a study of the significance and importance of true fellowship

1. True fellowship between believers
– Its present protection
Laindon Bible Study Class, 4th July 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
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True Basis
vs. false
Durable

3. ‘Fellowship’ What’s in a word?
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“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]

4. Why it is so important
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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

5. The end of the matter…
• Whilst there was enormous opposition to the truth, nevertheless
through God’s providence and design (fellowship) the truth was
preserved… with inestimable benefits…
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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.

6. How can we protect our fellowship?
• Taking the necessary steps to ensure we are all of one mind with our
brothers and sisters with whom we are in fellowship:
1. By ensuring we are clear about what it is that we believe
2. By concentrating our social activities amongst those with whom we are in
fellowship
3. By gently and respectfully asking if we see, hear or read something that
does not seem to agree with our understanding of the truth
4. By calling on the help of other brothers if unable to clarify the situation
5. In the unlikely event of failing to reach agreement (after all efforts have
been made) taking the matter to the ecclesia
6. If a brother or sister is still found to be at variance on a substantive matter
(of teaching or conduct), separating from them until they depart from
their error
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7. 1. Being clear about what we believe
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Deuteronomy 6:7
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when
thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest
down, and when thou risest up.”
Hebrews 10:25
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
1 Corinthians 11:16-18
“But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
churches [ecclesia] of God. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that
ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye
come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly
believe it.”

8. 2. Spending our time with our b&s
2 Corinthians 6:14
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?” (cf unbelief Hebrews 3:12)
Philippians 2:1-2
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my
joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind.”
See also Hebrews 10:25
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9. 3. What to do when error arises…
The approach Jesus taught to dealing with disagreements:
Matthew 18:15-17
“[Step 1] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell
him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou
hast gained thy brother.
[Step 2] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established.
[Step 3] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
[Step 4] but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican.”
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10. 4. Answering possible objections
It involves being judgmental:
1 Corinthians 6:1-2
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall
judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye
unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”
We cannot possibly know what is going on in other ecclesias:
Deuteronomy 13:14-15
“Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and,
behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is
wrought among you; Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that
city”
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Heb. chakar – examine
intimately

11. 5. Dealing with error at an ecclesial level
• We must maintain and protect that oneness of mind:
Romans 16:17
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid
them [Greek: separate from].”
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Separation is carried out in the spirit of correction not condemnation:
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and
have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

12. 6. Showing compassion
In matters of conduct there is a path of forgiveness but in teaching there is
no room for compromise:
2 Corinthians 2:6-7
“Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest
perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
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Gk. hugiaino – uncorrupt,
true in doctrine

13. Defending ourselves against objections
Being of one mind does not come from compromise which leads to
double mindedness:
James 1:8
“A double minded man is unstable (unsteady, unruly) in all his ways”
Ephesians 4:13-15
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ”
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14. Fellowship in unity
Romans 15 v 5-7
“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.”
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Matthew 13:45-46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went
and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

15. Next week’s study (God willing)
Having considered:
The protection of our fellowship
- which is of -
Inestimable value
we will conclude next week with:
3. Its future fulfilment
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