170 likes | 573 Views
Fellowship With Each Other. I John 1:3 , “ That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us : and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ .” Two Important Facts : It is possible to have fellowship with God !
E N D
Fellowship With Each Other • I John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ.” • Two Important Facts: • It is possible to have fellowship with God! • Those who are in fellowship with God are in fellowship with each other!
Brief Review of Last Week’s Sermon: • Fellowship defined. From koinonia, may be translated “fellowship,” “association,” “community,” or “joint participation.” • Fellowship with God depends on: • God’s Provisions which make it possible. • Man’s Response to those Provisions.
In this Lesson: • We are discussing the other side of the coin. • We are referring to: • The Communion, • The Sharing in, • The Partnership, or • The fellowship we have with each other by reason of our fellowship with God. • This kind of fellowship involves teamwork, Acts 2:42!
Basic Facts:Fellowship Extends in Two Directions • Upward toward God, I John 1:3,5,6. Our fellowship with God is based upon the facts that we: • Believed and obeyed the gospel, I Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. • Cooperate with God, I Corinthians 3:6,9; Mark 16:20 • Find happiness in the same principles – holiness, truth, purity, justice, mercy, etc., 2 Peter 1:4; I John 1:5,6. • Outward Toward His Children, I John 1:3; Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9; Philippians 1:3-5.
Basic Facts, con’t: • Fellowship, both vertical and horizontal, is regulated by divine truth! • Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with God, John 8:32; Romans 1:16. • Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with each other, John 17:20,21; Amos 3:3.
Basic Facts – continued: • “Fellowship is often an abused and Misused Word. • Often used to refer to eating together, though it is never so used in the Bible! Note Ephesians 5:11; Mark 2:16; Hebrews 4:15 • Some churches have “fellowship dinners,” and invite both saints and sinners! • Sometimes “fellowship” is used as an adjective to describe a Hall. • Sometimes “fellowship” is a word used to describe inter-denominational alliances and activities.
Basic Facts -- Continued • “Fellowship” is often an abused Practice! • Fellowshipping those whom God will not fellowship, I Corinthians 5:1,2; I John 1:5. • Refusing to fellowship those whom God does fellowship, 3 John 9,10. • “Fellowship” is often a Perverted Teaching! • A case in point is that of perverting Romans 14 to justify both Moral Sin, and Doctrinal Error! • This contradicts I John 1:5,6! • This contradicts passages which precede and follow Romans 14. cf. Romans 13:14; 16:17,18.
God Wants Faithful Christians To BeIn Fellowship with other Faithful Christians! • This is implied by Apostolic Example, Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9. • This is Implied by Apostolic Admonition, Hebrews 10:24. • “Consider” – fix the mind upon. Consider how to help other Christians be faithful in their duties to God. • “Provoke” – “to call to action.
That God Wants Faithful Christians to Be in Fellowship with other Faithful Christians implied by: • “Fellow-Citizens,” Ephesians 2:19. • “Fellow-Helper,” 2 Corinthians 8:23. • “Fellow –Laborer,” I Thessalonians 3:1,2. • “Fellow-servant,” Colossians 4:7. • “Fellow-Workers,” Colossians 4:11. • “Fellow-Soldier,” Philippians 2:25. • “Fellow-Heirs,” Ephesians 3:6.
In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Negatively: • Not in the unfruitful works of Darkness! • Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” • Not in Supporting Religious error! • 2 John 10,11: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into hour house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Positively: • Our joint action in Scriptural work, I Corinthians 3:9. • Our joint action in Scriptural worship, Acts 2:42; 20:27; I Corinthians 10:16. • Our support of Gospel Preachers, Philippians 1:5; 4:14-17. • Our support of Needy saints, 2 Cor-inthians 8:1-4.
Faithful Christians Have Fellowship in things they share in Common: • A CommonCalling, I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:1. • A CommonStandard of Conduct, I Peter 2:21. • A CommonAim – glorify God, I Corinthians 10:31. • A CommonSalvation, Jude 3. • A CommonGoal – Heaven, I Peter 1:3,4.
Conclusion: • We have dealt with but two aspects of Fellowship – with God, and with others. • Every Person in Fellowship with God is one Whom God has Called, I Cor. 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. • You may have many good qualities, but if you are not in fellowship with God, you are lost! But God does not want you to be lost! 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16; Luke 19:10; Rom. 1:16.