Bible Thoughts January 16, 2000
"God is faithful, through whom ye were called into fellowship of his
Son Jesus Christ our Lord"(I Corinthians 1:9).
Fellowship involves sharing. It is the bond that ties one Christian to another. It is the bond that indicates a community of believers. It is the strength of a congregation. It is the harmony that exists within a group of the Lord's people. The word implies togetherness. If there is a lack togetherness, proper fellowship is absent.
This fellowship is made possible through Jesus Christ. While there may be bonds of strength between people in other areas, the strongest of all should be among those who belong to the Son of God. It was his willingness to suffer and experience the agony of the cross that makes it possible for each of us to be bound to him and bound to each other in fellowship. Such a strength should be valued by all disciples, giving every effort to keep that sense of togetherness in a local congregation.
In the Greek language, the base meaning of the word is common or, sharing in common. If ever a people existed who could truly appreciate and practice this communion, it is Christians. A common God, a common Christ, a common Bible, a common church, etc.--all of which are uncommon in relation to the world and the things of the world. In fact, those in the world would have a difficult time in understanding the nature of the fellowship of the saints. Sometimes, even we who are Christians fail to realize the greatness of the bonds that exist for the disciples of Christ. We should be thankful, daily, that we can stand beside those who are Christians and walk in fellowship with the righteous.
Extending the hand of fellowship to others creates a bond that can only be found among disciples of Christ. When Paul and Barnabas were received and accepted by James, Peter, and John, they felt the closeness that exists between those who serve the Lord. Each would go his separate way in the work of the Lord, but the ties that existed on that occasion would never be forgotten. Within each of them, this common bond would carry them into the whole world with the knowledge that others were working for the Christ who died for them.
The strength of any congregation is affected by the strength of the fellowship that takes place. With a common Savior and a common goal, the faithful can join hands in moving forward in the Master's cause. So long as that bond is intact, nothing that Satan may try will destroy the closeness of those who compose the local church in any place. Such fellowship should be appreciated and enjoyed by every member. It will provide encouragement and strength to each Christian. It can be the protection that will keep a faithful disciple from slipping back into the world. Wherever Satan throws his darts, the fellowship of the saints can serve as a shield against being overcome.
It is always an encouragement to know that others stand with one for the truth. While, if necessary, a Christian will stand alone against the forces of error and evil, the nearness of a righteous person can always help to strengthen one's determination to stand up for what is right. Fellowship of the saints can provide the strength to stand in times of stress, trouble, and problems. It can be a factor that will provide the strength to remain faithful.
"If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin"(I John 1:6-7).
To maintain the ties that one has with faithful disciples, it is necessary to be faithful. When one walks in the light, he is with others who walk in the light. When one walks in darkness, he is only deceiving himself about walking in the light.
As the Christian walks in the light, maintaining fellowship with Christ, the blood of God's Son cleanses one from sin. If one does not walk in the light, that fellowship is broken and access to the power of the blood is denied.
As one remains in fellowship with Christ through obedience, so there is fellowship with all others who walk in the light. If one is not walking in harmony with the Lord, that one is not in fellowship with the saints. In fact, the Lord commands there be a withdrawal of fellowship when a disciple errs from the path of righteousness(II Thessalonians 3:6). The one thus disciplined, if he values the fellowship of the saints, will repent and begin to walk faithful.
Full fellowship of the saints is determined by whether one is walking in the paths of righteousness. And even if the local church fails to discipline the erring disciple, fellowship with God has been broken by leaving the path of the righteous, whether by doctrinal error, immoral conduct, or failure to keep the commands of Christ. When the man at Corinth was disciplined because of his fornication, his sorrow for sin led him to repent and be forgiven by the Lord and the brethren. It is obvious that this erring saint valued the fellowship of the righteousness, leading him to correct his life. Let each of us properly value the strength of the fellowship of Christ and Christians.