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1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the, we have fellowship one with another,"
1 John 1:3,...that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
The secular meaning of fellowship is association of friendly character, comradeship; common interest of those in fraternal orders, friendly companionship.
Christian fellowship is much deeper, sweeter that secular fellowship; Bible fellowship means spiritual communion, a joint partnership, a joint sharing, mutual partakers.
College fellowships have little in common [same school] [same hobby] but Christian fellowship is far more inclusive; it involves much more; it encircles whole life.
Uncle Tom Brayshaws definition “Fellows in a ship” Rowing, pulling together, going in the same direction and speed, having the same goal.
All born of the same Father [John 1:3]; bought with the same price
[1 Cor.6:20]; members of the same Body [Col. 1:18]; taught by the same Spirit [ohn 16:3]; walking the same path [2 Cor. 5:7]; serving the same Master [Matt.23:8] heirs of the same inheritance [Rom.8:17].
The Basis of our Fellowship.
Fellowship is conditional upon our walking in the light, 1 John 1:7
[as above]
Sin breaks fellowship; [Adam and Eve in the garden] fellowship can be restored by repentance and confession Isa. 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God."
1 John 1:7 provides a formula for restored fellowship-cleansing in the Blood of Christ.
This Blood application is not automatic; it comes as we confess our sins- 1 John 1:9.
Walking in the light means walking in obedience to the will of God; following His footsteps daily; following His footsteps we do no sin-1 Pet. 2:21,22.
Fellowship is based on an intimate family relationship to Christ and His family.
Can two walk together unless they be agreed? Amos 3:3.
Certainly not! They must be agreed on:-
[1] place of meeting-the cross;
[2] the direction to go-heavenward;
[3] goal-holiness with Christ;
[4] pace or speed-He sets the pace we must follow.
We have fellowship, for our status has changed from that of an enemy to a fellow-citizen of that heavenly land. [Eph. 2:19]
With whom do we have fellowship?
1. With the Father and the Son- 1 John 1:3, we are born into God's family and now as areal member of the family we have heart to heart fellowship.
1 Cor.1:9 "...called unto the fellowship of His Son,Jesus Christ our Lord"; the basic call is fellowship rather than service or even sacrifice.
2. With fellow Christians-1 John 1:3,7; fellowship with the apostles, disciples, believers.
Christians love to be together; to talk together; to pray together; to sing together; to laugh together; to weep together; just to be together.
Christians love to come together to speak of the things of the Lord and to share experiences and testimonies.
We need this fellowship for mutual strengthening and encouragement; the isolated Christian may be starved and lose out spiritually.
First seek fellowship with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading and then with His other sons and daughters; fellowship radiates in the face of His saints.
Why must we have fellowship with others?
Heb. 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."
Fellowship is God's ordained order for mankind; God created man to labour six days and be free to rest, fellowship and worship on the Lord's day.
God recognized this principle in creation for He said, Gen. 2:18, " It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him"; this refers to marriage but it is equally true in Christian growth as well.
Jesus recognized this principle when He sent out His disciples two by two-Mark 6:7.It is true that some Christians have matured while living in isolation in prison but they are the exception to the rule.
How do we have fellowship?
Ordinarily by getting together for worship in the Church; but there is also other fellowship in prayer meetings, testimony meetings and open air street meetings.
Fellowship is often sweetest where two or three meet informally as Jesus says in Matt.18:20.
Two riding on a bus or in a car can have excellent fellowship; sweet communion.
Two Christians at work may fellowship together; Jesus and the two disciples on the Emmaus Road- Luke 24:32.
Jesus drew near and their hearts were strangely warmed; this is a special fellowship.
Acts 2:42 "And they (the saints in Jerusalem) continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread an in prayers".
The early church thrived on fellowship; they considered it absolutely essential.
Fellowship is not a passive thing; it isn't just attending a meeting; fellowship is when we contribute something to the meeting; it is a "give and take process".
The purposes of fellowship.
1.To strengthen one another; even if we do not need fellowship we owe it to others to give fellowship to them; in the process we too will be blessed.
2. To encourage one another in the hard places of life; many with smiling faces are covering aching hearts and burdened souls; lets make their load a bit easier.
3. To share experiences for mutual benefit of all; our testimony may prevent someone else from making a similar error and suffering as we have done in our ignorance.
4. To manifest our joys that all may rejoice with us; Psa. 50:15, the fellowship of the thrill of answered prayer; this will surely encourage others to keep on praying.
5. To weep with them that weep- Rom. 12:15; the fellowship of tears, of sorrow and of suffering.
6. To enlighten the weaker brother in the mysteries of the Word of God; as you learn, share it and it will be impressed upon your mind and you will be ready to learn more.
7. To exhort the backslider to return to the Lord; your offer of fellowship may remind him of happier days and create a longing to return to the Saviour and blessing.
With whom is fellowship denied?
1. Devils. 1 Cor. 10:20, "I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." This would include witch doctors, necromancers, spirit mediums, all forms of demonism or spiritism.
2. The unfruitful works of darkness. Eph. 5:11, "And have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." This would include night clubs, places where criminals meet, atheist clubs, public bars, places where the jokes or language would tarnish your mind. etc. see John 3:19.
3. Unbelievers, unrighteousness, darkness, Belial and infidels-this list is found in 2 Cor. 6:14-16; we may have business relations with unsaved people but not spiritual fellowship, we must witness to the unsaved but not enter into their wicked deeds. With whom then may I have fellowship? Fellowship is best and sweetest with those of like Christian faith; fellowship with an evangelical, fundamental, conservative [not political] Church.
Results of Christian Fellowship.
1. We learn to walk in the light in obedience to the Lord's will 1 John 1:7.
2. We learn to suffer together. Phil. 3:10, this fellowship can be very meaningful.
3. We learn to serve together, Col. 4:7; fellow-servants of the Lord Jesus.
4. We learn to comfort one another, 1 Thess. 4:18, by sharing the Word and experiences.
5. We learn to pray for one another, 1 Thess. 5:25; fellowship in sharing requests.
6. We learn to bear one another's burdens, Gal. 6:2; sharing joys and sorrows.
7. We learn to rejoice with the joyful, Rom. 12:15; joy is happily contagious an invigorating.
8. We grow and glow for the Lord. 2 Peter 3:18; we give and receive reciprocal blessings.
To sum up.
Begin the day with fellowship-Godward in the quiet time, prayer and Bible study.
Meditate much on the Word of God during the day; let God be our predominant thought.
Keep company with believers of like faith but constantly make contacts with the unsaved waiting for opportunities to witness to them and inviting them to trust the Saviour.
You may ask:- What is the difference between listening to a great service on T.V. or Radio and being in the church assembly?
Basically, the difference is one of fellowship; it is good to listen to great preachers wherever you can, BUT on the Lord's Day meeting together is important.
[Heb:10:25] “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
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