The document discusses the concept of true fellowship among believers, tracing its origins from the early church in the first century and linking it to the ecclesia in the wilderness. It highlights key elements of fellowship, such as shared beliefs, support for one another, and mutual service, all aimed at sustaining the truth of the gospel. The study emphasizes the importance of loving God and neighbors as foundational to fellowship, with promises of spiritual communion and collective glory-giving through shared faith and action.

1. True fellowship between believers
– Its ancient basis
Laindon Bible Study Class, 27th June 2018
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3 v 3

2. A 3-part series of studies
1. Its
ancient
basis
2. Its present
protection
3. Its
future
fulfilment
True fellowship - ancient basis 2
True Basis
vs. false
Durable

3. Just how ancient? First century?
• Evidently the work of the Apostles was to establish “fellowship in the
gospel” (Philippians 1 v 5)
• This phase began on the day of Pentecost, when “three thousand
souls” were baptized in Jerusalem (Acts 2 v 41 )
• Next came the setting up of ecclesias, of ‘called out’ believers, across
Judea, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy and beyond
• James, Peter and John, had early prominent roles in calling the Jews,
and Paul and Barnabus were sent out to the Gentiles (Galatians 2 v 9)
• These apostolic times saw a wonderful expansion in believers, but
also significant challenges to the truth (both doctrine and conduct),
as is evident from the Acts/epistles…
True fellowship - ancient basis 3

4. More ancient! The ‘ecclesia’ in the
wilderness
• The prototype of the early ecclesia occurred ~ 1,500 years earlier!
True fellowship - ancient basis 4
Acts 7
36 He [God through Moses] brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt,
and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel,
A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38 This is
he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our
fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Gk. ekklesia – ‘a calling out’
‘called out ones’ hence a
‘congregation’ or ‘assembly’
So many common elements:
• Called out from bondage (1 Corinthians 10 v 1)
• United in baptism (1 Corinthians 10 v 2)
• Partakers of a divine covenant (Hebrews 8 v 9)
• Recipients of spiritual meat & drink (1 Corinthians 10 v 3)
As well as the shadows of the tabernacle, priesthood, laws & offerings,
commandments, feast days & the Sabbath, worship & singing etc. etc.

5. Our focus this evening (God willing)
• Is upon the example of fellowship in the first century (and its pattern
for future believers, ourselves included)
• In particular, as exposition but also exhortation, we want to consider:
Why was it that God chose to establish groups of believers
(ecclesias) and enable them to be in fellowship with Him/His
Son (and one another)? With what end(s) did He do this?
• We perhaps have a useful segue in Jesus’ words:
True fellowship - ancient basis 5
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 22 v 37-40
“Like unto it” = paraphrased ‘to set alongside it’ (The Message)

6. Fellowship A pinnacle of loving neighbour
True fellowship - ancient basis 6
Galatians 6
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who
are of the household of faith.
Matthew 25
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
1 John 3
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to
lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed
and in truth.

7. ‘Fellowship’ What’s in a word?
True fellowship - ancient basis 7
“companionship… friendly
association”
“The people collectively with
whom a person habitually
socializes or associates”
“having something in
common with another”
“close spiritual union”
“people joined by a common
purpose”
“partnership i.e. (literally)
participation”
“(social) intercourse”
Translated:
• Fellowship (12x)
• Communion (4x)
• Communication (1x)
• Distribution (1x)
• Contribution (1x)
• Communicate (1x)
[20 appearances in total]

8. Back to the day of Pentecost Reasons for
F/S
True fellowship - ancient basis 8
Acts 2
41 Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls. 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 favour with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1. A joint means of sustaining the truth
throughout the ages
2. Supporting and nurturing one another
3. With mutual opportunities to serve
4. Whilst sharing a communal relationship
with Christ
5. Collectively giving God glory
6. Especially through a combined witness
to His saving truth
Six key things enabled
through fellowship

9. 1. Jointly sustaining the truth
True fellowship - ancient basis 9
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the FELLOWSHIP of his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord. 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 v 9-10)
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship* hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what COMMUNION hath light with
darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath
the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be
their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6 v 14-18) * Gk. metochos – ‘sharer’
‘associate’ ‘participant’

10. 2. Supporting one another
True fellowship - ancient basis 10
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should
inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3 v 8-9)
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with
it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with
it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
(1 Corinthians 12 v 26-27)

11. 3. Mutual service
True fellowship - ancient basis 11
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one
another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5 v 13-14)
“For to their power [the Macedonians], I bear record, yea, and
beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying
us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take
upon us the FELLOWSHIP of the ministering to the saints.”
(2 Corinthians 8 v 3-4)

12. 4. Sharing communion with Christ
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“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? For we being many are one
bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one
bread.” (1 Corinthians 10 v 16-17)
“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 v 3)

13. 5. Collective glory-giving
True fellowship - ancient basis 13
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That
ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one
another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
(Romans 15 v 5-7)
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good
and to COMMUNICATE forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased.” (Hebrews 13 v 15-16)

14. 6. A combined witness
True fellowship - ancient basis 14
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden
under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city
that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5 v 13-14)
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are
witnesses.” (Acts 2 v 32)

15. A key fact to appreciate…
• Whilst there was enormous opposition to the truth, nevertheless
through God’s providence and design (fellowship) the truth was
preserved… with inestimable benefits…
True fellowship - ancient basis 15
1 John 1
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. 4 And these
things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have
heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we
say that we have FELLOWSHIP with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.

16. Next week’s study (God willing)
Having remembered the:
Ancient basis
- & -
Inestimable value
of fellowship, we will further focus on:
2. Its present protection
True fellowship - ancient basis 16