Introduction to Fellowship

Q: What does the Bible say about fellowship?

Fellowship, or 'koinonia', is a biblical concept emphasizing shared life and communion among believers. Fellowship, known in Greek as 'koinonia', is a central theme in the New Testament, appearing 46 times in various forms. It signifies a deep, spiritual connection among believers, rooted in mutual participation in the gospel, a shared life in Christ, and a common faith. The first mention of fellowship in Scripture is found in Acts 2:42, where the early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, showcasing the importance of community and shared purpose among believers. Fellowship is not merely social interaction; it encompasses spiritual union, participation in the church’s mission, and sharing in each other's joys and sufferings, emphasizing that true fellowship is founded on the grace of God and the truth of His Word.

Q: How do we know that biblical fellowship is essential?

Biblical fellowship is essential as it reflects our communion with Christ and unity in faith among believers. Biblical fellowship is essential for several reasons. First, it displays the unity of believers in Christ, teaching that genuine fellowship stems from our relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As seen in 1 John 1:3-7, our fellowship with one another is intricately connected to our fellowship with God; walking in the light leads to communion with each other. Secondly, fellowship encompasses mutual participation in the gospel's mission, as illustrated in Philippians 1:5, where Paul emphasizes their partnership in spreading the gospel. It's evident that true Christian fellowship promotes spiritual growth, accountability, and encouragement, making it a necessary aspect of the believer's journey in a world often filled with worldly distractions.

Q: Why is understanding koinonia important for Christians?

Understanding koinonia is important because it deepens our recognition of our spiritual unity and responsibilities towards one another. Understanding 'koinonia'—the Greek term for fellowship—plays a critical role in a Christian's faith experience. It reveals not just the communal aspect of being believers but also the depth of spiritual union we share in Christ. It emphasizes that we are called to participate actively in each other's lives, supporting and encouraging one another within the framework of faith. This is evidenced in Acts 2:42-47, where the early church exemplified koinonia through shared possessions, prayers, and breaking bread together. Moreover, recognizing the biblical concept of koinonia helps Christians understand their responsibility in promoting spiritual growth and accountability, inviting them to grasp the significance of their participation in the body of Christ and the mission of the church.

