Churchlink - Starting Point

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"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship..." Acts 2:42.

Man was created as a gregarious, social creature - for fellowship not just with others but with God. Because he was created after God's image, he had the ability to commune with God and bring satisfaction to God's own heart. Different men in Scripture are particularly identified as being a friend of God - Abraham (2 Chronicles 20:7); Moses (Exodus 33:11) and the disciples (John 15:15).

Our relationship with God is intimately linked to our relationship with others (1 John 4:20-21). The whole aim of fellowship is:

To come into a oneness both with God and man. "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me..." John 17:22-23.
Through that oneness to manifest God to the world. "...to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" John 17:23.

The basic aim of fellowship is to be in an environment where sincere love can be expressed. In the interaction of true fellowship believers have the opportunity to share God's grace - to be the means by which God can impart faith, encouragement, comfort, healing and instruction to one another.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God" Colossians 3:16 (see also Romans 1:11-12).

For this reason, the Word of God encourages us:

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..." Hebrews 10:25.

Conditions of Fellowship

The Bible reveals some indispensible conditions for true fellowship:

A basic commitment to one another

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves" Romans 12:10.

Without a basic trust there can be no real fellowship. The depth of fellowship will vary proportionate to the depth of commitment.

Our commitment must be based on 'agape'

'Agape' is one-way love - God's kind of love - which loves 'in spite of', not 'because of'. Such a commitment therefore will not be affected by the other person's inconsistent behaviour. This depth of love reaches beyond feelings-based love that the world knows - it comes from the anointing of God's Spirit (Romans 5:5).

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34.

True fellowship is Christ-centred

Our fellowship with one another is founded in our common commitment to Christ as the focus of our lives.

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" 1 John 1:3 (see also 4:12; Philippians 2:1-2).

Walking together in the light

Our fellowship embraces the need to be open, honest and truthful with one another. This at times may mean:

Confessing our sins to one another: "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin" 1 John 1:6-7.

Obedience to the light: General and specific commands that God has given for our lives.

Removing any masks: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart" 1 Peter 1:22.

So much of the world's fellowship is hypocritical - the acting out of a role, with the real person hidden behind a mask. God desires for fellowship to be an "open-faced" experience - a genuine love expressed in an environment of trust and mutual support.

A genuine interest in one another's wellbeing

Any hidden motive of selfish gain undermines fellowship. Our principal motive should be to give, not get.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" Philippians 2:3-4.

A willingness to lay down one's life

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" John 15:12-13 (see also Philippians 2:5-8).

Laying down one's life involves more than just physical life. It also includes our material possessions, our personal interest and preferences (James 2:15-16). It means a willingness to share openly of one's self on every level.

The Example of the Early Church

Sharing all things (Acts 2:44-45).
Laying down their lives (Romans 16:3-4).
Devoted to serving the brothers (1 Corinthians 16:15).
Being a channel of supply (1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 8:14; 1 John 3:17).
Sharing in suffering (Philippians 4:14).
Sacrificial giving (2 Corinthians 8:2-3).
Practising hospitality (3 John 5; 1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:2; Matthew 25:34-40).
Building up and encouraging one another (1 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:10-14).

The results of this quality of fellowship were:

A fear of God (Acts 2:43).
Joy (Acts 2:46).
Favour with all the people (Acts 2:47).
The addition of new believers (Acts 2:47).
All needs supplied (Philippians 4:19).
The emergence of leadership (1 Corinthians 16:15-16).

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers..." 1 John 3:14.

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Copyright © 1995 Paul, Bunty and David Collins. All rights reserved. This study may be freely used and reproduced, wholly or in part, by the Christian Church for the non-profit purposes of study and training only, provided copyright and contact information is included.

Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted in these studies are from the New International Version of the Bible, © New York International Bible Society, used by permission. Other versions referred to are: KJV (King James Version), NKJB (New King James Bible), TLB (The Living Bible), Amp (The Amplified Bible) and The Message. All versions used by permission.

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