Paul reminded the Philippian
believers that they were constantly in his prayers. especially as he recalled their
fellowship in the gospel, which began when they were given eyes
to see the glory of Christ's redemption and continued on until
the present time. This was a source of great joy
to him as he contemplated the faithful work of Christ in those
whom he is pleased to call. This fellowship of which he speaks
is that which manifests the bonds of Christian love which are exhibited
by those in whom the Lord has begun a good work and presently
performs the same in them. To be without this brotherly
love is to manifest the absence of the work of God, regardless
of what one may claim to believe or be. As John says, we know
that we have passed from death unto life because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death. If a man say, I love God, and
hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother,
whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? The Greek word for fellowship
is koinonia and means participation or partnership in a common cause.
When one has this kind of fellowship with another, they must share
a common desire, which is to see Christ exalted, a common
bond, which is love for Christ and one another, and a common
commitment, which is to follow the way of Christ. If these things
be absent, then there can be no such thing as true fellowship
at all. Those who are of this world have
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. The sons of
God, however, are admonished to love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. For if any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. Rather, our conversation
is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of fellowship in
the gospel, which describes the basis for the bond which unites
the sons of God in this world. The gospel of which he speaks
is not a message which simply speaks of some sort of general
goodwill towards men, but rather one which centers on the work
of redemption which Christ came to perform in the behalf of that
elect people which were chosen in him before the foundation
of the world. Paul speaks of this when he told the Corinthians,
for I determine not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. This is the basis for the true
fellowship which he speaks of to the Philippians. The fellowship
of the saints is not in various forms of fleshly recreations,
but rather in the spiritual bonds formed by a desire to see Christ
magnified. Some have crept in among the
saints over the years and have injured this pure fellowship
by the promotion of a free will doctrine which ultimately denies
the sovereign grace of God. The fellowship of the saints
must be in Christ alone. Anything or anyone else is a
detriment to true fellowship in the gospel. When Christ alone
is preached, none care who the mouthpiece might be, but together
rejoice in him. Unfortunately, it is quite common
to find many preachers in the present time who are as diatrophies
and love to have the preeminence. They seek out a following and
delight in the praise of their hearers and the salary they are
paid. That man who promotes himself
cannot preach Christ alone, and the man who preaches Christ alone
cannot promote himself, nor is any man who is called to preach
concerned with how much money he might receive from it. The
true fellowship in the gospel has regard first to Christ alone. The primary bond of this fellowship
is found in the worship of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This
fellowship is not around the ability of men to do anything,
but it rather rejoices that Christ has provided a full and free
salvation for all He is pleased to call and calls to believe.
Then this fellowship has regard to those who are our brethren,
that is, the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
that filleth all in all. Therefore let us be like-minded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, Let
nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness
of mind let each