The subject is fellowship. I've looked at every word used.
There are six different words for fellowship, dealing with
fellowship. We have, first of all, the noun koinonia. It is found 20 times in the New Testament. I
have all the references for you in case you don't. Let me ask
you a question. How many of you have in your home library books
or the capability of looking up Greek words and so forth and
where they're used and how many times and the meaning? How many
of you have that? Let's see your hands. over half. I'm thankful that you do. You're
going to have the opportunity to use it. The second word is an adjective. Koinonos. Koinonos. It is found ten times. Thirdly, we have the verb form. koinoneo, which is found eight
times. I won't give you all those references
now. I would rather give them to you in an outline that we'll
be furnishing you every week. In other words, you'll have an
outline of this morning's lesson next Sunday and so forth. Then we have an adjective, koinonikos,
another adjective. And it is used only one time.
I'll give it to you, 1 Timothy 6.18. Then we have two compound words. One is a compound noun. Koinonikos is the first part
of it. that is the stem, I should say,
and sun, S-U-N, but you'll find it S-U-gamma, and I won't explain
to you why they do that, but that's more for pronunciation
of these compound words where you use prepositions. So we have
the noun form, sun koinonos, And then we have sung koinoneo. The noun is used four times and
the compound verb is used three times, giving us a total of 46
references where the word for fellowship is used in the New
Testament. Now, I've given some things on
this, but it's been at least 25 years ago. but Juanita's been downloading
some things that work that I've done in the past and we're putting
it together. I didn't realize that I had enough
information on this for a book, about a 250 page book. Well,
of course, we're not printing books right now, but I am taking
some of the highlights of it and then doing some continual
study of the subject. You never finish studying any
subject. If you do, than you're in for a defeat in your Christian
experience. But there's no subject more applicable
for our day than the subject of fellowship. You may think
that you know what it is. I doubt very seriously if there
are two or three that really understand what should be understood
on the subject of fellowship. What is it? What does it consist
of? And we can go on and on, which
we will be doing for about probably six weeks to two months. I have three passages of Scripture
out of all the four to six references. It seems that there are enough
in about three different places to really just jump out at us.
This is the way I like to study. I like to study verse by verse.
I like to study by subjects. I like to take a subject and
then study it all the way through the New Testament, all the references,
and then the passages that use this particular word more and
see how it is developed. That's what I've been doing for
the last two weeks. I want to read a few verses this
morning, and we will read the first reference to koinonia. Turn to Acts chapter 2. Now, we're also going to get
into something. We'll be having to answer some
things, some questions as we get into this. And I'll show
you what I mean as we read. Now, if we had several babies
here this morning, and I'm talking about baby Christians, and some
unregenerate people, I'd have to do more explaining. But it
looks like that we have, mostly this morning, members of the
Assembly and their children. And there is something very,
very, very valuable. in this subject, so I can't stress
the necessity of it, study, any more than I'm trying to do.
Let's read beginning with verse 37. Now we're in the midst of
Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, his famous sermon. I'm going to read from the NASB,
and I'll call attention to the word that is used. that refers
to fellowship are one of the words that we have mentioned
to you. Verse 37. Now when they heard this, that
is Peter's message, and you have to go back to about verse 17
to really begin, and then you'll get into the real meat of it
in about verse 22, but coming down now to verse 37. Now when
they heard this, They were pierced to the heart and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, repent
and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for,
which literally means because of, and I'm not going to go into
that, It's the preposition ais. The forgiveness of sins, or forgiveness
of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is for you and your children. Now this is one of the strong
verses used by covenant salvation, or household salvation. But see,
I can't get into that. For the promise is for you and
your children and for all who are afar off, as many as the
Lord our God shall call to himself. And with many other words he
solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, be saved
from this perverse generation. Now folks, that's very much in
vogue today. We as Christians certainly are
living in a perverse generation. And we are to save ourselves
from this perverse generation. Not talking about regeneration.
Talking about conversion. Now notice verse 41. So then, So then, those who had received
His Word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000
souls. Notice carefully verse 42. Here
is the first reference to fellowship in the Scriptures. Koinonia is
the noun used. And they were continually devoting
themselves to the apostles' teaching. I'm letting that soak in. And to fellowship. Giving themselves continually
