Scriptural Fellowship Importance to Us Today

What is ‘Fellowship’? From the Greek ‘kŏinōnia’ meaning partnership, participation, communion, sharing Scripture contains the formula for fellowship: Philippians 2:1,2: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Love + One Accord + One Mind = Fellowship

Love in Fellowship Jesus instructed us to have love with our fellow brethren, being an example to the world “Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35) Scripture provides perfect examples including a first century ecclesia recorded in Acts which was of: “one heart and one soul … they had all things common.”

Love in Fellowship What should individual members of ecclesias be doing: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10) Why? – “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit … see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (1 Peter 1:22)

Aspects of Brotherly Love 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love in Fellowship kindenvieth not suffereth long vaunteth not itself seeketh not her own thinketh no evil rejoiceth in the truth Beareth believeth hopeth endureth

One Accord United in Spirit and Purpose “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) The Greek word hŏmŏthumadŏn meaning ‘unanimously’ and ‘with one accord’, comes from a compound of two words meaning ‘together’ and ‘with passion’ » strongly united as a group

One Accord 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” To walk together we must be of one accord. 1 Corinthians 12: “…God hath tempered the body together… the members should have the same care one for another.” “Whether one member suffer…” “…all the members suffer with it.”

One Accord Therefore – as one we suffer, as one we rejoice and yet, we each have our part, but we each strive for the same goal “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27)

One Mind “Be of the same mind one toward another.” (Romans 12:16) Throughout the New Testament believers are instructed to be of one mind The definitions of the Greek words used in these verses show that believers should have the same: opinion; accord; understanding; mind and should be in harmony “Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren…” (1 Peter 3:8)

One Mind “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) In any relationship, whether it be ecclesial, business, personal, or even sporting, the contributing parties must have the same understanding of their relationship and the common thread binding them together “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ … that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:10 )

One Mind Sports team analogy: If a soccer player disagrees with the team plan and has a different understanding of the game rules they will not play their team role satisfactorily, and will cause disruptions in the game “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)

Basis of Fellowship Fellowship is the basis upon which our ecclesias and the Truth rest  Without unity in love, purpose and mind there is no fellowship  Without real fellowship, all other Biblical principle’s fall down  Without real fellowship our faith is without a firm basis We must build up our ecclesias together as fellow workmen in the Truth

Basis of Fellowship Christ has laid the foundation for our fellowship and faith (1 Corinthians 3:11) We must build up our ecclesias from this foundation with:  One Love  One Purpose  One Mind “We are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) FOUNDATION ONE LOVE ONE PURPOSE ONE MIND

Basis of Fellowship If we have built up our ecclesias in unity upon the foundation Christ laid, we shall have a strong “house”, able to withstand great tests and trials We then shall be likened to Luke 6:48: “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Additional Fellowship Principles We are not to fellowship “unbelievers” and those with “unfruitful works” (2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11) In fellowship we are responsible for not only our own beliefs but also the beliefs of those with whom we fellowship – we must ensure all have the same beliefs or else we partake in the same “evil deeds” of those who are astray (2 John 1:10-11)

Additional Principles of Fellowship We should seek for reconciliation whenever possible, following the principles of Matthew 18 Where no resolution can be made we must withdraw fellowship from brethren/sisters who “walk disorderly” or who possess erroneous doctrines (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Matthew 5:29-30; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

Anyone who breaks the bonds of Fellowship must be removed from the body, after all steps of correction have failed “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43) “And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:45) Additional Fellowship Principles

In Revelation the letters to the seven ecclesias emphasised that if they did not correct their doctrine and conduct he would “remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:5) This meant they would lose any hope of salvation Do not be afraid to come away from “mainstream” Christian or Christadelphian groups – “be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17) Additional Fellowship Principles

Conclusion Each individual plays an important role within each ecclesia We collectively need to display unity in the characteristics of love, purpose and mind We must be separate from the world, but united as a body We must work together to build on Christ’s foundation, solid ecclesias

Scriptural Fellowship “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3