Monday, June 26, 2017, 8:07 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “In Truth.” Speak, Lord, your words to
my heart. I read selected scriptures (in the NASB) on the subject of biblical spiritual
fellowship.
What is Christian Fellowship?
From my own experience, I
have found that this word “fellowship,” in many Christian circles here in
America, is used often more in a secular sense rather than in a biblical sense.
For instance, it is called “fellowship” when a group of people, who are
connected via profession of faith in Jesus, or via participation with a local
church organization, gather together for a social get-together which may or may
not be affiliated with or sponsored by that local church organization. This
social gathering may involve eating tons of food together, watching TV or
movies together, playing games, shopping for non-necessities, or attending a
sporting event, etc., and the name of Jesus may or may not even come up at all.
Yet, they call it “Christian fellowship.”
So, to begin with I want to look
at the definition of biblical (Christian and spiritual) “fellowship” (koinónia).
It means “participation, communion, partnership, sharing in, communion; what is shared in common as
the basis of fellowship (partnership, community)” (1). “Koinonia
is being in agreement with one another, being united in purpose, and serving
alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ” (2). And, that last
sentence here really is key to understanding true biblical (spiritual and
Christian) fellowship.
Fellowship with Christ (1 Co. 1:9; Phil. 3:10)
“God is faithful, through whom you were called into
fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“…that I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”
So, if we are called into
fellowship with Jesus Christ, and to share in the fellowship of his sufferings,
what does that look like? It means we participate with Christ in death to sin
and in being resurrected with him to newness of life in Christ Jesus, in the
Spirit of God, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ro.
6:1-23; Eph. 4:24). It means we partner with Jesus Christ, that we are in
agreement with him, that we are united with him in his purpose for our lives,
and that we serve him faithfully. This means that we turn away from our sinful
lifestyles, forsake our idols, and we turn to follow (obey) Jesus Christ with
our lives. We also accept the fact that following Jesus in obedience and in
surrender to his will for our lives means we will be hated, rejected,
persecuted and abandoned, just like he was.
Fellowship of the Spirit (Phil. 2:1-4)
Therefore, if 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. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility
of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own
personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
When we trust Jesus Christ to
be Lord (owner-master) and Savior of our lives, and we become his servants,
bond-slaves to him and to his righteousness, his Holy Spirit comes to live
within us, to empower, strengthen, counsel, teach and guide us in the way that
we should go, so that we can live holy lives, pleasing to God. His will is the
will of the Father and that of the Son, and that is that we live holy lives,
set apart (unlike, different) from the world of sin because we are being made
into the image of Christ. So, to be in fellowship with the Spirit is to agree
with God, and to be united with him in his purpose for our lives, which is that
we die with Christ to sin and that we live with Christ to his righteousness.
So, when we are united with
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – likeminded in heart, mind and purpose, which
is to walk in obedience to our Lord and to do his will, and to no longer walk
according to our sinful flesh, then we can also be likeminded, united in
purpose, and having the same (agape) love as other believers in Jesus who are
also united with God in heart, mind and purpose. And, this should result in us
not living to please ourselves, but God, and in us serving one another
unselfishly. We should put others’ true needs above our own, and we should look
out for what is in the best interest of others, i.e. regarding what they truly
need, not necessarily regarding what they want. And, this involves laying our
lives down in order to see others go free from slavery to sin, and to walk in
holiness, righteousness and godliness, even if it means we are hated, persecuted
and rejected in return.
Fellowship with One Another (Acts 2:42-47)
They were continually devoting themselves to the
apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone
kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking
place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were
together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and
possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by
day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity
of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was
adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
These believers in Jesus
Christ, when they got together, continually devoted themselves to the teaching
of the Word of God, and to remembering what Jesus Christ did for them in dying
for their sins, and in rising from the dead. They were devoted to sharing meals
together, and to prayer (talking with and listening to their Lord). They
witnessed many miracles of God in their midst, and they shared with one another
as they had need. Day by day they met together, continuing with one mind, which
was the mind of Christ, and giving thanks to God/Jesus and praising Him, and
the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Their fellowship was based in
Jesus Christ, not in the flesh of humans, and it was centered on God’s will for
their lives, learning from him, and sharing his love and grace with others.