to what? Fellowship. To the breaking of bread? Now
is that something that is done in reference to a meal that people
might be partaking of in someone's home? Or is it a reference to
the Lord's Supper? You'll find if you read 40 books,
you'll find about 40 different views. And so that'll be interesting
to touch on a little bit. But I'm emphasizing fellowship. Breaking a bread into prayer.
That's the first mention, first reference to fellowship. And
everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. Folks, that's really where you
and I, I think, fall short to a great extent. Feeling the sense
of awe in the presence of God's word. as it is being proclaimed. And
many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Now
verse 44, we have the second reference to fellowship. And all those who had believed
were together and had all things, watch this, in common. In common. I didn't tell you this, but all
these words come from an adjective. And what is the adjective? The
adjective is koinos. In all the other words, the verbs
and the nouns that I've given you, they all are derived from
koinos. And what does koinos mean? It
means belonging equally to several. belonging equally to several. It also means common or in common. Now, a statement that we make
frequently, we have something in common. In common. And that's the way the NASB translates
it. And they began selling their
property and possessions and were sharing them with all as
anyone might have need. Now this is not communism as most people think
it refers to communism. This is Christian giving and
concern about fellow believers. And they began selling their
property and possessions and were sharing them. Notice that, sharing them with all, as anyone might have
need. And day by day, continuing with
one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, Second reference to that, that
I've already mentioned. They were taking their meals
together and with gladness and sincerity of heart. You don't
make a mistake about what it's referring to here, do you? Verse
47, 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. That is, those who were really
being converted as a result of having been regenerated. Turn
to the book of Philippians. The second passage is given us
in the book of Philippians. And the word is found some five
times in this, and I want to show you. I'm not going to read
anything but just the verses. The first verse is chapter 1,
verse 5. In view of your participation,
participation is the word, is koinonia, in the gospel, in view of your
participation in the gospel from the first day until now. In the King James, it uses the
word fellowship. But in the NASB, it's participation,
it's koinonia. Now I didn't take time to give
you the different ways that each one of these words is used. We'll
develop that as we go along. The second reference is in chapter
2 verse 1. Now notice this and how wonderful
it's developed in Philippians. Chapter 2 verse 1, koinonia again. If therefore there is any encouragement
in Christ, If there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship,
translated fellowship here in chapter 2 verse 1, if any affection
and compassion. Now, turn please to chapter 3
verse 10. Paul said that I may know Him,
that is Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the what? Fellowship, koinonia, of His sufferings. Fellowship
of His sufferings being conformed to His death. Now look at chapter
4. Verses 14 and 15, we have the
last two. And here we have both the compound verb and the
verb without its prefix and being prefixed by the preposition soon.
Look at verse 14. Nevertheless, You have done well to share,
to share that sung koinoneo. Share with me in my affliction,
Paul said. Then in verse 15, And you yourselves
also know Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel
after I departed from Macedonia, no church, no assembly shared,
that's koinoneo, shared with me in the matter of giving and
receiving but you alone. You can see how thankful he was
for the Philippians. He couldn't speak like that when
he wrote to the Corinthians, not at all. Now turn to the last
portion that we want to read this morning to get you started
thinking along the line of koinonia, fellowship. First John, we'll
read the first seven verses and that's all. We have four references
to fellowship in these verses. Four references. Now look at
them. Let's begin with verse one. What was from the beginning? Have you ever made a comparison
between John 1 and 1 John 1? What a study. I said, what a
study. what was from the beginning,
what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have
beheld, and our hands have handled, or our hands handled, concerning
the word of life, and the life was manifested, and we have seen
and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which
was with the Father and was manifested to us. You don't have to worry
about the word not being manifested to one of God's elect, to some extent. Now verse 3, the word fellowship
is used twice, koinonia is used twice here. What we have seen
and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have
fellowship with us. Do you really know what that
means? Do you? You may think you do, but you
don't really know what it all involves. And that's why we're
going to spend some two months on it. And by the end of two
months, I may have an announcement that will shake you to your toes. All right, watch this. Let's
read the third verse again. What we have seen and heard,
