Fellowship With Each OtherI 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.”

Two Important Facts:It is possible to have fellowship with God!

Those who are in fellowship with God are in fellowship with each other!

Brief Review of Last Week’s Sermon:Fellowship defined. From koinonia, may be translated “fellowship,” “association,” “community,” or “joint participation.”

Fellowship with God depends on:God’s Provisions which make it possible.

Man’s Response to those Provisions.

In this Lesson:We are discussing the other side of

the coin.We are referring to:

The Communion,The Sharing in, The Partnership, orThe fellowship we have with each other by

reason of our fellowship with God.This kind of fellowship involves

teamwork, Acts 2:42!

Basic Facts:Fellowship Extends in Two Directions

Upward toward God, I John 1:3,5,6. Our fellowship with God is based upon the facts that we:Believed and obeyed the gospel, I

Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.Cooperate with God, I Corinthians 3:6,9;

Mark 16:20Find happiness in the same principles –

holiness, truth, purity, justice, mercy, etc., 2 Peter 1:4; I John 1:5,6.

Outward Toward His Children, I John 1:3; Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9; Philippians 1:3-5.

Basic Facts, con’t:Fellowship, both vertical and horizontal, is regulated by divine truth!Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with God, John 8:32; Romans 1:16.

Truth which puts us in a right relation-ship with each other, John 17:20,21; Amos 3:3.

Basic Facts – continued:“Fellowship is often an abused and

Misused Word.Often used to refer to eating together, though

it is never so used in the Bible! Note Ephesians 5:11; Mark 2:16; Hebrews 4:15

Some churches have “fellowship dinners,” and invite both saints and sinners!

Sometimes “fellowship” is used as an adjective to describe a Hall.

Sometimes “fellowship” is a word used to describe inter-denominational alliances and activities.

Basic Facts -- Continued“Fellowship” is often an abused Practice!

Fellowshipping those whom God will not fellowship, I Corinthians 5:1,2; I John 1:5.

Refusing to fellowship those whom God does fellowship, 3 John 9,10.

“Fellowship” is often a Perverted Teaching!A case in point is that of perverting Romans 14

to justify both Moral Sin, and Doctrinal Error!This contradicts I John 1:5,6!This contradicts passages which precede and

follow Romans 14. cf. Romans 13:14; 16:17,18.

God Wants Faithful Christians To BeIn Fellowship with other Faithful Christians!This is implied by Apostolic Example, Acts 2:42; Galatians 2:9.

This is Implied by Apostolic Admonition, Hebrews 10:24.“Consider” – fix the mind upon. Consider how to help other Christians be faithful in their duties to God.

“Provoke” – “to call to action.

That God Wants Faithful Christians to Be in Fellowship with other Faithful Christians implied by:

“Fellow-Citizens,” Ephesians 2:19.“Fellow-Helper,” 2 Corinthians 8:23.“Fellow –Laborer,” I Thessalonians 3:1,2.

“Fellow-servant,” Colossians 4:7.“Fellow-Workers,” Colossians 4:11.“Fellow-Soldier,” Philippians 2:25.“Fellow-Heirs,” Ephesians 3:6.

In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Negatively:

Not in the unfruitful works of Darkness!Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship

with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Not in Supporting Religious error!2 John 10,11: “If there come any unto

you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into hour house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

In What Should Christians Have Fellowship? Positively:

Our joint action in Scriptural work, I Corinthians 3:9.

Our joint action in Scriptural worship, Acts 2:42; 20:27; I Corinthians 10:16.

Our support of Gospel Preachers, Philippians 1:5; 4:14-17.

Our support of Needy saints, 2 Cor-inthians 8:1-4.

Faithful Christians Have Fellowship in things they share in Common:

A Common Calling, I Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:1.

A Common Standard of Conduct, I Peter 2:21.

A Common Aim – glorify God, I Corinthians 10:31.

A Common Salvation, Jude 3.A Common Goal – Heaven, I Peter 1:3,4.

Conclusion:We have dealt with but two aspects of

Fellowship – with God, and with others.Every Person in Fellowship with God is

one Whom God has Called, I Cor. 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.

You may have many good qualities, but if you are not in fellowship with God, you are lost! But God does not want you to be lost! 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16; Luke 19:10; Rom. 1:16.