Sermon Five - The Characteristics of Fellowship

Introduction

Fellowship means: Companionship; society; consent; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms. Communion. The word fellowship has fallen on hard times in many churches, like the word encourage — emptied of its power by casual overuse.

We desperately need the electric reality of fellowship that we find in the First Century New Testament. Christian fellowship is bigger than we are, however in today’s churches the word seems almost hollow because so many have lost the true concept of fellowship as a means of grace, with the end enjoying Jesus. The means of grace in the Christian life implies some end, some goal, some target. That end, goal and target is Jesus! Enjoying Jesus in this life, that’s the end of the means. Enjoying Jesus is the ultimate end of Christian fellowship.

I. In Relation to our Prospect - Purity - (3:1-3)

A. The reasons for purity - (vv.1-3a)

The Lord’s Name is Represented - Believers are representatives of the Lord’s name. We are loved by the Father and Salvation has made a difference in our lives. Every son of God should desire to be more like Him. Every son of God is being transformed from the inside out, being conformed everyday to His image and likeness.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Job 33:23 “If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:”

The Lord’s Return is Near - The expectation of our Saviour’s return any day now prompts us to live in hope and live pure lives.

Matthew 24:42–47 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

B. The meaning of purity - (v.3b) - Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; as purity of heart or life.

1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

Our hearts are pure - In Christ we have been given a pure heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”

Jeremiah 32:39 “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:”

Our lives are pure - In Christ we have been given a new life. (Ephesians 4:17-32).

Our love is pure - In Christ we have been given a new love. We are able to love because of His love.

Conclusion

You know within yourself right now where you are!