we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship
with us. And indeed, our fellowship is
with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And these
things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. Verse 5, And this is the message
we have heard from Him, and announce to you that God is light and
in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship. If we say. That's one of the
if we say's in this first chapter. People can say anything. I mean
they can say anything and do say just about anything. If we
say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness,
living in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. Now,
in the seventh verse we have the last reference. But, if we
walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, We have fellowship,
watch this, with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ,
his son, cleanses us from all sin. Now, the reason I chose
those three passages is for the simple reason it brings a lot
together in a few verses. My lesson today is an introduction
to fellowship. That's all it is, is an introduction. But it surely does cover a lot
of territory. You know, when we read passages
like this with which we are familiar, most of us, I can't help but think about
a statement I read last week. that really did grab my attention.
Quote, because of so much religious fanaticism, we are in danger of overlooking
the real truth at the center of the local assembly, whether
you're studying Acts 2 and the passage we read, or the book
of Philippians, or the first epistle of John, which is given
that we may know. I'm trusting my memory now. In
those five chapters of 1 John, I think it's 54 times we find
the perfect tense used. You talk about assurance, folks,
it's there, but you have to know what goes along with that assurance. Now let's face the issue. Every
Christian must answer the question, what is fellowship? What is it? Suppose I came to your home,
each one of your homes this week, and sat down and looked you in
the eyes as a member of this assembly and asked you the question,
what is fellowship? What would you say? What kind
of an answer would you give? Most church members do not know
what fellowship really means. All they think about is getting
together. A social getting together. I want you to know it has nothing
to do with socialism as we might think of socialism. Or being
socialistic. Just a good old buddy and guy
just like to be around. Has nothing to do with that at
all. But that's the average concept of fellowship. I know. I know what I've had to face
over 60 years. and almost 59 going on my 60th
year in the pastorate. So every Christian must answer
the question, what is biblical fellowship? We are saved for fellowship. Acts 2.41 states it. That was
the first verse we read. The spirit within the believer,
as a result of the saving grace of God, that grace impels him
to seek out, watch this, seek out those who believe the great principles
of the scriptures. Now, I want you to go back. I'm
going to shake some of you up because some of you flipped around
in Arminianism for so many years, and I even wonder sometimes if
all of you really have biblical baptism. You know what I mean
by biblical baptism? A person isn't really baptized
until he is converted. any water before a conversion
experience and occur a conversion experience is something that
follows regeneration it enables a person who has been regenerated
to experience regeneration is not experienced conversion is the experience
now don't call me a heretic because if you do we're gonna get in
trouble You didn't know when you were
born of the flesh. You don't remember that. You
don't remember coming out of the womb and crying. And neither do you remember when
you were regenerated as to the pinpoint. You didn't have anything to do
with your natural birth and you had absolutely nothing to do
with your spiritual birth. You were passive. So really, baptism, notice the order, as
many as received his word were baptized, that's Acts 2.41, and
were added to the assembly. So the divine order is folks,
regeneration number one, conversion, which is experienced by the individual
when he hears the gospel, but he was never able to hear the
gospel until he was regenerated. He didn't want to be in church.
He didn't want anything to do with it. It was boresome to Him,
but all of a sudden something happened to you, and you had
a different attitude, and you wanted what you knew you didn't
have, and you started seeking. You had a thirst for the righteousness
of God, etc., etc. So the order is regeneration,
conversion experience, baptism, then a member of the
local assembly. That's the order. That's the
order. The person who has been converted
can be satisfied fellowshipping with only like-minded people. Now I want to ask you a question.
There was a time where you went to church just because it was
convenient. And you were taught go to the
church in your neighborhood because you should do that. You went
because of convenience. Well, I started out like that
because that's what I was instructed to do. But I didn't conclude
like that. You know why? I realized I wasn't
getting anything. I wasn't hearing anything. And
so I was seeking. I was thirsty. I was hungry for
what I wasn't getting. And so I was seeking out people
that really knew something about the great principles of Holy
Scripture. Now folks, I'm just laying it
out as plain as I can for all of our church families. Let me prove the point. Turn in your Bibles to Acts 4
verse 23. Peter and John exemplified what
