Fellowship in the Body of Christ
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1 John 2:18–23
I don’t believe any of us ever want it to be said of us, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” I doubt the ones John writes of even liked that being written of them. But what John writes here is the spiritual reality of what it means to leave the body of Christ. It behooves us to know what it means to belong to that body in the first place, so that we never end up like the people in this passage.
Part of knowing what being a saint means is to ask questions. What does it mean to be a part of the kingdom? Am I just supposed to keep on trying to do the work of God by myself?
The Universal Church is God’s gift to mankind; The local church is God’s gift to the Christian. It is meant to be a close-knit family of saints who teach, exhort, encourage, strengthen one another, holding each member accountable for their faithfulness to God, and thus the spiritual health of the entire congregation.
But what does this practically mean? When I read about fellowship in the Bible, what can I find? Does it mean spending time together? Eating together? Studying together? Yes, all of these! But there are very specific meanings that we need to understand.
What is Fellowship?
What is Fellowship?
Fellowship is a “togetherness”.
General ideas apply in various relationships; meaning is built in the context of these relationships.
The word is part of a family of words that indicate togetherness, sharing, companionship, contribution, generosity, sharing, friendship. The root word is even used in terms of the intimacy between husband and wife (Hebrews 13:4, the marriage bed).
The core of biblical fellowship is our fellowship with God.
1 John 1:3-7 - This defines everything.
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Fellowship with Christians is to be desired.
That “horizontal” fellowship of the saints should lead someone to want tp have “vertical” fellowship with God.
However, God is light. No darkness in Him. We must be allied with the light, and walk in the light if we expect to have fellowship with God.
If we say we are in fellowship but walk in darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.
If we walk in the light AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, we have fellowship with ONE ANOTHER (back to the initial point).
1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:16 - Called into fellowship with the Son Jesus, shown in the emblems of the Lord’s Supper. Consider what this means for outsiders/unbelievers to know that we take the Lord’s Supper seriously! It is our true “fellowship meal”.
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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?
Our “vertical” fellowship with the Godhead informs our “horizontal” fellowship with other saints. Many passages show the ways that we all share in this as saints.
2 Cor 8:4 ; 13:13-14 - fellowship of the ministering to the saints; greeting the saints is tied to the communion of the Holy Spirit
imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Eph 3:9 - The fellowship of the plan/design of God from the beginning of time.
and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
Phil 2:1-2; 3:10 - “if any” shows that it is there.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Philemon 4-7 - The “fellowship” (sharing) of our faith is put into action and becomes effective when we recognize every good thing in us in Christ Jesus.
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Close fellowship should always be the goal. This brings us into the subject of the fellowship for which we should be truly striving.
Acts 2:42 – They “continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Gal 2:9 - the right hand of fellowship shows approval and encouragement in the work set before us.
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Phil 1:3-7 - We have fellowship in the gospel. The good news of Jesus is the core of our togetherness.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
What Breaks Fellowship?
What Breaks Fellowship?
Sin destroys our fellowship.
The sin of Adam ruined humanity and the earth. Yet in Gen 4:1, he and Eve are striving to be faithful to God in the task they have been given. This results in a good son who is killed (Abel) and another good son whose family led to men calling on the name of the LORD. Gen 4:25-26
The sin of Cain destroyed his fellowship with God and his family. Gen 4:6-15
Not only that he killed Abel, but that he could have reigned/ruled over his sin before it started. On top of that, when asked by God, Cain does not admit his wrongdoing. And thus he is exiled, banished from the presence of the faithful.
The sin of Saul tore the kingdom away from him. 1 Sam 15:1-3, 9, 22-31 - note that eventually Samuel does go along with Saul a bit more, but this is effectively the beginning of the end of Saul’s relationship with God.
God will not fellowship sin. He will not be a partaker of the works of darkness. Eph 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Sin is like a tumor in Christ’s body; it must be taken out, eliminated. There is no excuse for it.
If a brother walks in darkness, I cannot have fellowship with him. 2 Cor. 6:14-18
Phillip Owens in his meeting with us in April preached so well on this that I do not want to repeat too much, but note the seriousness of this passage.
Look at all the different words to describe what we have as Christians.
But we say, “is a fallen Christian an unbeliever?” Go back to 1 John 2:22!
Our brothers and sisters who refuse to obey God are unbelievers. They do not believe that Christ is King, because they do not live as if He is their king.
The Christian who disobeys God is not submitting to the rule of Christ, and thus they have no interest in the eternal kingdom.
If Fellowship is broken, what should we do?
If Fellowship is broken, what should we do?
Some things to not do/say:
"I can't take any action until the Church does something"
See Matthew 18:15-17. Nothing in this context is said about what the church does. ALL of it is within the context of the individual. Thus, I am commanded to think of fellowship in primarily an INDIVIDUAL sense, and secondarily in a collective sense.
