Bible Points

The Christian’s fellowship is centered around a personal relationship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and if I have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we have fellowship.

• If you have repented of your sins and have become a follower of Jesus Christ and if I have turned away from my sins and have become a follower of Jesus Christ, we have fellowship with one another.

• If you have become a Christian and your co-worker has not surrendered his life to Jesus, you do not have fellowship no matter how much you like and get along with each other.

• If you have become a follower of Jesus Christ and your best friend is still in her sins, you do not have fellowship. In fact, the Bible goes as far to communicate that fellowship with unbelievers is like trying to mix oil and water—it cannot happen and it should not be attempted.

The following warning is written about using toilet bowl or drain cleaners:

In general, household cleaning products should always be used in strict accordance with manufacturer guidelines. For example: Never mix household chlorine bleach with toilet bowl or drain cleaners. The result can be explosive, toxic, or both. Properly used, drain cleaners are safe and effective. Mixed with any of the above mentioned materials and you will have a disaster on your hands.

One can use these instructions to issue a similar warning about “mixing” believers with unbelievers: Fellowship should be used in strict accordanance with God’s commands. Fellowshipping with unbelievers is dangerous, it is hazardous to your health; if you dare to do it, the result can be explosive, toxic or both. If you, as a Christian, try to have fellowship with a person who has not surrendered his or her life to Jesus Christ you will have a disaster on your hands.

In 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 the Bible warns believers about fellowshipping with unbelievers.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”

Here Paul is borrowing from an illustration taken from the OT. In the OT God prohibited Israel from joining different kinds of livestock together for work. Deut. 22:10 says, “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.”

By this analogy, the Bible is teaching that it is not right for the Christian to join together in intimate partnerships or relationships those who are not of the same nature. He is saying that it is impossible under such an arrangement for things to be done to God’s glory.

Here are a few areas where it would be hazardous or toxic for Christians to be joined or partnered with unbelievers.

Unequally yoked in marriage. Marriage is difficult enough when you are married to a committed fellow believer but to be unequally yoked with someone who doesn’t love Jesus can be a nightmare.

An unsaved husband or wife may not agree with your conviction that Jesus is first in your life. The two of you may butt heads when it comes to how you want to raise your children, spend your money, where you will go on your vacation, what goes on in your home, what you watch on TV or who you keep company with.

Unequally yoked in business. Running a business is a challenge but it becomes a continuous trial doing business with a partner that doesn’t love and obey Jesus.

• This person may not understand why you want to take 10% of the company’s profit and give it back to the Lord.

• This person may not agree with the reasons why you don’t want to open and do business on Sunday.

• Your partner may not agree with your decision not to work through dinner several nights a week and miss time with your family.

Unequally yoked friendships.Having a close friend who is not a believer can present problems as well.

Oftentimes we value the advice or counsel of a close friend. The problem is this person, if he or she is an unbeliever, will only be able to offer you counsel based on their life experiences, much of which is “the wisdom of this world”. The Bible teaches in the book of James that the wisdom of this world does not come from above but is: “earthly, sensual, and demonic.”

The Psalmist in Psalm 1 writes, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful…” But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Not don’t misunderstand me. God’t is not telling us not to talk to unbelievers; He is not telling us to ostracize or shun unbelievers. In 1 Corinthians 5:10 Paul says, if that was the case you would have to leave this world because the world is full of unbelievers.

God’s command “not to fellowship with unbelievers” is not given to the Christian because unsaved folk are mean or unkind or nasty. Your unsaved friends can be nice, intelligent, witty, knowledgeable, and loving…but if they don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior, all they can offer you is worldly wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, and demonic.”

Someone might be thinking, “Wait a minute Pastor Chuck, are you saying a Christian can’t have friends that are unbelievers? Wasn’t Jesus called a ‘friend of sinners’ in Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34?”

Yes. Jesus was called a “friend of sinners” but those who were calling Him this were not paying Him a compliment. This wasn’t a term of endearment. They were critizing Him for keeping company with those who were the rift raft of society.

Jesus was called a “friend of sinners” because He befriended sinners in order to give them the Gospel. He didn’t partner with them. He didn’t commune with them. He didn’t receive counsel from them. Jesus did not have intimate fellowship with them in the things of His Father.

Jesus’ definition of friend can be found in John 15:14-17: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” As you can see, Jesus’ friendship was conditional and so should the Christian’s friendship be with others.

Why is proper fellowship so important to God? Why is the bar so high when it comes to the kind of people we become intimate with in our personal and professional relationships? Why is God so concerned about who we bear our souls and become vulnerable with?

Koinonia. The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word koinonia which is translated throughout the New Testament using a variety of words: fellowship, partnership and participation and sharing.

Fellowship – God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9 NKJV)

Fellowship here does not mean social interaction. Paul was letting his readers know that they were possessors of eternal life because of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. They had entered into a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ through the faithfulness of God.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, in order to appreciate the relationship and the fellowship you have with God, you must remember the state you were in before you were saved.

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Cor 8:3-5 NKJV)

Eph 2:1 And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

Eph 2:2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;

Eph 2:3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:

Thanks be to God that He didn’t leave us this way. Someone once said, “God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way.”

Eph 2:4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),

Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Eph 2:9 not of works, that no man should glory.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

1 John 1:3 says, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

This verse is saying that the fellowship we have with Jesus Christ opens up a distinct and unique level of fellowship we can have with one another.