I have just been talking about. In this verse, listen. When they
had been released, they were both in prison. When they had
been released, What did they do? They went to their own companions,
own companions. And I want you to look, if you
don't have your Greek linear today with you, the Greek word
is idios, idios. It's an ablative, pronominal
adjective. masculine plural of the word
idios. Idios. So they're going to their own
people, according to the grace of God, indicates that like attracts
like. Like attracts like. People are
known, therefore, by the company which they keep. Let me repeat that again. People
are known by the company which they keep. The child of God doesn't want
to hear somebody tell some nasty joke. He's looking for somebody that
has something to say that will honor God and be enriching to
his own spiritual life. So like attracts like. This is true in many factions
of society. right or wrong, moral or immoral. What do you like to hear? What
do you like for the conversation to be like and what it should
be about? When Christians are allowed to
migrate to their own places, They will go where the grace
of God is commonly shared. Commonly shared. They have something
in common. And that's the word koinos, from
which all these other words have derived. Paul and the Philippian saints
were partakers of grace. Look at verse 7 again of chapter
1. 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. Now, stop right there for a moment.
Partakers. That's the accusative plural
of the noun sumkoinonas. And it means a co-participant. Isn't that wonderful? A co-participant
of grace, Paul says, with me. You're a co-participant of grace
with me. Folks, what I'm giving now, and
will be giving for the next few weeks, would tear any institution or
church all to pieces. Exactly what needs to be done. Paul used the verb form. of this
compound word in Philippians 4.14. We've already read it.
You have done well to share. To share. And it means to participate
with, to participate with, with me in my affliction. Paul was suffering greatly for
the cause of Christ. You know, I've been thinking
about this lately. I don't know what's going to
happen. You don't either. I know there are some things that I'm
not going to compromise on, regardless of the trouble it
gets me in. I wonder where you would be if, for instance, something
comes back from the internet, some of my strong statements
about homosexuals, and they're all given up by God. to a reprobate
mind. That's Bible, folks. And I want
you to know, I don't want to do something foolishly, but I'm
going to state the truth as it is. But I wonder how many of
you say, and somebody read that and sent me an email and wanted
confirmation, and I stated the truth again, and then they'd
get me for what? Bring a suit against me, say
for two or three million dollars. Suppose I could look in your
direction, you'd be anywhere around? Huh? And I've seen a lot of church
members where he didn't have to say it like that. Folks, you
just don't know. You just don't have any concept
of how many pusillanimous there are out there. They don't have
enough stamina to stand or even tell the truth about anything. So Paul said, you're a co-participant
with me in my affliction. Christians understand that the
foundation of biblical communion centers in the triune God. Remember, this is an introduction.
They are assured of the eternal love and choice of 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 the Holy Spirit in the
lives of those chosen ones in time. The God-given truth committed
to the saints in the lives of the chosen ones. The power that produced the experimental
conversion of the chosen ones. But it is also the magnet. This
gospel is the magnet. The drawing power. that draws
together regenerated and converted people. Now folks, I'm just big enough
fool to believe that with all my heart and would die by it. There is no real fellowship No
real fellowship apart from the grace of God and the truth of
God that is proclaimed by the men called of God or by God for
that very purpose. Biblical fellowship is as wide
as the work of grace. Watch this. As wide as the work
of grace. but as narrow as the way of truth. As narrow as the way of truth. Matthew 7, 13 and 14. There is a word that I want to
call attention to in the Greek here. The word narrow. Of Matthew 7, 14 is a perfect passive participle of phlebo. Phlebo. Which means the way of
life has been permanently restricted. Church members can't take this
kind of teaching. I said just church members. Christians and
only Christians can. Only Christians can. You say, do you think you know
it all? No, I didn't say anything about knowing it all. But I surely
am thankful for what God has taught me. And I will not compromise
it even just a little bit for anybody. And I'm never going to get so
close to anybody but what I can't tell him the truth tomorrow,
the next day, the next day. regardless of who it is. This was God's preparation for
his statements concerning the false way and the true way, beginning
with verse 15 forward of Matthew chapter 7, if you have time and
would take time to read it. Some assume that grace alone
is enough. Watch this. That grace alone
is enough. Oh, I have grace. Grace alone
is not enough. Think that through before going
any further. They think it's enough to constitute
fellowship. It isn't enough to constitute
fellowship. Listen closely. But grace only
makes fellowship possible. Now let me give you this full
sentence and see if I've made a mistake or not. I said some assume that grace
