Understanding True Fellowship
INTRODUCTION.
A. The idea of spiritual fellowship is misunderstood by many people.
1. There are those who believe that fellowship exists no matter what you believe.
2. There are those who believe that fellowship with God brings automatic forgiveness of sins, that is forgiveness without asking for forgiveness.
3. There are those who believe that people of different beliefs can have fellowship whenever they work in a unified effort.
B. God’s idea of fellowship is much different than most of the religious world.
C. It is the intent of this lesson to show what is true Biblical fellowship.
I. WHAT IS BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP?
A. There are three Greek words which are translated as fellowship.
1. koinonia {koy-nohn-ee’-ah}
a. “‘communion, fellowship, sharing in common’” (Vine’s)
b. fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse. The share which one has in anything, participation. (Thayer)
c. Koinonia is used 20 times in the New Testament. It is translated as:
(1) fellowship 12 times,
(2) communion 4 times,
(3) communication 1 time,
(4) distribution 1 time,
(5) contribution 1 time,
(6) and communicate 1 time.
2. koinonos {koy-no-nos’}
a. “denotes ‘a partaker’ or ‘partner’” (Vine’s)
b. 1) A partner, associate, comrade, companion 2) a partner, sharer, in anything (Thayer)
c. Koinonos is used 10 times in the New Testament. It is translated as:
(1) partaker 5 times,
(2) partner 3 times,
(3) fellowship 1 time, and
(4) companion 1 time.
3. metoche {met-okh-ay’}
a. “‘partnership’” (Vine’s)
b. A sharing, communion, fellowship (Thayer)
c. Metoche is used one time in the New Testament. Metoche is translated as fellowship.
4. All of the above definitions are similar in meaning. Together, they indicate a sharing, a partnership, or a joint participation.
B. Of the passages which use the above Greek words, a large portion of passages refers to the fellowship that Christians share with Christ and with each other.
1. Koinonia:
a. Acts 2:42 - “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (NKJV)
b. 1 Corinthians 1:9 - “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NKJV)
c. 1 Corinthians 10:16 - “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (NKJV)
d. 2 Corinthians 13:14 - “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (NKJV)
e. Philippians 2:1 - “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,” (NKJV)
f. Philippians 3:10 - “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” (NKJV)
g. 1 John 1:3 - “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
h. 1 John 1:6 - “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (NKJV)
2. Koinonos
a. 2 Corinthians 1:7 - “And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” (NKJV)
b. 1 Peter 5:1 - “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:” (NKJV)
c. 2 Peter 1:4 - “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (NKJV)
3. Metoche
a. 2 Corinthians 6:14 - “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (NKJV)
C. Biblical fellowship is that sharing in common or that partnership that Christians share together in Christ.
1. The sharing or partnership that we have together is founded upon our fellowship with God. (1 John 1:5-7)
a. The first step in understanding our individual fellowship with God is realizing that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
b. If, by walking in the light, we have fellowship with God, we then have fellowship with fellow Christians. (1 John 1:7)
2. This fellowship is based on spiritual relationship and not a physical relationship. This is the reason for the necessity of discipline within the church. Refer to 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. Our physical relationship must not override our spiritual relationship. Too often, Christians will allow their physical relationships with an erring brother to override their spiritual duties to that brother.
II. HOW DO PEOPLE JOIN THIS FELLOWSHIP?
A. In order to be in the light, one must walk according to the light. Following the light means following the commands of Him who is the light. (John 1:1-9) The Light will lead a person to:
1. The proper belief in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16)
2. The repenting and changing of their past sinful life. (Luke 13:3)
3. The confessing of Christ before men. (Matthew 10:32)
4. The obeying the command to be baptized. (Mark 16:16)
B. Once a person obeys the commands of God, that person will be in the Light. Being in the Light, a person must continue to live a faithful life in order to remain in the light.
III. CONSIDER MORE BIBLICAL TEACHINGS ABOUT FELLOWSHIP.
A. We are called by God into this fellowship. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
B. We are not to be unequally yoked together with those outside the fellowship. (2 Corinthians 6:14)
C. A person cannot remain in fellowship without the Gospel. (Philippians 1:5)
D. Walking in sin removes a Christian from their fellowship with God. (1 John 1:5 - 2:2)
1. As stated earlier, God is light. (vs 5)
2. If we walk in darkness (sin), then we are not in fellowship with God. (vs 6)
3. Walking in the Light puts one into fellowship with other Christians, who are also walking in the Light. (vs 7)
E. Without this fellowship, we will not have our sins forgiven. (1 John 1:7)
1. One benefit of being in fellowship with Christ is that the blood of Christ cleanses Christians from their sins. If Christians do not walk in fellowship, then Christ’s blood will not cleanse them from their sins.
2. The only way for the blood of Christ to cleanse Christians from their sins is for them to confess their sins to the Lord, asking God for to forgive them of their sins.
3. This text does not teach that Christians have to sin, but rather “if anyone sins.” (1 John 2:1) If a Christian commits a sin, then he has an Advocate with the Father. It is through this Advocate that a Christian can have his sins forgiven.
4. Without this fellowship, there would be no forgiveness of sins.
CONCLUSION.
A. Are you in fellowship with God?
1. If you are walking according to the paths of the world, then the answer is, “No.”
2. If, however, you are walking according to the paths of God, then the answer is, “Yes.”
B. Only you can decide whether or not you are in fellowship with God. God will accept you if you will obey. Why not be certain of your fellowship with God by becoming one of His many children through answering the Gospel’s call to salvation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Understanding True Fellowship - November 7, 2004 - File# 263 - Fellowship
by John M. Duvall - Lawton, OK