1. Fellowship With God! Certain words conjure up a well spring of emotion. These words, improperly used, can give a person false assurance. Matthew 7:22,23. A mind-boggling thought – I can be in fellowship with God! Fellowship with the Father and Son was the object of 1 st Century preaching! I John 1:3; I Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.

2. What Is Fellowship? Koinonia, I Corinthians 10:16. – “Fellowship, association, communion, joint participation,” Thayer. Koinonos, 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 17. – “A Partner, associate, comrade, companion.” Metoche, 2 Corinthians 6:14. – “A Sharing, Communion, Fellowship.”

3. Five Synonyms, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 V. 14. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? V. 15. “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? V. 16. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

4. The Five Synonymns: Fellowship, v. 14, from metoche. Communion, v. 14, from koinonia. Concord, v. 15, sumphonesis, from which we get the English word symphony, denoting a sounding together, agreement. Part (“in common,” NASV, v. 15. Agreement, v. 16.

5. Fellowship with “God” – Denoting all the persons of the Godhead “God,” on occasion, denotes a plurality of Divine Beings. Cf. Genesis 1:1 (Elohim); not also Genesis 1:26; 3:22. Three Divine Beings called “God.” – The Father, John 3:16; I Thessalonians 1:1. – The Son, John 1:1-3,14; Hebrews 1:8. – The Holy Spirit, Acts 5:1-4.

6. By “Fellowship With God” I refer to association, communion, joint participation, companionship, and partnership with: – The Father! – The Son! – The Holy Spirit!

7. An Amazing Fact! All three Persons of the Godhead worked together to make it possible for me to be their partner, companion, associate! The Father Conceived the scheme of redemption, Ephesians 3:3-9. The Son Executed this Plan, Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 12:1,2. The Holy Spirit Revealed this Plan, Ephesians 3:3-5.

8. Because of What “God” has done for me, I can: Be a child of God, John 1:11,12; I John 3:1. Be a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Romans 8:16,17. Have the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:9-12. Note: one of the most amazing facts of the Bible is that it is a record of God seeking man; not that of man seeking God!

9. Fellowship With God Depends on God’s Provisions. God Provided: Jesus Christ, John 3:16. – He died for us, John 10:11; Hebrews 2:9. – He took on our nature, Philippians 2:5-8. – We are to take on His nature, 2 Peter 1:4. – In Him are “all spiritual blessings,” Ephesians 1:3. The Gospel, Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:9,10; I Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. The Church, Ephesians 3:3-6,10,11.

10. Fellowship With God Depends on Man’s Response to God’s Provisions! Must Obey Jesus Christ, Hebrews 5:9. Must Obey the Gospel, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. Must be “added” to the church, Acts 2:47, wherein is “reconciliation,” Ephesians 2:16. Therefore, fellowship with God is a Divine/Human Arrangement, Ephesians 2:8. – The provisions are wholly of God. – The response is wholly of man.

11. If I am in Fellowship With God, I Can: Communicate with Him at any time! Luke 18:1; I Thessalonians 5:17! Work with God in a common cause, I Corinthians 1:9; 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1! Be a partaker of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4! Anticipate receiving a new body, I Corinthians 15:49-53! Live in Hope, Titus 1:3! Die in Peace, Revelation 14:13!

12. Conclusion – Two Important Questions: How do I obtain fellowship with God? – By obeying the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:14. How do I maintain fellowship with God? – By walking “in the light,” I John 1:5-7. Note: Fellowship with God is not accidental nor merely coincidental. God has done His part; I must comply with his terms of pardon, and then walk “in the light…”