And, the result was that many came to faith in Jesus Christ. It was not about
being entertained, but it was about sharing in Jesus Christ and in his saving
grace to us, loving him, and loving others.
Fellowship with Darkness (2 Co. 6:14)
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership
have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
It is not Christian
fellowship if we are united with, in agreement with, in partnership with or we
participate with those who are walking in darkness (sin, wickedness) in their
wicked (sinful) deeds. It is also not Christian fellowship if we unite (agree
with) the world (worldliness) via ungodly activities we participate in, sinful
attitudes and behaviors we adopt as part of our lives, or via unholy and wicked
scenarios we regularly feed into our minds via TV, movies, the internet, books,
magazines, and the like. In other words, don’t call it Christian fellowship if
Christ has no part in it, if he is opposed to what we are doing, and if what we
are doing stands in opposition to his will for our lives or his teachings (or
those of the NT apostles).
For example, if when we
gather together for what we call “Christian fellowship,” but Jesus Christ is
not even included in what we do, nor would he want to be, then it isn’t “Christian
fellowship,” but it is worldly, fleshly and/or it is darkness – unrighteousness
and ungodliness. And, that has no communion (no fellowship or partnership) with
what is light (truth, righteousness, holiness, godliness, etc.). So, we are not
to participate in what is darkness, but we are to have fellowship with what is
light. For, the two do not mix. And, we should not try to mix them, either. True
fellowship begins with God, with being likeminded with him in following his
will and his ways, and it is based in Jesus, and in the Word of God, and not in
the will of humans or in the passions and desires of our sinful flesh.
Fellowship with God (1 Jn. 1:5-7)
This is the message we have heard from Him and
announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at
all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie
and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He
Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
And, here is the crux of the
matter. If we say we have fellowship (agreement, like-mindedness, and unity of
purpose) with God, but we conduct (live) our lives to please our sinful flesh,
instead, we are liars. If we call what we do with others “Christian fellowship”
but everything we do with them has nothing to do with Christ or his eternal
kingdom, but everything to do with selfish pleasure and entertainment, we are
liars, or we are fooling ourselves. True fellowship with Christ or true
Christian fellowship with others is about walking in the light (truth,
righteousness), pleasing God, serving others, and it is about following Christ
and his Word, and sharing it with others so they can come to know Jesus Christ
and his salvation, too.
So, if we want to have true
fellowship with Christ and with others, we need to walk (conduct our lives) in
the light (truth, righteousness). And, we need to no longer live to gratify our
sinful cravings and passions. It is important that we realize that God’s grace
to us is not solely for the purpose to deliver us from hell and to promise us
heaven when we leave this earth. Jesus died that we might die to sin and live
to righteousness. If we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins. But,
if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live
with Christ for eternity. God’s grace is not free license to continue in willful
sin against God. But his grace instructs us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly
passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we await
Christ’s return.
(See: Lu. 9:23-25; Ro.
6:1-23; Ro. 8:1-14; Eph. 4:17-24; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15, 21; Jn. 6:35-66; Acts
26:16-18; Gal. 5:19-21; & Tit. 2:11-14).
In Truth / An Original Work / January
10, 2012
Fellowshipping with my Lord, Savior,
King.
He is Lord of all; Lord of ev’rything.
He is with me through ev’ry hour of
day,
List’ning to me speak, as I humbly
pray.
He cares for my needs,
and He intercedes for me,
‘cause He loves me in ev’ry way.
Obey His commands, and do all He says.
Sitting at His feet, daily in His word,
Let His word speak to me in ev’ry way,
Giving comfort and healing through each
day.
Oh, how Jesus loves,
And He cares for you,
Which is why He died for our sins, in
truth.
Love our Lord God, Savior, and King of
kings.
Worship Him in truth, for He reigns
supreme.
He created us with a plan in mind
For us to be His servants, and Him
mind.
Follow Him in truth;
Go where’er He leads.
Share His love with others, and their
needs meet.
Others: their needs meet.
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