Reflections on Fellowship

Reflections on Fellowship

Sermon preparation for me is personal study time. I study to learn and hear the voice of the Lord through the Scriptures, and then I preach what I learn and hear.

Many times, I’m not able to share everything that I learned during a sermon. I plan to use this area to share these insights with others who may find them beneficial.

While studying 1 John, I noticed a simple yet powerful self-examination tool.

In verse 6, John writes, “If we say we have fellowship with Him.”

Then in verse 7, he writes, “We have fellowship with one another.”

We can safely combine the two into a statement like this: “If we say we have fellowship with Jesus, then we will also have fellowship with one another.”

It stands to reason that people who have been saved by the same Gospel, indwelt by the same Spirit, united under one King, and instructed by one Holy Text will inevitably be in fellowship with one another.

The word “fellowship” in Greek is “koinonia.” You may have heard or seen this word in the name of a church, at a Christian conference or event, or in Christian literature. It means “community” or “intimacy.”

The fellowship between believers is motivated by the love Christ showed for us. We are a people saved by one Gospel, united under one King, and indwelt by one Spirit. Our relationships are subject to, regulated by, and informed by one Text—the Bible.

So here’s the challenge: If we say we have fellowship with Jesus, let’s ask ourselves, “What does my fellowship with other BELIEVERS look like?”

- Are we operating in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ?

- Do we sow seeds of peace among the brethren?

- Do we edify one another?

- Are we having spiritual conversations with one another?

Or do we find ourselves regularly embroiled in controversy?

- Do we sow seeds of discord?

- Are our conversations far less spiritual, but more whispers and canards?

Let’s take a moment and ask the Spirit to use these questions to search our hearts and give us eyes to see reality. Are there some things that need to change? Some things that need to be confessed?

Do these truths confirm our confession or deny it?