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Fellowship (#156119)
Fellowship
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From:
Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament
By:
Stanley Bruce Anstey
• 2 min. read • grade level: 12
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This is sometimes translated
“communion”
in the KJV (i.e.
1 Cor. 10:16
16
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 Corinthians 10:16)
). It means to be
“partakers together”
in that which the parties involved have in common. Believers on the Lord Jesus Christ have been brought into
“fellowship”
with the Father and the Son (
1 John 1:3
3
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. (1 John 1:3)
), with the Holy Spirit (
2 Cor. 13:14
14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>> (2 Corinthians 13:14)
), and with one another (
1 John 1:7
7
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 1:7)
). Thus, abiding together in this fellowship, God and His people have their hearts knit together in intelligent thought, aim, purpose, desire, and affection regarding all things past, present, and future. If our thoughts and ideas are not in accord with the mind of God, then we are out of communion with Him, as far as those topics are concerned.
Fellowship of this kind does not appear in Scripture until
after
atonement was made, whereupon God has come out to man in grace to form a relationship with believers in the light of the full revelation of truth. Old Testament saints such as Abraham had communion with God, but not in the way in which Christians know communion with God by the indwelling Spirit. H. M. Hooke said, “The first time it [fellowship] occurs in the New Testament is in
Acts 2:42
42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
. Why don’t you get it before? Because until you have eternal life revealed, manifested, and until it was communicated, there could be no such thing as fellowship. How could God take people into fellowship with Himself until He put their sins away? It is not until Christ died, rose again, and went to heaven, and the Holy Ghost came down, that you get that word” (
The Christian Friend,
vol. 12 [1885], p. 234).
In Scripture, Christian fellowship (
1 Cor. 1:9
9
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
;
Acts 2:42-47
42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46
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,
47
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:42‑47)
) is all about togetherness. It involves being gathered
“together”
unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (
Matt. 18:20
20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
), coming
“together”
for the breaking of bread (
Acts 20:7
7
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)
), assembling
“together”
for prayer (
Acts 4:31; 12:12
31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
12
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12)
;
Rom. 15:30
30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (Romans 15:30)
), assembling
“together”
for ministry from the Word (
Acts 11:26
26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
;
1 Cor. 14:23
23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:23)
), assembling
“together”
for administrative actions (
Acts 15:30
30
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: (Acts 15:30)
;
1 Cor. 5:4
4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4)
), being
“together”
for mutual comfort and encouragement (
Rom. 1:12
12
That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (Romans 1:12)
), walking
“together”
with one mind and with the same objectives (
1 Cor. 1:10
10
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. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
), and being labourers
“together”
in the service of the Lord (
1 Cor. 3:9
9
For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
;
2 Cor. 6:1
1
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
).
All this is based on the fact that we have been quickened
“together,”
raised up
“together,”
and seated
“together”
in Christ (
Eph. 2:5-6
5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:5‑6)
), and also because we have been fitly framed
“together”
(
Eph. 2:21
21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)
) and builded
“together”
for a habitation for God on earth (
Eph. 2:22
22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
). Soon we will be caught up
“together,”
and thus gathered
“together”
to Him (
2 Thess. 2:1
1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1)
), being glorified
“together”
(
Rom. 8:17
17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)
), and ultimately we will live
“together”
with Him (
1 Thess. 5:10
10
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:10)
).
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