Gospel Fellowship

Q: What does the Bible say about fellowship in the gospel?

The Bible emphasizes gospel fellowship as a spiritual unity among believers, centered in Christ. Fellowship in the gospel is a vital aspect of Christian community as seen in Philippians 1:5, where the Apostle Paul expresses joy in the Christians' partnership in spreading the gospel. This fellowship is spiritually rooted in our relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, which is made possible through the Holy Spirit. John 1:3 reaffirms that our fellowship is with one another based on this divine connection. Therefore, true fellowship is characterized by a mutual shared experience of grace, led by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to support and encourage one another in our Christian walk.

Q: Why is gospel fellowship important for Christians?

Gospel fellowship is essential as it fosters spiritual unity, mutual support, and growth among believers. Gospel fellowship is crucial for Christians because it not only strengthens the bond between believers but also enhances the church's witness to the world. As Paul notes, this fellowship is an expression of the shared grace and salvation that Christians experience through Christ. Such unity encourages believers to support one another through prayer and mutual care, helping to maintain the spirit of peace and joy among the congregation. Moreover, it reflects the character of Christ and draws others towards the faith, demonstrating that those in Christ share more than mere social ties; they participate in a sacred and transformative relationship through the Spirit.

Q: How do we know that fellowship with God is true?

We know fellowship with God is true through the transformative work of Christ and the testimonies of Scripture. Fellowship with God is anchored in His covenant of grace and the redemptive work of Christ. As believers experience conversion and growth in Christ, they begin to reflect the character of God, which is confirmed through their desires to live holy lives and love others. 1 John 1:3 states, 'That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us.' This fellowship becomes tangible as believers exhibit unity in spirit and understanding, alongside the active work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, guiding them towards truth and holiness.

Let us turn to this portion of scripture we've just read in the opening chapter of Paul's epistle to the Philippians and I'll read again what is really the record of his prayer right at the beginning of the chapter verse 3 through 6 he says I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." in particular what he says at the beginning of verse 5, your fellowship in the gospel, and the subject really that I want to try to address is that of gospel fellowship, gospel fellowship.

Earlier in the year we were considering somewhat the marks of the New Testament Church birth of the New Testament Church as we have it recorded there of course on the day of Pentecost that auspicious day that's best of all God's donations the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the consequence in the opening chapter we read of 120 disciples after the ascension of Christ And what remarkable things occur as the Spirit is outpoured and Peter and the other disciples are there preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and we read of some 3,000 souls being wrought upon by the Spirit.

And so we're thinking of those marks that indicate to us that this is the the New Testament Church, we're told, aren't we?

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And I mentioned some some foremarks of the Church, really. There is, of course, the preaching of the Word, as they continue in the apostles doctrine, the apostles teaching they were those who were gladly received the words at the lips of the apostles and later of course in the course of the ministry of these men and also when Saul is converted and becomes Paul the apostle We read of his ministry and what we have in chapter 16 of the preaching at Philippi, even to the jailer. It says they spake unto him the word of the Lord. The word of the Lord, the preaching of the gospel is surely one of the marks of the New Testament Church and then of course we have ordinances to ordinances we recognize that of baptism and that of the Lord's Supper and here we're told that those who gladly received the word were baptized they openly profess their faith in the Lord Jesus, they were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. But then we also read of the breaking of bread, and that is the other ordinance that we observe, that of the Holy Supper, the Lord's Supper, and how Paul, of course, speaks of these things in the course of his own ministry.

We have those words that are recorded in 1 Corinthians 10 and verses 16 and 17, and then in chapter 11. And at the end of that chapter from verse 17, he speaks to the Corinthians concerning the solemnity of their abuses of the table of the Lord. There are these two ordinances that are to be observed in the church. They mark the church.

Baptism, and we say baptism of believers who make their open profession, and they are baptized by immersion, identifying with Christ as we read in Romans 6 in his burial and his rising again from the dead. And then a third mark we said is that worship. the New Testament Church is a worshipping community and here in verse 42 of Acts 2 we're told that they continued in prayers in many ways prayer is the principal part of our worship if we go back to the beginning at the end of Genesis 4 remember after the righteous seed Abel had been murdered by his brother Cain and then another son is born to Adam and Eve and at the end of that fourth chapter we're told of a son being born to Seth and it says then began men to call upon the name of the Lord the birth of Enos seems to be a significant event because again men are beginning to call upon the name of the Lord and that is what our prayers are them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart as we read in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 the church is a worshipping community and then the fourth mark is that of fellowship And it is that I really want to consider for a little while this evening.

