Spiritual Fellowship (1)
INTRODUCTION.
A. There are plenty of differing ideas regarding religious fellowship.
1. Some might say that all believers are in fellowship, even if their doctrines are contrary to one another.
2. Others might say that as long as the person went through water baptism, then they are in fellowship.
3. Others think only of physical relationships when they talk of fellowship.
4. Some act as if fellowship is limited only to their judgment. Whomever they deem to be “out of fellowship” is out of fellowship.
B. With this lesson, we will do an extensive study of spiritual fellowship.
C. With this lesson, we will:
1. Show a few word definitions which are pertinent to our understanding of the concept of fellowship.
2. Show that true fellowship begins with the Father in heaven and Jesus Christ.
3. Show the benefits of being in fellowship with the Father in heaven.
4. Show the facts regarding being in fellowship with other Christians.
5. Show at what this spiritual fellowship is severed or broken.
I. ESTABLISH WORD DEFINITIONS.
A. Let us first define the English word “fellowship.”
1. “1 : COMPANIONSHIP, COMPANY 2 a : community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience b : the state of being a fellow or associate 3 : a company of equals or friends : ASSOCIATION 4 : the quality or state of being comradely” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
2. Business association or fellowship. Social association or fellowship. To jointly participate with someone else in a specific endeavor or action.
B. Let us now define five Greek words used in the Bible which are translated as fellowship or something similar.
1. Koinonia {koy-nohn-ee’-ah}
a. Definition - “1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
b. Usages in the KJV: noun - fellowship 12, communion 4, communication 1, distribution 1, contribution 1, to communicate 1
2. Koinonos {koy-no-nos’}
a. Definition - “1) a partner, associate, comrade, companion 2) a partner, sharer, in anything” (Ibid)
b. Usages in the KJV: noun - partaker 5, partner 3, fellowship 1, companion 1
3. Metoche {met-okh-ay’}
a. Definition - “1)a sharing, communion, fellowship” (Ibid.)
b. Usages in the KJV: noun - fellowship 1
4. Koinoneo {koy-no-neh’-o}
a. Definition - “1) to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner 2) to enter into fellowship, join one’s self to an associate, make one’s self a sharer or partner” (Ibid.)
b. Usages in the KJV: verb - be partaker 5, communicate 2, distribute 1
5. Sugkoinoneo {soong-koy-no-neh’-o}
a. Definition - “1) to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing” (Ibid.)
b. Usages in the KJV: verb - have fellowship with 1, communicate with 1, be partaker of 1
C. To summarize the general idea of fellowship:
1. To be in association of
2. To participate with someone in something
3. To share
4. To have in common
5. To partner with someone in something
6. To join in something
D. How is fellowship or the principle of fellowship used in the Bible?
1. Refers to a Christian’s relationship to the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
2. Refers to a Christian’s relationship to other Christians.
3. Refers to Christians working together in matters pertaining to the Lord.
4. Refers to a person’s relationship with works of darkness.
II. WHERE DOES FELLOWSHIP BEGIN?
A. Spiritual fellowship (partnership, sharing, or communion) must first be established with God. To enter this fellowship, partnership, sharing, or communion, one must turn to Jesus Christ.
1. The saving faith for man is the revealed mystery of God. (Colossians 1:25-27; 2:1-3; Romans 16:25-26)
2. God granted Paul, and the other apostles, the right to “make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” (Ephesians 3:1-9)
B. When a person follows the “mystery of salvation,” revealed in the word of God, he will do the will of the Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21), which was first taught by Jesus Christ and then by his apostles. (Cf. Hebrews 2:3-4)
1. Jesus taught, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV)
2. Jesus taught, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16, NKJV)
3. Jesus taught, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46-48, NKJV)
4. Peter taught, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38, NKJV)
5. Peter taught, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19, NKJV)
C. What happens at the point of conversion:
1. One is saved. (John 3:16; Mark 16:16)
2. God forgives sins. (Acts 2:38)
3. One arises to walk in a newness of life. (Romans 6:3-7)
a. One is baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. (v 3)
b. One will arise to walk in a newness of life. (v 4)
c. One has been set free from sin. (v 7)
4. One is baptized into Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4)
5. Since one is baptized into Jesus Christ, he is baptized into the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
6. This is why when one repents of this sins and is baptized, the Lord adds him to the church. (Cf. Acts 2:38, 41, 47)
a. The church is the body of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
b. Jesus is the head of His body, the church.
D. When a person is converted, he enters into fellowship with God.
1. One enters the fellowship of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
2. One enters the fellowship of the heavenly Father. (1 John 1:3)
3. One is conformed to the image of Jesus. (Romans 8:28-29)
E. This fellowship or communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is seen in the fact that Christians are children of God and brethren of Christ. (Romans 8:14-16,17)
F. As children of God, we are to be “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:1-4)
G. Fellowship with the Father can only be maintained by walking in the light. (1 John 1:5-7)
CONCLUSION.
A. Are you in fellowship with God?
1. If you have not been baptized into Christ, then your answer is, “No.”
2. Believe in Jesus John 3:16, Mark 16:16
3. Turn to Jesus Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38
4. Confess your belief Rom 10:10
5. Be baptized into Christ Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Cor 12:13
B. Are you in fellowship with God?
1. If you have been baptized into Christ, . . .
a. are you maintaining the fellowship by walking in the light? 1 John 1:5-7
b. are you confessing your sins to God and turning away from them? 1 John 1:8-10
2. You can enter again into God's fellowship through Jesus Christ, the advocate. 1 John 2:1-2
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Spiritual Fellowship (1) – November 23, 2003 -- File # - 263
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK