What A Fellowship!

What A Fellowship! Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

What Is Fellowship? When some folks hear the word “fellowship” they immediately think of a common meal eaten in what they call a “fellowship hall” but which, in reality, is a dining facility. But what is “fellowship” all about? Is it really nothing more than eating and drinking ? While there is undoubtedly a social aspect to the collective worship of the local church, fellowship is never – in the New Testament – a mere social event.

Romans 14:16-17 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

koinonia • as a relationship characterized by sharing in common fellowship, participation • as giving so that others can share generosity, fellow feeling … willing contribution, gift

Fellowship Thus, the word has both a passive and an active sense. The passive sense involves the idea of having a share in spiritual things with the Godhead and with one another. We have a share in these things with the Godhead and with one another because He shares them with us not that we share them with Him.

Fellowship In this passive sense, we have no say concerning those with whom we have fellowship. While we must meet conditions to have a share in these things, it is God who does the sharing by calling us "into" this fellowship.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fellowship In this passive sense, we have no say concerning those with whom we have fellowship. While we must meet conditions to have a share in these things, it is God who does the sharing by calling us "into" this fellowship. God calls one into this fellowship by means of the apostolic message.

1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- 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.

Fellowship The apostle John affirms that this fellowship includes the blessing of cleansing from sin by the Savior’s blood. But to enjoy this blessing, the apostle insists that we must not walk in the darkness but in the light, which means that we are to follow the Lord’s will in all things, not only participating in the fellowship meal but keeping all the divine commandments and ordinances.

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:7-10 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

Ephesians 1:11-14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor

1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor • A Common Salvation

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor • A Common Salvation • A Common Savior

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor • A Common Salvation • A Common Savior • Love for the Lord

1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor • A Common Salvation • A Common Savior • Love for the Lord • The Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 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.

2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:9-11 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Things Which We Share • A Like Precious Faith • Spiritual Blessings • A Living Hope • A Loving Benefactor • A Common Salvation • A Common Savior • Love for the Lord • The Divine Nature • Tribulation/Persecution

Mark 10:29-30 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

2 Timothy 3:10-13 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:6-7 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 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.

What A Fellowship!