Gospel fellowship as we see it here in the fifth verse, your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. interesting there in Acts 2 as they continued in fellowship so we also read later at verse 44 that they had all things common and the word the Greek word for fellowship is actually derived from the noun for common and They had all things common. They were enjoying fellowship one with the other. Again, there in Acts 4 and the words that we find in verse 32, And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.

Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. there was very much a spirit of real fellowship it was a common salvation that they were enjoying that's the language that we find for example in Jude's short epistle at verse 3 he speaks of the common salvation that is the possession of all those who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and We have the words of the hymn that we will sing later. When is it Christians all agree and let distinctions fall when nothing in themselves they see that Christ is all in all. They have Christ in common. We have no life, no power, no faith but what by Christ is given.

We all deserve eternal death and thus we all are even. or we have a common salvation but here is Paul speaking of your fellowship in the gospel taking up this theme then and I want to speak of three things really first of all to consider the source of this gospel fellowship and then in the second place to look at the nature of gospel fellowship and thirdly to see how it is manifested in the life of the church.

First of all, the source. When we think of the language of the Apostle John there in the opening chapter of his first epistle he says, truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Here is the sourcing. It is of course gospel fellowship, it's in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is in and through Him that we can have any communion with the Father and address Him as our God and our Father. And we read, don't we, of the the Council of Peace between them both between the father and the son when we think in terms of the covenant there is fellowship surely in the doctrine of God the doctrine of the Trinity there's fellowship between the three persons there's a delight between the three persons. The language that we have in the prophecy of Malachi is interesting.

The prophet, of course, is speaking there in chapter 3 of the priests. In a sense, he is rebuking them. Not chapter 3, I should say chapter 2. In chapter 2, the opening verse, O ye priests, he says, this commandment is for you. And then he reminds them.

These are the priests of Aaron. God says at verse 5, My covenant was with him, that would be with Aaron, of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me and was afraid before My name. Well, can we not understand that as typical language also? It's the language that the father would address to the son, a priest, after the order of Melchizedek.

My covenant was with him of life and peace. There's an eternal covenant between them. that covenant in which the eternal son who is equal to the father willingly becomes the servant of the father behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him we have all the persons of the Godhead there in the opening words of Isaiah 42 all the persons in the Godhead have this mutual interest, this fellowship in the outworking of that great purpose of salvation for sinners well how are elect sinners brought into this fellowship if truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son and yet we are those who are born dead in trespasses and sins and in a state of alienation and enemies with God by wicked works how are we brought into this fellowship?

We have to recognize what God has appointed, we see the importance of preaching and certainly in this chapter Paul is mindful of that and he recognizes how that what's before him is falling out for the furtherance of the gospel.

This is one of those prison epistles when he was confined somewhat at Rome as we see at the end of the Acts So he doesn't have the liberty that he once had when he was visiting the various churches that had been established by his ministry with Barnabas and then with Silas and yet matters under God's good hand are falling out for more preaching. verse 14 many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear he says the motivation of some might not be good they envied Paul but the motivation of others was good they were motivated out of love towards him they knew that he himself was set for the defense of the gospel But Paul rejoices in the fact that Christ is preached. Paul recognizes the importance then of preaching, making known the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, because faith cometh by preaching, as preaching comes by the word of God. And when John writes, I've already made some reference to those words that we have in the first chapter of his first epistle and the language that he's using in the first three verses that which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen, which our eyes have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life, he's speaking of Christ and his familiarity, his experience of Christ, the reality of Christ for the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you this is the message and what is the point and purpose of the message he's preaching Christ that she also may have fellowship with us he says and there that is introducing a purposive clause really it has the force of in order that that which we have seen and heard and declare that is Christ that they are declaring unto or John is declaring unto those whom he is addressing And here is the purpose of it, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And so, as with John really, so also here with Paul, as he writes to the church believers at Philippi. And of course, it's in Acts 16 that we read of his first ministry amongst them there. And it was the first preaching of the gospel in Europe. The Macedonian court had come to him in chapter 15, and together with Silas had gone over. over the Aegean into Macedonia and we have the first preaching of the gospel the way in which the Lord deals with Lydia and then with the Philippian jailer and isn't Paul referring to these things here in this fifth verse he says your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now or it was so from the very beginning he says and again he refers to those beginnings at the end of the epistle in verse 15 of chapter 4 now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel that was when he first went to them with the gospel in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia when he left them no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but she only for even in Thessalonica he sent once and again unto my necessity through his preaching there was real fellowship between him and the church of the Philippians but of course preaching simply and solely of itself is not sufficient.

