The Fellowship of Christian Love

GOLDEN TEXT: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” —I John 4:11

ACTS 2:42-47; COLOSSIANS 3:12-16; I JOHN 4:7,8

ON THE Day of Pentecost three thousand Israelites accepted Jesus as their Messiah and Redeemer. Beginning then, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The record is that they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Truly, this was a wonderful fellowship, or “partnership,” as the thought is in the Greek text.

It is important to note that the fellowship of these first Christians was based upon the “apostles’ doctrine.” There can be good friendship among those congenial to each other as personalities, even though they may disagree in their beliefs, but there can be no true fellowship of Christian love except upon the basis of the “apostles’ doctrine.” That doctrine was the Gospel of Christ. Various aspects of the “apostles’ doctrine” are set forth throughout the Book of Acts, and in the letters of the various apostles. Together, these make up the glorious divine plan of the ages—its ages and dispensations; the call of the church; the hope of the world; the purpose and manner of the first and second advents of Christ; and the signs of his second presence.

The “breaking of bread” practiced by the early Christians was not the commemoration of the death of Jesus as symbolized by the “bread” and the “cup.” This Memorial Supper is properly observed but once a year, and on the anniversary of the crucifixion. From Acts 20:7 it seems that the custom of “breaking bread” was observed on the first day of the week, perhaps as an expression of thanksgiving and joy over the fact of Jesus’ resurrection.

Those first believers, the record states, “had all things common.” It was a noble experiment, but apparently it was not continued, although we find no mention of an arrangement of this kind later than the sixth chapter of Acts, where we are told of “a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” (vs. 1) It was this that gave rise to the appointment of deacons to see that the physical needs of the brethren were properly taken care of.

In Colossians 3:12, Paul refers to the brethren at Colosse as the “elect of God.” All true followers of Jesus are chosen, or selected from the world to be a “little flock” to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) Their calling and election, however, must be made sure by their faithfulness and growth in righteousness. Paul admonishes us to “put on … bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

“Above all these things,” he continues, we should put on “charity [love], which is the bond of perfectness.” We are also to “let the peace of God rule in our hearts,” and “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” All of this is a part of the “fellowship of Christian love.”

John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born [begotten] of God, and knoweth God.” (I John 4:7) “Love,” Paul wrote, “is the bond of perfectness.” This suggests that love encompasses and, as it were, holds together, all the other aspects of Christian character.

To love is to be godlike, for “God is love.” God has infinite wisdom, almighty power, and perfect justice, but he “is” love. Love manifests itself unselfishly for the blessing of others. God’s love for the world prompted him to give his own Son to redeem the human race from death. (John 3:16) If God dwells in us we, too, will seek opportunities to give to those in need—we will particularly want to give them the truth.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount he reminds us that the Heavenly Father “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Then he explains that if we love only them who love us, we are no better than the publicans, and certainly not like God. He concludes this lesson with the admonition, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”—Matt. 5:45-48

We cannot be perfect in the sense of freeing ourselves of fleshly imperfections, but we can be “perfect,” or all-inclusive in our love, a love that will be manifested in doing good to all men—even our enemies—and especially to the household of faith. It is this sort of perfection that Jesus was speaking of in this lesson.

QUESTIONS

Can there be true fellowship of Christian love apart from the doctrines of the divine plan?

What is meant by the expression that the early Christians “had all things in common”?

What is meant by the expression, “elect of God,” and how can these make their election sure?

In what sense is charity the “bond of perfectness”?

Explain the manner in which Christians can be perfect even as their Father in heaven is perfect.

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