alone is enough to constitute fellowship. But grace only makes
fellowship possible. Makes it possible. The grace
of God that brings salvation to the elect also teaches us. Teaches us. Grace teaches us. Turn, if you will, please to
Titus 2, 12 and 13. Instructing us in denying ungodliness. and worldly desires, and to live
sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for
the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fellowship has two sides. Two
sides. Union with Christ and abiding
in Christ. Union with and abiding in. Number one, the believer's union
with Christ must be considered eternally. Ephesians 1.4, substitutionally
John 10.11, actually John 3.8, and experientially 1 John 1.1-4. Each aspect of union must be
viewed in its proper order. since God is a God of order.
We know that to be true. That which had its origin in
God's eternal purpose reaches fruition in time by God-given
faith. Secondly, after looking at union
with Christ and what all is involved there, in order to abide in Christ,
One must remain steadfast or constant in the faith or in the
system of truth once delivered to the saints. Jude 3. We must abide in Christ and His
Word abide in us in order to have fellowship. John 15 verse
7. Another point that's so important.
Fellowship is an objective fact. Fellowship is an objective fact
and a subjective reality. But it's first an objective fact
before it becomes, to you and to me, a subjective reality. Our relationship with Christ
is objectively set forth in a threefold manner. One, in the past, Christ
was manifested in the flesh on earth for our salvation. 1 John
1 through 3. Secondly, in the present, he
is manifested in his glorified body in heaven for our sanctification. 1 John 2, 1 and 2. Oh, what a blessing. What a blessing. And three, in the future, He
will be manifested in His glorified body for our glorification. 1 John 3 and 2. Let's think about relationship
for a moment. Our relationship with Christ
is experientially enjoyed in a threefold manner. I said enjoyed. Enjoyed. Number one, we have
communion of possession. Communion of possession. and an interest that results
from the communication of life and a God-like nature from the
vine to the branches. Therefore, we have a community,
community, watch the word, of possession, operation, and expression,
all given us in John 15. Secondly, we have inward friendship. Not only have a union and communion
of possession, but now, number two, we have inward friendship. John 15, 15, you are my friends
if you do whatever I command you. That's what Christ said. God desires to share His secrets
with us, not to withhold them, not to withhold them from us. Proof of it, Psalm 25 verse 14. A lot of Christians know a lot
more about the Lord than a lot of other Christians. You know
what'll happen? Those who really study apply themselves, learn. They have fellowship more in
common with those who do. Then you have those that they
just don't have time for it, and they don't really have the,
well, they make all kinds of excuses. I just don't have time.
I just can't get around to it. It's very difficult for me to
think and to do this and do that. So what you have, you have a
church beginning to divide. Those that like to study and
enjoy discussing the things of the Lord, what else is there
worth talking about when we get together? What's more important? What's more important? And so you find those who really
are studious, then those will start finding fault with those
who are studious. They just think they know it
all and all this kind of junk. Folks, it's interesting. I've
had to put up with it all. I've seen it all in my 60 years. So I'm trying to share with you
my findings. You can take it or leave it.
That's up to you. But it's factual. And thirdly,
we have companionship with the Sovereign Lord. I want
to give you the verses on that one. Song of Solomon 2 14 chapter
4 verse 1 chapter 5 verse 10 chapter 8 verses 13 and 14. Song of Solomon is one of the
richest studies you'll ever make as a Christian and the little
book of Ruth, the romance of redemption. Fellowship is both negative and
positive. I said fellowship is both negative
and positive. The negative side of fellowship
is Ephesians 5.11. Look at it with me. Do not participate. That is the compound verb that
I gave you. Do not participate. It means
to be a joint partaker or to be an accomplice in. Oh, you can't get any plainer than
that. So we're talking about negative side of fellowship.
Here it is. Do not participate. That's sum koinoneo, meaning
a joint partaker. are to be an accomplice in, and what's he talking about?
In the unfruitful deeds of darkness. But instead, even expose them. Evil fellowship is more than
sympathy, folks. I said 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. I have witnessed more of this
kind of fellowship than I'd like to think about, and where have
I found it? in assemblies where I've preached. Fellowship is making men feel
they are related to you in a common desire. That can be either good or evil. Christians must be clear of other
people's sins. Are you with me? 1 Timothy 5,
verse 22. An occasional trip by a Christian
to a tavern, our casino, and we could name a lot of other
things. would be like occasionally eating
carry-on. On the other hand, the positive
side of fellowship is that Christians who have been baptized continually
devote, devote themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship. et cetera,
et cetera, Acts 2.42. Various aspects of fellowship