Fellowship then becomes much more than simply enjoying one another’s company. John MacArthur says, “It refers to a mutual sharing of all life, which believers do because of their common life in Christ and mutual partnership or “belonging to each other” in the “faith.”

We are of the same body:

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.

1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.

1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.

1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

1Co 12:20 But now they are many members, but one body.

1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1Co 12:22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:

1Co 12:23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness;

1Co 12:24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked;

1Co 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

There is a relationship or partnership believers have together like no other. This is why in Ephesians chapter four the Apostle Paul begs followers of Christ to live according to the unity in Christ they already have:

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph 4:3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

This is true fellowship; this is real fellowship; this is biblical fellowship; this is fantastic fellowship!

Partnership – “If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.” (Philemon 17-18)

In this verse Paul is letting people know that Onesimus is his brother in Christ and his partner in the Gospel. Although, he is a runaway slave, he to be treated in the same way that one would treat Paul. If you loved Paul, you were to love Onesimus. If you cared for Paul, you were to care for Onesimus. Kononia means “partnership.”

Participation, sharing, contribution. Perhaps you have been taught by your church leaders that “giving is worship”. That is true. Giving is worship but it is also koinonia; the Bible teaches that giving is also fellowship.

For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. (Rom 15:26 NKJV)

When you place your offering in the basket, it is much more than helping to pay a needy person’s electric bill or rent. When you give your offering you are partnering together with others in our gathered assembly to underwrite the proclamation of the Gospel.

You’ve heard the saying, “Water is free but it costs to pipe it to your house.” A similar thing can be said about the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is free—paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ, but it costs to get it into the hands and hearts of the unsaved.

So, believers koinonia or participate together towards the proclamation of the Gospel.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…” (Phil 1:3-5 NKJV)

The Philippian believers eagerly assisted Paul in evangelizing Philippi from the beginning of the church there (Acts 16:12–40).

The early believers shared with one another their possession in Acts 2:44-45: But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:16 NKJV)

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.

The participation in the Lord’s Supper. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor 10:16 NKJV)

We literally share as the bread and the cup is served from one plate. However, we are in a symbolic sense sharing in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus.

Bringing it home…How do believers practice fantastic fellowship?

1. By encouraging one another. Encourage (encourage one another) (1 Thess 5:11a)

“Therefore comfort each other…” – The word encourage is translated from two different Greek words: sterizo, which means “to turn resolutely in a certain direction” or to strengthen, establish, settle. It is also translated from parakaleo, which literally “means to come along side” or “to comfort.”

Many are in need of comfort. The are unsettled, fearful, anxious and need to be strengthened and established and comforted. This is what fellowship helps to accomplish.

2. By building up one another. Edify (build up one another)– Preaching, teaching

“Therefore…edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11b)

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Rom 14:19)

3. By provoking one another – (Heb 10:24-25)

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The “spurs” of a horse rider designed to allow the rider to transmit very subtle signals to the horse to encourage it to ride. When a believer spurs on another believer, he or she is encouraging another Christian toward a greater love, deeper faith and more consistant obedience to the Lord.

Those gentle jabs might be painful, but they are necessary for our spiritual progress.

4. By restoring one another. Restore – fix/mend one another; accept one another in spite of disagreements

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Gal 6:1)

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Rom 15:7)

5. By looking out for one another.

Have the same care for one another (1 Cor 12:25)

Bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)

The strong should help shoulder the burdens of the weak (Romans 15:1)

6. By remembering one another

Remember each other in prayer (James 5:16)

“I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…” (Ephesians 1:16)

Remember the poor – “They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.” (Gal 2:10)

Remember your leadership – “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (Hebrews 13:7)

Remember Christians who are being persecuted – “This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains.” (Col 4:18; Heb 13:3)

7. By spending time with one another.

It starts by getting up off of your cushion during our greeting time. “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…” (Eph 5:19)

It continues as we gather together during the week in smaller groups in addition to the larger Sunday worship.

8. By mentoring one another – personal discipleship

Admonish one another – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col 3:16)

Commit sound teaching to others – 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3-5

9. By gathering with one another

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling (1 Pet 4:9) Invite people you don’t know well to your home

Breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart (Acts 2:46)

In the early days of the church the saints lived together, worked together, ate together–there was a definite community of believers. They did this for protection, survival, accountability, fellowship, spiritual growth, etc.

Let me close this blog post by asking you to read Romans chapter 16. For context, Paul sails to Rome to appeal to Caesar after having been arrested for preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem (Acts 22:22-29: 23:11). In AD 60 he arrives in Rome as a prisoner but is allowed to preach and teach from a rented home for two whole years. At the end of AD 62, he is released from prison and for almost four years does missionary work in Rome until arrested again in AD 66, arrested, imprisoned, and beheaded by the Roman Emperor Nero.

In Romans chapter 16, before Paul is martyred, he sends personal greetings to the members of the church at Rome. Scholars say that Paul wrote this letter sometime between AD 57-59 before He had even stepped foot among that congregation of believers. Yet he knew all these people and referred to them by name and offers them personal encouragement! Pastor Ray Stedman gives a wonderful appraisal of how Paul was a “People Person” here.

As you read Romans 16, imagine yourself writing such a chapter. Do you have fellowship with members of your own church at such a deep level around the things of Jesus Christ? Or are your relationships only centered around the superficial, and the temporal, like sports, movies, social media, and the latest fads.

Are you experiencing true fellowship with the members of your church? Are you experiencing fantastic fellowship?