PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
THE BIBLE AND CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Presented by Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
Devotional Text: (1
JOHN 1:5-7)
Introduction:
Dr. C.D. Cole in putting forth the characteristics of a fellowship
remarks that the early church as a fellowship had all things in common. He
noted also that this was an inspired fellowship – nothing political or
legislative about it. It was voluntary and not compulsory. They were so knit
together as one soul that they said nothing they had was their own. According
to the BBC English Dictionary, a fellowship is a feeling of friendship that
people have when they are doing something together. Based on the above
definition, one may say that Christian Fellowship is a feeling of friendship
with God and His saints that culminates in doing things together as one.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
Christian fellowship is a fellowship with the Spirit, (2 Cor.
13:14).
(2)
Christian fellowship is a fellowship of sharing in the suffering
of Christ, (Phi. 3:1).
(3)
Christian fellowship is a fellowship with the Father, (1 John
1:3).
(4)
Christian fellowship is a fellowship with the Son and the Saints
(vs. 3).
WHAT
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS NOT (1 JOHN 1:5-6)
Christian fellowship is not just congregating
together for the purpose of worship, but a bond of relationship. By
interpretation, a bond is a strong feeling of friendship, love or shared
beliefs that unite a people. Therefore, a fellowship is not a Christian
fellowship when;
(i)
it is not done in the light of God’s word (vs. 5)
(ii)
participants walk in darkness, (vs. 6)
(iii)
it is not with the Holy Spirit, (2 Cor. 13:14).
WHAT
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS, (2 COR. 6:14-18)
Christian
fellowship is a bond of relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
It has no compromise with Satan, sin or any form of darkness. This type of
fellowship begins with an individual’s relationship with the Father, Son and
the Holy Spirit, and in turn culminates in coming together to worship with
other Saints. This implies that the unbelievers in the church are not truly in
fellowship with the Lord. So, for one to truly link up with God in fellowship,
one must;
(i)
refrain from wickedness, (vs. 14).
(ii)
have nothing to do with idols, (self, money, etc)
(iii)
separate oneself from every unclean thing, (vs. 17).
FELLOWSHIP
OF SHARING IN HIS SUFFERING, (PHI. 3:10)
It is one thing to declare that one loves
one, and it is quite a different thing to share in the suffering of one that
one claims one loves. To many, Christian fellowship is just a gathering that
calls for God’s favour. However, it is important to remark that there is always
a test of love and fellowship. Therefore, sharing in the suffering of Christ
means;
(i)
enduring hardship when God allows it, (2 Tim. 2:3).
(ii)
Identifying with Christ in times of troubles, hardships and
distresses, (2 Cor. 6:4).
(iii)
not being separated from the love of God, (Rom. 8:35-39).
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