rendered “fellowship” in never used by the apostles to describe social or recreational events. The word means “communion, sharing in common, joint participation, contribution, partnership.” One writer noted, “The conclusion is reached by some, that since ‘fellowship’ is joint participation, it follows that the church is providing ‘fellowship’ when it sponsors social activities which involve eating, recreation, and entertainment. What many fail to see is not all joint participation is fellowship. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners (Mark 2:16), but He did not fellowship them” (GOT, Hoyt H. Houchen, 2-6-86, p. 69). In addition, we get ourselves into trouble when we abuse the word “fellowship”. Paul stated, “what fellowship has light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14). If “fellowship” applies to all joint activity, especially eating together, then we could not engage in any activity with the unsaved, including work, recreation, or socializing, yet this is not true (1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 10:27).
Remember the uses of the term rendered “Fellowship”: 1. Partnership in spiritual things (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 13:14; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:9; Philippians 2:1; 1John 1:3,6,7) 2. Partnership in helping relieve the benevolent needs of the saints (Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:13). 3. Partnership in supporting a preacher (Philippians 1:5). 4. Partnership in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10). 5. The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16).
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