are taught. Five examples of the use of the
word fellowship appears in the Philippian epistle, and I've
already given them to you. I mentioned them here and give
the references, but we've already read them. I'll just mention
them. Number one, fellowship in the gospel. Number two, fellowship
of the Spirit. Number three, fellowship of Christ's
sufferings. Number four, fellowship in affliction
on behalf of the gospel. Finally, fellowship in giving.
In giving. You know, folks, we're going
to hand out the financial sheet to you this morning. Well, sheets. Did a nice job, Craig. Very professional. I enjoyed
looking at it and the way you did it. We're going to hand it
out, and we're not going to read it and all that stuff. I want
you to take it home with you. And this week, you look it over.
If you have any question next Sunday, you can ask the question.
We're not going to have this business and give people the
opportunity, well, I want to gripe about this and gripe about
that and why this and why that. Look it over. If you see something
that really you wonder about or have a question, you may ask
it, and it'll be answered. But other than that, we're not
going to do like we have in the past even. You look at it. You look at it closely. But folks,
I marvel that our little assembly, and I don't think any of us are
hurting ourselves giving to the Lord. But it's a marvel to me,
no offerings taken up or anything. And that's the way I want it.
And I've wanted it for 40-some years. And we've tried to do
it. I just thought I'd mention that
with fellowship of giving. I think that fellowship of giving
is expressed by what you will read. Every Christian knows what constitutes
the gospel. of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,
he shares in the fellowship of the gospel. The basic principles
being death of Christ, burial of Christ, glorious resurrection
out from among the dead of Christ. That's in 1 Corinthians 15, beginning
with verse 1. The sovereign spirit. Now here's
something I want to show you. I've given this to you, but it's
been many years ago. And it fascinates me every time
I come across it again and think of it. I want you to open your
Bibles to Romans chapter 10. Romans chapter 10. I'll let my throat rest a minute
while we're finding it. We wanna read verses nine through
17, but let me explain it first, so listen to my comment. A reversal, notice the word I'm
using, a reversal of the verses of Romans 10, nine through 17. I wanna see how many of you remember
this. How many of you remember me reading it and then look at
it in reverse? And what great truth does it
portray? How many of you remember it? Two of you remember. Okay. I have something new for
you. Let me give it to you first.
We'll try to conserve a little time. But I do want to get through
the introduction this morning. A reversal of these verses proves that the minister does
not regenerate anyone. but he shares in a regenerated
person's conversion experience. Now I venture to say that 999 preachers out of a thousand that
you listen to on radio or TV, they don't know the truth of
this passage. I heard one last week and so it came home to me.
So I'm using it here. The man of God must be sent. The person sent is the preacher. In this passage. Regenerated
people hear the word preached. Then they believe. When they
believe, they call on the Lord. They are converted. And then
they confess that they have been converted. Now, let's read the
verses, and then I want you to, this afternoon, look at it in
reverse, and you'll have the truth. You'll see it like you
haven't seen it before. Romans 10, beginning with verse
9. That if you confess with your mouth, see, that's where I concluded
a while ago. that if you confess with your
mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you shall be saved. And the word is sozo. And it means more than just being
born of God. In most places, just being delivered
and so forth. For with a heart man believes,
resulting in righteousness. And with a mouth he confesses,
resulting in salvation. For the scripture says, Whoever
believes in Him will not be disappointed, for there is no distinction between
Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of
all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him. For whoever
will call upon the Lord, name of the Lord, will be saved." You see, is there one more verse
we want? No, go through 17. And the 17th verse is the one
that they really like to magnify. Verse 14, How then shall they
call upon him in whom they have believed? And how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they
hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless
they be sent? Just as it is written, The beautiful are the feet of
those who bring glad tidings of good things. However, they
did not heed the glad tidings. For Isaiah said, Lord, who have
believed thy report? So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of Christ. Now you know how that's abused.
Now what did I say? When you take these verses in
reverse, what do you have? Here it is, in very simple terms. First of all, the man of God
must be sent. The person sent is the man of
God. The one who is to expound the
Word. Regenerated people hear the Word preached. They believe. When they believe, they call
on the Lord. They are saved, converted. And
then they confess that they are converted. How do you make a preacher causing
somebody to be regenerated? You don't. That's heresy. The Philippian saints' continuance
in their fellowship and in the gospel convinced the Apostle
