- F E L L O W S H I P -WHEN AND HOW DO WE

HAVE IT?

““Open Fellowship”Open Fellowship”

• Unrestrained, uncorrected fellowship• Undermines Bible authority and

compromises integrity of the church• Yearning for unity and peace has led

some to give lip service to 2 John 9-11 while opposing its application

• Bible is the basis for our fellowship and unity, Jno 17:20-21; Eph 4:3-4

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F E L L O W S H I PF E L L O W S H I P

• God does not have fellowship with everyone who says they are in fellowship with Him, Matt 7:21-23 1 Jno 2:18-19

• Why should we conclude we may have fellowship with any Christian regardless of their lifestyle and doctrines? 1 Cor 5:1-2 2 John 9 3

1 JOHN 1:3-4

Fellowship with others is based on mutual fellowship with God

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Fellowship with GodFellowship with God

• Depends on walking in the light, 1 Jno 1:5-7; Jno 14:23– Must walk in the light to have fellowship

with God, 1 John 1:7• Practicing truth = Walking in the light, 1:6-7• Not practicing truth = Not walking in the light

– Therefore, the person who is not practicing the truth does not have fellowship with God

– Such a one is lying if he says that he does, 1 John 1:6

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Fellowship with GodFellowship with God

• Depends on walking in the light, 1 Jno 1:6-7; Jno 14:23– Knowing God is equivalent to having

fellowship with God, John 10:27-28• If we keep His commandments –

assured that we know Him, 1 Jno 2:3

• Disobedient person does not know God because the truth is not in him, 1 Jno 2:4

– Therefore, the one who keeps the word of God loves God and has fellowship with God (is “in Him”), 1 Jno 2:5-6 6

Fellowship with GodFellowship with God• Commanded not to have

fellowship with those who are not in fellowship with God, Eph 5:11; 2 Cor 6:14– This shows that Bible fellowship is not

social interaction, 1 Cor 5:9-10– Bible fellowship is spiritual interaction

(partnership, sharing together, agreement), Acts 2:42• Our fellowship cannot be more open

or more restrictive than God’s fellowship 7

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-16

FELLOWSHIP: What, When and How

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Bible Definitions Bible Definitions (2 Cor (2 Cor 6:14-16)6:14-16)

• Fellowship is partnership, partaking, 6:14

• Communion is sharing, 6:14• Accord is togetherness

(harmony), 6:15• Part is having a portion, 6:15• Agreement is approval, put

together, 6:169

WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• With the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 1 Jno 1:3; 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 13:14– By obeying Christ, Jno 14:23;

15:4-8– When we suffer for Christ we

have fellowship with His sufferings, Phil 3:10 (1 Pet 4:13)

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WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• Simultaneous spiritual work of preaching the truth, Gal 2:9 (partners)– Fellowship in preaching the truth, 2:5– Conversely, do not have fellowship

with those who do not teach the sound words of Christ, 1 Tim 6:3-5; 2 Jno 10-11• Work with and endorse faithful teachers• Do not work with teachers of error, Eph 5:11• No ecumenical councils, crusades, etc.

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WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• Benevolent “contributions”– One church to another church, Rom 15:26-

27 (2 Cor 8:4)– Churches: Relief of needy saints, 2 Cor

9:1– Individuals: Sacrificial sharing with

Christians, Heb 13:16 (Rom 12:13)•By giving our contributions we have

fellowship with the saints who are relieved•If we share in unscriptural arrangements

and/or recipients we also share in violating God’s will and forfeit our fellowship with God

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WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• Financial support of a preacher, Phil 1:5; 4:15– Sharing of student and teacher,

Gal 6:6• We participate with the preacher(s)

we choose to support• This is why we will not support a

preacher who teaches error, for to do so is to have fellowship with him in error, 2 John 10-11

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WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• Worship and work of the local church, Acts 2:41-42–Lord’s Supper is communion, 1 Cor 10:16• Worshipping with a church is fellowship• Identify yourself with and participate in

the work of a faithful church (Acts 9:26-28)

• If a church is violating the Scriptures and you worship with it, you are having fellowship with those in error, 2 Jno 10-11 (Eph 5:11)

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WhenWhen and and HowHow do we have do we have Fellowship with Others? Fellowship with Others?

• Sharing of faith through acts of love, Philemon 5-7

• Fellowship with the apostles by belief and obedience, 1 Jno 1:3-4

• If, by our conduct, we condone, endorse and approve of others in their sin we are in fellowship with sin, 1 Tim 5:22 (2 Jno 10-11)

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Fellowship: God’s and OursFellowship: God’s and Ours

• God is vigilant of His fellowship– It is not “open” (without boundaries)– It is well defined by His word of truth,

Matt 7:21, 23• We must be vigilant of our

fellowship because it affects our souls– Have no fellowship with sin (the

world), Eph 5:11– Have fellowship with God and the

people of God, 1 Jno 1:3; 2 Jno 9 16