Biblical Fellowship
2002049
Topic # 263 (fellowship)
Introduction:
A.
“Fellowship” is a
term used to describe a wide variety of activities in the church today.
B.
At the present,
“fellowship” is used by religious people to describe:
1.
Social activities
such as eating together & spending quality time together.
2.
Passages such as
Acts 2:42-47 have been used to back up this idea.
C.
“Fellowship” has
also been used by religious people to advocate a “unity in diversity” idea.
1.
Seen throughout
the denominational world. Denominations
have “fellowship” with many religious bodies – regardless of what they
teach/practice.
2.
Let’s agree to disagree.
3.
This line of
thinking has crept into Churches of Christ in the last 50 years.
4.
We must
understand there is no unity in doctrinal diversity.
a)
Believers have no
fellowship with unbelievers.
b)
Those who work
righteousness have no fellowship with those who work unrighteousness.
c)
Christians have
been called to come apart & be separate from unbelievers.
D.
“Fellowship” is a
biblical word.
1.
Literally, it is
the state of being fellows.
2.
In the FC,
Christians were:
a)
fellow prisoners
– Rom. 16:7; Col. 4:10
b)
fellow helpers
– 2 Cor. 8:23; 3 John 8
c)
fellow heirs
– Eph. 3:6
d)
fellow citizens
– Eph. 2:19
e)
fellow soldiers
– Phil. 2:25
f)
fellow laborers
– Phil. 4:3; Col. 4:11
g)
fellow servants
– Col. 1:7; 4:7
I. Fellowship is defined in 2 Cor. 6:14-18
A.
Six words in this
text look at the idea of fellowship from different aspects.
B.
6:14 – “bound
together” describes fellowship.
1.
Literally the
term here means “yoked together.” See NKJV; ASV; KJV; NIV. We
are not to be bound together with unbelievers.
2.
OT times –
people could not yoke an ox with a donkey –as it was unequal. See Lev. 19:19
3.
Thayer says the
term in 2 Cor. 6:14 means “to have fellowship with one who is not an equal.” Paul says this is not to describe the
Christian.
C.
6:14 – “partnership”
describes fellowship.
1.
It means a
“sharing, communion; fellowship.”
2.
Of course,
righteousness and lawlessness have no fellowship.
D.
6:14 – “fellowship”
1.
NKJV uses
“communion” here.
2.
Meaning: “association” “joint participation;
intercourse.” Paul asks, what in
common has light & darkness?
E.
6:15 – it
is “harmony.” ASV uses “concord”
NKJV uses “accord.”
1.
Greek word from
word group that the English word “symphony” is derived.
2.
Can also mean
“agreement.”
3.
Same term is used
in Mt. 18:19 – men agreeing to ask God something in prayer. Also in Acts 5:9 –
Ananias/Sapphira agreeing to lie to the HS.
F.
6:15 – it
is being a “part.”
1.
In this context,
believer has no part or share with the unbeliever.
G.
6:16 – it is
“agreement.”
1.
When we have
fellowship with someone, we are in agreement. We approve of each other’s actions, etc.
II. Powerpoint diagram of the Nature of Biblical Fellowship.
III. Christians have fellowship with deity.
A.
1 John 1:3, 7
– we have fellowship with God.
B.
How?
1.
Note: fellowship is more than a
“relationship”; rather it is an intimate
association with God. This is
seen in our:
2.
worship: prayer; study; singing; LS; giving
3.
labor – 1
Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 5:17-6:2
4.
Purity of life
– involves active participation in shunning evil & doing good on the
part of God & man.
5.
a life of
spiritual growth – Heb. 5:12-14
C.
Fellowship is
more than a mere relationship – it involves obligations on our part! Too often we focus only on the
blessings of fellowship.
D.
1 Cor. 1:9; 1
John 1:3- we have fellowship with Christ.
1.
This is done when
we walk in the light – 1 John 1:3; Eph. 3:17
2.
We have
fellowship in his suffering – Phil. 3:10
a)
We will suffer
for Christ. 1 Tim. 3:12
b)
Paul &
Christians today suffer w/Christ on behalf of the church.
3.
We have
fellowship w/Christ when we partake of communion. 1 Cor. 10:16
E.
We have
fellowship with the HS – Phil. 2:1
1.
this is done as
long as we abide in His message – Acts 2:38; 5:32
IV. Fellowship among Christians.
A.
No doubt it is to
take place. See Gal. 2:9; 6:6;
Phil. 1:5; 4:15; Acts 2:42-44; 2 Cor. 8:4-9, 14; Rom. 15:26
1.
Fellowship w/each
other is empty if we’re not in fellowship w/God!
B.
We have
fellowship w/brethren in who we are.
1.
fellow citizens
– Eph. 2:19
2.
fellow soldiers
– Phil. 2:25; Eph. 6:10-17
3.
Fellow laborers;
servants; and heirs…
C.
We share together
in the things we do:
1.
proclaiming the gospel
– Phil. 1:5; 4:14-16
2.
edification
– 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:16
3.
benevolence to
needy saints – Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; Heb. 13:16;
V. With whom should we fellowship?
A. All Christians
who are walking in the light. 1
John 1:3, 7
1. See
Eph. 4:1-16. Should fellowship
those who:
2. 4:1
– walk worthy of their calling
3. 4:2
– walk w/humility & love.
4. 4:3
– work to keep unity
5. 4:4-6
– build on the ONE church.
6. 4:13-16 – work to become mature.
B. All
who abide in the doctrine of Christ. Acts 2:42; 2 John 9-11
VI. With whom should we not fellowship?
A.
We can forfeit
the right to fellowship w/someone. Remember it’s a “Joint sharing or participation.”
1.
fellowship is
something that may be offered; withheld; refused; or given
B.
Told to refuse
fellowship to those who walk disorderly – 2 Thess. 3:6-14
C.
Unbelievers
– 2 Cor. 6:14-18
D.
Unfaithful
brethren – 1 Cor. 5:9-13
E.
Unfruitful works
of darkness – Eph. 5:11
F.
False Teachers
– Those who start division among brethren – Rom. 16:17-18; 2 John
9-11
Conclusion:
A.
Here’s the most
important question of the day: Do
you have fellowship w/God? Are you
his child?
1.
Those not in
fellowship w/God are lost eternally.
2.
Doesn’t have to
be the case! God sent His son to
die so we can be adopted as sons/daughters of God!
3.
Eph. 1:3-14
B.
Fellow Christians
– fellowship is a 2 way street between God & man.
1.
Know that God
will do His part!
2.
Already a son
– but not participating w/God in His work?
3.
Get your life
right!
C. I N V
I T A T I O N