Introduction of Christian Fellowship - Mount Olivet Christian Church

Introduction of Christian Fellowship

Every Christian must answer the question, what is Biblical fellowship? We are saved for fellowship, not isolation (Acts 2:41). The Spirit within the believer, as the result of saving grace, impels him to seek out those who believe in the principles of Holy Scripture. He can be satisfied fellowshipping with only like-minded people (Acts 2:42). Peter and John exemplified this “when they had been released, they went to their own companions [idious, ablative pronominal adjective masculine plural of idios]” (Acts 4:23 NASB). Their going to their own people according to the grace of God indicates that like attracts like. People are known by the company they keep.

When Christians are allowed to migrate to their own places, they will go where the grace of God is commonly shared. Paul and the Philippian saints were partakers of grace: “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers [accusative plural of sugkoinonos, a co-participant] of grace with me” (Phil. 1:7 NASB). The Greek word sugkoinonous is a nominative accusative masculine plural compound noun, made up of the preposition sun and the adjective koinonos, which means one who partakes jointly. Paul used the verb form of this compound word in Philippians 4:14—“…you have done well to share with (sugkoinoneo, to participate with) me in my affliction” (NASB).

Christians understand that the foundation of Biblical communion centers in the Triune God. They are assured of the eternal love and choice by God the Father, the eternal love and redemption by God the Son, who satisfied the justice of the Father by His substitutionary death as the God-Man at Calvary, and the eternal love and regenerating work of God the Spirit in the lives of the chosen ones in time. The God-given truth committed to the saints is not only the power that produces the experimental conversion of the chosen ones, but it is also the magnet that draws together the regenerated and converted by giving them the same mind and judgment. There is no real fellowship apart from the grace of God and the truth of God that is proclaimed by men called by God for that purpose.

Biblical fellowship is as wide as the work of grace, but as narrow as the way of truth (Matt. 7:13, 14). The word “narrow” of Matthew 7:14 is a perfect passive participle of thlibo, which means the way of life has been permanently restricted by God’s eternal truth. This was God’s preparation for His statements concerning the false way and the true way, beginning with Matthew 7:15. (See Prov. 14:12; John 14:6; Acts 4:12.) Some assume that grace alone is enough to constitute fellowship, but grace only makes fellowship possible. The grace of God that brings salvation to the elect also teaches us, “instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:12, 13 NASB).

Fellowship has two sides—union with Christ and abiding in Christ. (1) The believer’s union with Christ must be considered eternally (Eph. 1:4), substitutionally (John 10:11), actually (John 3:8), and experientially (I John 1:1-4). Each aspect of union must be viewed in its proper order. That which had its origin in God’s eternal purpose reaches fruition in time by God-given faith. (2) In order to abide in Christ, one must remain steadfast, or constant, in the faith (system of truth) once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). He must abide in Christ and Christ’s word must abide in him in order to have fellowship (John 15:7).

Fellowship is an objective fact. Our relationship with Christ is objectively set forth in a threefold manner: (1) In the past, Christ was manifested in the flesh on earth for our salvation (I John 1:1-3). (2) In the present, He is manifested in His glorified body in heaven for our sanctification (I John 2:1, 2). (3) In the future, He will be manifested in His glorified body for our glorification (I John 3:2).

Fellowship is also a subjective reality. Our relationship with Christ is experientially enjoyed in a threefold manner: (1) We have communion of possession, and our interest results from the communication of life and a God-like nature from the Vine to the branches. Therefore, we have a community of possession, operation, and expression (John 15). (2) We have inward friendship (John 15:15). God desires to share His secrets with us, not to withhold them from us (Ps. 25:14). (3) We have companionship with the sovereign Lord (Song of Sol. 2:14; 4:1; 5:10; 8:13, 14; Rev. 3:20).

Fellowship is both negative and positive. The negative side of fellowship is, “…do not participate [sugkoinoneo, a compound verb, which means to be a joint partaker, or to be an accomplice in] in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Eph. 5:11 NASB). Evil fellowship is more than sympathy, although that is the core of it. It is sympathy expressed in a way to draw others to oneself in the bonds of evil. A common interest in the same thing gives men a fellowship therein. Fellowship is making men feel they are related to you in a common desire. However, Christians must be clear of other men’s sins (I Tim. 5:22). An occasional trip by a Christian to a tavern or casino would be like occasionally eating carrion. On the other hand, the positive side of fellowship is that Christians who have been baptized continually devote “…themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42 NASB).

