Christian Fellowship

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

What is Christian fellowship about? Is it just a good title for the name of a church? Is it a nebulous concept that some people don't understand exactly? Is it something anyone can participate in, or are some uninvited? in this study, I would like to make it a little plainer for those who are interested, but not sure. For those who are versed in what it means, the edification will make them smile, I would hope.
"I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD.'...Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good." (Psa. 122:1, 9) So many believe in Christ Jesus in the world, and those of us who believe in Him, we enjoy each other's company, because we have a Christian love for one another, not as the world loves, but as family in Christ. David's psalm here says that he was happy when he was invited into the house of the Lord. Of course, nobody would "uninvite" king David, but here is given the idea that we can invite fellow believers into the house of God to enjoy worshipping together, giving thanks to God together, and praying for our needs together. When we do these things together, we edify each other with each other's presence and united prayer for the same needs. If we pray for each other's protection from the devil, for example, we edify each other in our speech, because we speak to the Father on each other's behalf, and the love of God is betwixt the three of us, for indeed, God is with us! "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)

"Behold, how good and how pleasant 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 dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." (Psa. 133:1 - 3) To be in the presence of others who treat you like family, whom you can trust your care in, indeed, this is a pleasant moment!
Again I say, that when we are gathered together in Christian love, we are having Christian fellowship, and we are also being obedient to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for it is written that He said; "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye 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) Love to one another includes such things as eating together, even the Lord's supper, and praying together for one another, and acts of compassion, such as rendering services of one kind or another to those feeble and/or in distress in some way. "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers...And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:42, 46 - 47) So here is more ensample of the behavior known as Christian fellowship; they went to each other's houses, and ate meals together, and prayed together, and praised God together.

Part of the fellowship in Christ is the oneness of mind and judgment. While we know there are divisions that are nowadays called denominations, yet even each denomination has oneness in what they believe for doctrine as to their interpretation of the Scriptures. Paul even experienced divisions as early as not even 50 years after Jesus death, in Corinth! "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Cor. 1:9) Right after this verse in the first of his letters to the Corinthians, Paul attacks the matter of divisions in the church there, which goes against the concept of fellowship. If you and I disagree on doctrine, how is that fellowship? Paul points this out to the Corinthians: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, 'I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10 - 13) There is no love in division, so nor is there fellowship.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:24 - 25) The bible has lots of examples of good works. Jesus Himself gave examples often, such as feeding the thousands. Loving good works goes by another name: compassion. When we are thoughtful of the needs of one another, we are demonstrating compassion, because we see what another needs, and we fill it with service to them, which is a demonstration of love and is therefore an example of Christian fellowship in each service we render. Paul also says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some is, and it is a sad truth that some experience a situation between them and another in the assembly, and they wax cold, so that they do indeed forsake assembling. These people need called back! Visitation is in order to see if reconciliation can be made! If at all possible, bring the sheep back to the fold! I know of someone that left a church for a number of reasons, and it took 5 years for their church to realize they were missing from the pews! By the time their old church finally called them, they were well-vested in a more biblically correct church that knew how to demonstrate Christian fellowship. And there is logical reason to assemble; for how will we know the needs of one another, that we might perform the good works that demonstrate love and 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. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 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 Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:3 - 7) John wrote the beginning of his first letter here with the theme of fellowship. He gave invitation to all believers to have fellowship with the apostles and ultimately, with the Father and His Son, our Savior, Chirst Jesus. Now when we act with fellowship toward one another, John explains here that our joy may be full because of the experience shared among us, filling the needs of one another. He also explains that we will know who does not have fellowship with us, for they will NOT walk as one in the light, as the rest who believe, but rather will be seen as one who walks in darkness, according to the ways of the world, as the prince of this world would like us all to, but for the glorious knowledge of the gospel that we all are aware of. While we walk in the light, however, we have fellowship not only with one another, but with Christ as well, and His blood keeps us continuously washed from all our sins.

So let us walk as Jesus would have us walk, into assemblage with one another, edifying each other in our faith in Christ, giving the services of good works one to another as He commanded, and thereby loving one another, demonstrating to all men, even the heathen and atheists who rebel and hate the one true God, that we are the disciples of Jesus Christ, because we love not only one another, but Him who commanded us to do so as well, for He said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)