Many are called, says the Lord, but few are chosen. There are those who hear the word, he comes to them not as the saviour of life unto life, but he comes, alas, the saviour of death unto death. There's not just that general call that comes in the gospel, there must also be the effectual call.

Paul, for example, reminds the Corinthians how God is faithful 1 Corinthians 1.9 God is faithful he says by whom you were called onto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord and that's the effectual call he's speaking of as he addresses those who are believers there in the church at Corinth they were called to the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ Of course with regards to the people of God there is an eternal union, we know that.

Writing to the Ephesians in chapter 1 he speaks of their election in terms of being chosen in Christ from all eternity. Chosen in him from the foundation of the world. There is an eternal union. that in him from all eternity in the purpose of God but what is there in the eternal covenant must be expressed ultimately in the lives of these people there must be an experimental union they must come to an experience of the grace of God that's the point of the preaching and only the spirit can do that effectual work in the soul of the sinner the gospel comes to the Thessalonians Paul says not in word only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance and they turn from idols to serve the living and the true God.

Here then we see the real source of this fellowship it's all in God in Christ the eternal purpose of God being worked out in the fullness of the time. But in the second place, to say something with regards to the nature, the nature of this Gospel fellowship, clearly it is spiritual in its very nature. It's spiritual. It's from the Holy Spirit himself. your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. And he goes on, doesn't he, as he addresses them throughout the epistle. In chapter 2 he speaks of the fellowship of the Spirit. The opening words there, chapter 2 verse 1, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit. if any bowels and mercies fulfill you my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves always an exhortation to fellowship and to humility of mind And where does this humility, or how does this humility express itself?

Well, those who know the fellowship of the gospel, they are made to feel how unworthy they are of the grace of God. They have such a sense of their sinnership. Remember, as I said, the fellowship is from the Spirit. as he says quite clearly there fellowship of the spirit in chapter 2 verse 1 but what is the ministry of the spirit? well when he comes he comes yes as the comforter but he also comes as the convincer as the reprover when he has come he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment he says of sin because they believe not on me Well of course that's what he convinces us of at the beginning. All the awful sin of unbelief and how it is that sin which does so easily beset us how again and again he has to convince us of what we are in our own natures. We're full of unbelief. We feel our unworthiness that the Lord should yet take account of us and deal graciously with us and renew us and revive us when so often we we fall short of his glory the gospel fellowship then is understood and experienced by those who know what forgiveness is and John having spoken of fellowship there in the earlier part of that opening chapter of that first epistle when he comes to the end of that chapter he speaks doesn't he of the necessity of the confession of sin If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

The word of God is not in us. If we confess our sins, he says, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar. His truth is not in us.

All these people, they know what forgiveness is, they're a forgiving community. The fifth petition that the Lord teaches us in our prayers, when we pray, what are we to say? Forgive us our debts as we forgive others. Those who know this gospel fellowship then, they're conscious, they're very much aware of what they are by nature and what they deserve. They do not deserve anything. they are debtors always to God and to the grace of God again the language in that opening chapter of John's first epistle he says if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Well, that's what the fellowship is. It's walking then with the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing him continually as that one who is ever our God and our Savior and experiencing the preciousness of that precious blood that he shed for sinners.

Remember how Paul, in the course of this letter of just four chapters, deals with personal relationships in the church, doesn't he? In the second verse of chapter 4, we read of Iodias and Syntyche. Obviously there was some disagreement between them. But what does Paul do?

He exhorts them, I beseech you, Iodias. and beseech in Tiki that they be of the same mind in the Lord. He speaks of that oneness of mind as we've already seen back in in the second chapter. In the second verse there, fulfill you my joy that you be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind.

Oh what a blessed union there is to be, should be between the people of God. those who know the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. And how all this fellowship ultimately is seen to very much center in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That second chapter where we have the fellowship of the Spirit but the ministry of the Spirit He doesn't just come to reprove the sinner, to convince the sinner, as we read in John 16, he comes as the revealer, he comes to reveal Christ.

He doesn't speak of himself, does he? He takes of the things of Christ, says the Lord, and makes them known to his people. And here in that second chapter, of course, we have this wonderful Christological passage concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus. He speaks of fellowship, oneness of mind, humility. And then what does he say?

Verse 4, Look, not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." The person and the work of Christ, here is the very basis really, and the true nature of what fellowship is. sent us in the Lord Jesus Christ let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus and as he humbled himself so he was also highly exalted and God gave him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of God the Father. All His work is to that blessed end, the glory of God the Father in the salvation of sinners.