Various aspects of fellowship are taught. Five examples of the word “fellowship” appear in the Philippian Epistle: (1) Christians have fellowship in the gospel (1:5). (2) They have the fellowship of the Spirit (2:1). (3) They fellowship in Christ’s sufferings (3:10). (4) They fellowship in affliction on behalf of the gospel (4:14). (5) They fellowship in giving (4:15).

Every Christian knows what constitutes the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, he shares in the fellowship of that gospel. The sovereign Spirit regenerates the elect, but they are converted by truth. A reversal of the verses of Romans 10:9-17 proves that a minister does not regenerate anyone, but he shares in a regenerated person’s conversion. The man of God must be sent. The person sent is the preacher. Regenerated people hear the word preached. They believe. When they believe, they call on the Lord. They are saved (converted). They confess that they are saved (converted).

The Philippian saints’ continuance in their fellowship in the gospel convinced the apostle Paul that they were the objects of preservation: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6 NASB). This is the fellowship of grace effected by the sovereign God (I Cor. 1:9). It is the fellowship of faith, which includes prayer and thanksgiving (Phil. 1:3, 4, 9-11). Fellowship is in loving one another (Phil. 1:7), contributing to one another’s needs (4:15), and sharing the afflictions of the gospel (4:14). Sharing in the promotion of the gospel includes separation (II Cor. 6:14-18) and suffering on behalf of Christ (Phil. 1:29; 3:10).

True fellowship is of the Spirit: “IF therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:1, 2 NASB). The particle “if” (first class condition) would be better translated “since.” It is the particle of a fulfilled condition. Fellowship of the Spirit is of the highest order. The Lord Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts by faith in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Fellowship in Christ’s sufferings is sharing in His sufferings instead of the fellowship created by Christ’s sufferings. Christ’s sufferings must be distinguished from those of the Christian. His were vicarious, but there is no merit in the Christian’s sufferings. Christ, who was without the principle of sin, did not deserve what He suffered. However, Christians deserve everything they suffer because the principle of sin remains in them. His sufferings were for the redemption of the elect (Heb. 10:1-14). Christians endure all things that the elect might be saved (II Tim. 2:10). All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (II Tim. 3:12).

Fellowship is on behalf of the gospel: “Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction” (Phil. 4:14 NASB). The man of God will suffer to some extent for his stand for the truth. His flock should be willing to share in that suffering. Paul could commend the Philippians because they shared with him in his affliction.

There is fellowship in giving (Phil. 4:15). Some say that when God’s people give sacrificially to God, He will pour out material blessings on them. Our greatest blessings are neither monetary nor physical, but spiritual. The Philippian saints were generous. No other assembly was willing to help the apostle financially in certain circumstances. Any assembly member who manifests more enthusiasm for non-spiritual things than for spiritual things needs more than self-examination.

The apostle John emphasized fellowship: (1) Fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ (I John 1:3). It is based on the principle of life. There is no Biblical fellowship separate from the principle of life. (2) Fellowship is with fellow believers. The one out of fellowship with Jesus Christ is out of fellowship with fellow believers. (3) Assembly fellowship is that into which a believer can be received and from which he can be dismissed. Christian fellowship, which may be enjoyed by all who are born again, can be marred by sin. It is restored only when the sinning Christian is restored to fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Assembly fellowship is impossible apart from believing and embracing the fundamentals of Holy Scripture. One who comes into the assembly professing to believe what the assembly teaches and practices, but later rejects some major truth must be excluded from the assembly when he shows no repentance.

The entire Epistle of I John may be outlined in the following manner: (1) There are prerequisites to fellowship (1:1, 2). (2) Christians are partners in fellowship (1:3). (3) They have the joy of fellowship (1:4). (4) There is a place for fellowship (1:5-7). (5) There are obstacles to fellowship (1: 8, 10). (6) Repentant Christians who have sinned are restored to fellowship (1:9). (7) Safeguards to fellowship are given (2:1-6). (8) There are results of fellowship (2:7-14). (9) Enemies to fellowship are listed (2:15-19). (10) There is power in fellowship (2:20, 27). (11) The law of fellowship is given (2:21-26). (12) Christians enjoy the blessings of fellowship (2:28-3:3). (13) Christians evidence fellowship (3:4-24). (14) The character of fellowship is recorded (4:1-21). (15) There are essentials to fellowship (5:1-12). (16) Aids or helps for fellowship are provided (5:13-21). - From the Web