Fellowship of the Church

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:32

ACTS 2:42-47; ROMANS 15:1-9

TRUE Christian fellowship is more, much more, than companionship and social intercourse. The Greek word in the New Testament which is translated fellowship literally means partnership, implying, in the case of Christians, a common participation in belief and practice. The thought is well expressed in the lesson: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”—Acts 2:42

The word doctrine simply means teaching. All the teachings of the apostles pertained to Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ of promise, his part in the divine plan, and the Christian’s relationship to him. Paul later wrote to the church at Corinth, “I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (I Cor. 2:2) Teachings relating to Jesus and his work of redemption embrace directly or indirectly the entire plan of God—all the glorious truths set forth from cover to cover of the Bible.

General agreement on the great fundamental truths of the Bible as centered in Jesus Christ is essential to true Christian fellowship. To whatever extent there is disagreement on the doctrines, or teachings, there is, of necessity, and in that proportion, a lack of full fellowship. God said in connection with his own relationship to Israel, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3: 3) The obvious answer is that they cannot. The brethren referred to in our lesson enjoyed sweet and blessed fellowship because they continued in the teachings imparted to them by the apostles.

Their having all things in common so far as material things were concerned was a noble attempt to extend the spirit of fellowship beyond spiritual matters. But these material matters were too closely entwined with the fallen flesh of the brethren to permit such an arrangement to work smoothly, so the Scriptures do not indicate that it was continued.

A proper appreciation of the truths of the Bible pertaining to the divine plan, and of Jesus’ part in that plan, leads to godlikeness in our attitude toward one another. The thought is beautifully expressed in our Golden Text: kindness, tenderness, and the spirit of forgiveness are essential elements of true Christian fellowship.

There must be a large measure of selflessness on the part of those who enjoy the fellowship of the saints. Paul wrote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself.”—Rom. 15:1-3

As the reason why Jesus pleased not himself, Paul quotes an Old Testament prophecy concerning him—“The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me,” and then adds, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”—vss. 3,4

Peter explains that through the prophets the Holy Spirit had testified concerning the “sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (I Pet. 1:11) Paul’s quotation (from Psalm 69:9) concerning the reproaches which fell upon Jesus is one of the prophetic testimonies concerning his sufferings. Paul wrote, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

One aspect of Christian fellowship is a fellowship in Christ’s sufferings. Paul wrote concerning Jesus, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Phil. 3:10) Again Paul wrote, “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”—Phil. 1:29

Verses 5 and 6 of Romans 15 read, “Now the God of patience [Standard Revised Version reads, ‘steadfastness’] and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another after the example of Christ Jesus [margin]: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The supreme objective of the Christian life is to glorify God, and for Christians to do this unitedly they must be of one mind.

Paul further explains (verses 8 and 9) that Christ was a “minister of the circumcision,” that is, to the Jewish people, and that he was taking the Gospel to the Gentiles. Now these were to be one in Christ, the “middle wall of partition” having been “broken down.” (Eph. 2:14) For many in the Early Church this was a difficult aspect of their fellowship.

QUESTIONS

Give a brief definition of Christian fellowship.

Can there be true fellowship without agreement on Christian teachings?

Name some of the other essential elements of Christian fellowship.

What did Paul mean by fellowship in Christ’s sufferings?

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