Paul that they were the object of preservation. And that's found
in verse 6 of Philippians 1. For I'm confident of this very
thing, that he who began a good work in you, what will he do? Will perfect it unto the day
of Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. Now, this is the fellowship of
grace effected by the sovereign God. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 9. It is the fellowship of faith,
which includes prayer and thanksgiving, Philippians 1, 3, 4, and 9 through
11. It's fellowship in loving one
another, Philippians 1, 7. It contributes to one another's
needs, chapter 4, verse 15. It shares the afflictions of
the gospel, 4.14. And it shares in the promotion
of the gospel, which includes separation, 2 Corinthians 6.14-18,
and suffering for Christ, or on behalf of Christ. Philippians
1.29 and Philippians 3.10. True fellowship is of the Spirit. I said is of the Spirit, true
fellowship. Philippians 2, 1 and 2. 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. Now, notice the first word. If, therefore. If. That's a first-class condition,
folks, and should be translated in this case, sense. S-I-N-C-E. And you know what I've told you
about the first class particle. So you say, since, since, it's
the particle of a fulfilled condition. So if, since fellowship is of
the spirit, and that means, folks, it's of God, the Lord Jesus Christ
dwells in our hearts by faith in the person of the Holy Spirit,
the third person of the Godhead. Fellowship in Christ's sufferings
is sharing in His sufferings instead of the fellowship created
by Christ's sufferings. Did you get that? Quite a difference. Christ suffered His sufferings
must be distinguished from those of the Christian. His were vicarious. Watch this. Please watch this. But there is no merit in the
Christian's suffering. Christ who was without the principle
of sin did not deserve to suffer. However, Christians deserve everything
they suffer because the principle of sin remains in you and in
me. We got more hypocrites in church
today than anything else. All churches filled with hypocrites. Well, that's exactly what our
Lord had to contend with just before he finished his ministry
and died on behalf of us. Same thing. You see, you shouldn't
talk like that. I have to tell it like it is.
And I rest assured that the person who's been born of God and knows
where he stands and why he is what he is, he appreciates it. Thank you. Give me more. We're
of the same mind. So Christians deserve everything
they suffer. Christians endure all things,
however, for the elect's sake. We endure all things for the
elect's sake. Where is that found? 2 Timothy
3.12. All who live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution. Fellowship is on behalf of the
gospel. Philippians 4.14. Nevertheless, you have done well
to share with me in my afflictions, Paul said. The man of God will
suffer to some extent for he stands for the truth. Any man
of God who stands for all the truth will certainly suffer to
some degree. And the more truth he gives,
the more he'll suffer. There is fellowship in giving. Fellowship in giving. And that's
Philippians chapter four, verse 15. Some say that when God's people
give sacrificially to God, He will pour out material blessings
on them. That's these people who believe
in prosperity religion. Our greatest blessings, folks,
I said our greatest blessings are neither monetary nor physical. It's not even good health. It's
spiritual. My spiritual life is my greatest
blessing. And that spiritual life will
give me the grace to act right if I'm in my right mind when
I face death, regardless of the pain that I may be enduring. No other assembly other than
the Philippian assembly, was willing to help the apostle financially
in certain circumstances. What a rebuke! What a rebuke! Any assembly member who manifests,
watch this, any assembly, and this assembly, any assembly member
who manifests more enthusiasm FOR NON-SPIRITUAL THINGS THAN
IT DOES FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS NEEDS EXAMINATION. I intended to pause. Like I told you, in about six
to eight weeks from now, I may give you something you will really
wonder about. The Apostle John emphasized fellowship. I'll close with this and then
give you an outline of 1 John. Since we're on the study of fellowship,
found 46 times in its six different forms. As a compound, as a noun, as
a verb, and as an adjective. Six different forms in the New
Testament. 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 with the Son. That's the first chapter of 1
John. Assembly fellowship is impossible
apart from believing and embracing all the fundamentals of Holy
Scripture. One who comes into the assembly
professing to believe what the assembly teaches and practices,
watch this, but later rejects some major truth must be excluded
from the fellowship when he shows no repentance.

Introduction to Fellowship

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about fellowship?

How do we know that biblical fellowship is essential?

Why is understanding koinonia important for Christians?

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About W.E. Best

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Introduction to Fellowship

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about fellowship?

How do we know that biblical fellowship is essential?

Why is understanding koinonia important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About W.E. Best

Comments

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