Well, we've sought to say something with regards to this Gospel Fellowship in terms of its source, from whence it flows, the very nature of it, its spiritual, its centers therefore, in Him to whom the Spirit would always bear testament, And then finally I want to say something with regards to three ways, we might say, in which it is manifested amongst the people of God. What are these three ways? Well, first of all, surely it is manifested in prayers, because the words of verse 5 are very much part of what is really a prayer. As I said at the outset, when we read those verse 6, or from verse 3 through to verse 6, it's a prayer, it's one of Paul's prayers, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

He doesn't just address them, He will address God on their accounts in all of His prayers. And then even in the same chapter at verse 9 we find Megane praying, this I pray, this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment that ye may approve things that are excellent, that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." And then of course, at the end, as he gives his exhortations, amongst other things, he exhorts prayer. That lovely verse 6 in chapter 4, be careful for nothing. or be careful for nothing. How can we attain such a status in everything?

By prayer and supplication with thanksgivings, let your requests be made known unto God. He desires these people time and again to pray for him, the various churches that he writes to. When he writes to the Thessalonians, what does he say there at the end of the first epistle? Chapter 5 and verse 25 he says, brethren pray for us. Brethren pray for us.

He separated from them, but together with them they meet at the throne of grace. I know the hymn's not in Gadsby, that hymn of Hugh Stowell's, but a lovely verse, there is a spot where spirits blend and friend holds fellowship with friend, though sundered far by faith they meet. And it's all at the mercy seat, isn't it? It's all at the mercy seat.

And here then is the manifestation of fellowship, prayers. Prayers for the brethren. for desiring the prayers of the saints. And then also the second manifestation we might say is that mutual support that they have one for the other. The word fellowship does have the idea of communication.

In fact, I've already referred to the verse but in chapter 4 and verse 15 where Paul is again speaking of the Philippians, how the gospel had come to them at the beginning, remember that 15th verse in chapter 4, now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia no church communicated that is exactly the same words as we have in chapter 1 at verse 5 and it's rendered fellowship it's the same word so what he is saying is when he departed from Macedonia when he left the Philippians no church fellowshiped with me as concerning giving and receiving he says but ye only all its mutual support a willingness to give one to the other and we see it again in what he writes at the end of the epistle to the Romans in Romans 15 Romans 15 and verse 26 he says he pleased them of Macedonia where Philippi is, Achaia the other part of Greece I got the wrong No, it's the right... It's the right verse, yeah, it is the right verse. John Romans 15, 26, "...it pleased him of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution." And that is the same word again, it's really the root of that word is fellowship.

A certain fellowship for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It is. Fellowship is expressed in terms of giving. Of giving. Giving of ourselves, of our time, of our abilities, of giving of our wealth, of all that the Lord first gives us. It's an expression of the fellowship of the saints. They pray for one another. They seek to support one another. And of course the consequence is that there is a wonderful spiritual unity.

And you are familiar, I'm sure, with the language of the psalmist in that Song of Degrees, the 133rd Psalm, brethren dwelling together in unity. Behold our goods and our pleasants. It is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments, as the Jew of Hermon, as the Jew that descended upon the mountains of Zion.

For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. It was no wonder then that Paul It tells the Ephesians how they are to endeavor to maintain that unity of the Spirit. Ephesians 4 verse 3, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, he says, in the bond of peace.

And of course it's at the Lord's Supper that we express our union one with another. communion one with another even as we come together principally of course as believers to commune to our fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ to express our union how we spiritually together come there that we might feed upon all that Christ is to us in his person and in his work. The language there in that 10th chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians and verses 16 and 17.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion, the fellowship of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion, the fellowship of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread and one body. for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Fellowship is a word, I fear, that is so much demeaned in these days. There are many professing Christians who talk about having fellowship, and yet, when they're together so often, it's more a social occasion. There is a difference. There's nothing wrong with social occasions. Nothing wrong with socializing with our friends, meeting with them and enjoying their company. But it's not always fellowship.

As I said, this is the gracious work of the Spirit and it centers always in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and so it's gospel. It's gospel. Gospel fellowship. And Paul, thanks God for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. May the Lord bless his word to us.

We're going to sing that hymn that I just referred to, 816. Oh no, we're going to sing that at the end. We'll sing that as our last Praise to the Lord. We're going to sing 10.13. The tune is Jackson's 163. There is a family on earth whose father fills a throne, but though a seed of heavenly birth to men, they are little known. 10.13. Tune 163.

Gospel Fellowship

What does the Bible say about fellowship in the gospel?

Why is gospel fellowship important for Christians?

How do we know that fellowship with God is true?

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Gospel Fellowship

What does the Bible say about fellowship in the gospel?

Why is gospel fellowship important for Christians?

How do we know that fellowship with God is true?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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