"If someone is withdrawn from, I can't even talk to them"
This is the opposite mistake. In a sincere motive to adhere to the scriptural actions of the congregation, we overcompensate, and disobey the words of Paul:
And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Do not “associate” with this person. Meaning, make it clear that your affiliation is not with him!
God is not commanding us to stop communication, however. How are we to reach them in such a way?
"I know the congregation withdrew from him, but I don't support that decision and do not follow it."
If this is what you believe, why are you still there?
1 Corinthians 5:4-5 - it is a collective action.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
If you don’t agree with the collective action, you don’t agree with the group, so you either need to fix that, or go somewhere else.
If the man was falsely accused, work to correct that!
Philemon 1:10-11, 17-18
I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.
I hope we are willing to risk our reputations for brethren who are in the right. That certainly seems to be the close fellowship that saints ought to have.
“what if he turns out to be wrong later?” We all make mistakes and sometimes trust people we shouldn’t. The key is to pick the pieces back up and rebuild, like Adam and Eve did!
When can I fellowship someone?
Two basic questions that can help us (as a congregation AND individually) come to the right conclusions:
What was your salvation experience?
Have you been married before?
Obviously as individuals we will arrive at the answers to these questions at different stages than as a collective body. Regardless, however, there will always be a period of time wherein we are getting to know someone and "sounding them out".
Generally, if someone is a demonstrably pure brother/sister in Christ who sincerely wants to be a part of the congregation in order to glorify God in faithful service, there should be no reason to refuse them. Again, we must let God define these standards!
When must I withdraw from someone?
When they have proven themselves to be “disorderly”.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
“Withdraw” - to remove one's self, withdraw one's self, to depart
“Disorderly” - deviating from the prescribed order or rule
When they do not “consent to wholesome words”, “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Tim. 6:3-5).
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
Our primary purpose (once our own salvation is secure) is helping others to be saved.
So, in every situation, we must ask: what will be the most effective way to help save the soul in question?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Not every case is precisely the same.
Consider Revelation 2-3. No two churches seem to suffer exactly the same problems, and there are variations on how the Lord chooses to approach the negligent congregations in terms of what they need to repent of and change as well as what they are doing right.
In the same sense, we must remember that God expects us to discern!
What about the brother who fellowships a fallen Christian?
Are we required to disfellowship them in turn?
The New Testament says nothing concerning this, so we ought to be careful.
In addition, we must consider the different relationships at hand.
The child whose father/mother is a fallen Christian must still honor them as their parents, and provide for them in their old age.
The parent of a child who is a fallen Christian will have a different set of decisions to make than the brother/sister of the same fallen Christian.
Jehoshaphat, Jehu, and Elisha
Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you. Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God.”
Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.”
But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you.
Jehoshaphat was rebuked for his fellowship with Jehoram (king of Israel), but his presence was the only reason Elisha came.
When he does, Elisha tells Jehoram to go to the prophets of his father and mother (and Jehoram was the brother of Ahaziah, so his father and mother were Ahab and Jezebel!)
Was Elisha compromising his fellowship? No. He was there because a good man (Jehoshaphat) was there. And when he found the right opportunity, he told the wicked king Jehoram that if it were not the case, he would not even look at or see him. Elisha helps us see how we should hold the line strictly against those who willfully disobey the word of God.
What about our erring brethren in institutional congregations?
Recall that they are brethren. We must love them in the same ways.
This said, remember that we are out to help souls be saved. We must be willing to make EVERY opportunity to try.
Thus, if good communication can be had, let it be had, but do NOT join in sin.
How is Fellowship Regained?
How is Fellowship Regained?
Communication can win back my brother.
Matthew 18:15-20 - “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Sound teaching and blameless behavior can win back my brother.
Gal 6:1-5 - The fact that a brother fell away does not justify your habitual sin! If you refuse to live blamelessly, expect more to leave. You must be spiritual in order to win them back.
Delivering my brother to Satan can win him back in the day of judgment.
1 Cor 5:1-8 - They were to take the words of Paul and correct the brother in question by marking him as a fornicator and withdrawing fellowship from him. There would be no positive change until this effort was undertaken. Same for us today!
Keep in mind, this is not tossing someone out forever! The wise heart accepts correction; the foolish heart rejects it. Prov 9:8
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Maintaining God’s boundaries of fellowship can win back my brother.
1 Cor 5:9-13 - We MUST draw the line of fellowship and have it clearly marked! Why do we take these measures? So that we “keep the feast” with “sincerity and truth” (v. 8) Influence is key.
2 Thess. 3:6; 11-15 - Withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly. Do not keep company with them. Let them be ashamed.
Seeking my lost brother can win him back.
Luke 15:3-7 - We need to rejoice over sinners repenting. If we do not care, we will never be true disciples of Christ.