Did you support the Olympics? Did you contribute to any of the American teams? Were you a partner? What does it mean to be a “partner” of God, of Christ, of the church? That is the meaning of the word “fellowship.”
Fellowship is illustrated in a literal way in Luke 5:10 where the Bible says that James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were partners – that’s our word for “fellowship” or “fellows” – with Simon Peter in the fishing business.
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
Fellowship begins with God. In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned – it was God who called to them Genesis 3:9. At Mount Sinai, God called to Moses to come receive the Law for the Israelites Exodus 19:20.
Fellowship begins with God calling us into fellowhsip with Him (1 John 1:1-9).
So, only God calls people into fellowship with Him and He is the one who sets the limits and the boundaries for fellowship.
This, He has done through Jesus Christ…
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
1 Cor. 1:9 (ESV) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
But the most practical aspect of this idea of fellowship is the fellowship into which God calls us when He adds us to His assembly…
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE CHURCH
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Consider what Paul did in Acts 9:26-28. Their question was whether Paul was truly converted. When they understood Paul had, in fact, obeyed the gospel, then they brought him into their fellowship (Galatians 2:9).
The word “fellowship” is often used in the New Testament to refer to our worship in giving: (2 Cor. 8:4; Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 9:13; Heb. 13:16).
The word “fellowship” is used to refer to our efforts at evangelizing: (Phil. 1:5; Philemon 6).
We have “fellowship” when we observe the Lord’s Supper: (1 Cor. 10:16-17).
FELLOWSHIP IS LIMITED
Because God calls us into fellowship and we become members of His “assembly”, we cannot, we should not, we ought not to have fellowship with those outside of His “assembly” – 2 Cor. 6:14; 10:20; Eph 5:11).
FELLOWSHIP IN OUR CONGREGATION:
We have seen that God calls us into fellowship with Him. It is as members of the assembly of Christ that we have fellowship with Christ and God.
When it comes to our own local assembly, we see what is involved in our fellowship – giving, Lord’s Supper, evangelism. When you become a member of this congregation, you join into this work, you participate in this work. You also agree to submit to the elders as they watch over the work here.
–Paul Holland
