Fellowship: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:17, 7 February 2016

Fellowship

The word fellowship today is defined "friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests." But the word we see translated fellowship in the Bible meant much more.

People use the word fellowship like they are visiting friends or chatting with people they know but the fellowship of early Christians had to do with partaking ^[1] the benefits of a welfare system that opperated by charity alone. That is what Pure Religion was.

Christians had repented their covetous relationship with the government of Rome, Herod and the Corban of the Pharisees. Christians were cast out of those systems at Pentecost and were now following the teachings of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

The Eucharist of Christ is what we receive when we meet in fellowship. We call it communion but is it really the flesh and blood of Christ?

The word ‘communion’ is from ‘koinonia’ which is translated ‘fellowship’12 times and ‘communion’ only 4 times. It was also translated ‘communication’, ‘distribution’, ‘contribution’, ‘to communicate’ once each. It is defined “1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse 1a) the share which one has in anything, participation 1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy 1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship 1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship.”

It is clear that communion is not just a token wafer of bread but an actual contribution, participation and distribution that exhibits true fellowship. It involves intimate intercourse of sharing and association in joint fellowship in real and practical ways.

5 foolish virgins wasted their time and oil and were locked out of the wedding feast? The wise virgins attended to the weightier matters and had oil for the feast.
What does the oil represent?^[2]
Why did the foolish virgin run short on oil?
Where or how or what do they do to get more of this *oil*? : The goal is the kingdom of God which requires the righteousness of God which you can only find through the tree of life which is the Holy Spirit as opposed to the tree of knowledge which can produce many other spirits often not so Holy nor righteous.
People go to denominational churches to get something. They identify that as fellowship.
What we need is fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Then when we gather we will have something to give and share(light from the oil in our lamp) rather than just be looking for something to get.

Turn Away

Many people would like to believe that all you have to do is believe, or even just say you believe, and then you are saved, but that would be taking Paul out of the context of Paul and certainly out of the context of Christ who said that we had to be doers.^[3]

Paul gives us several long list of activities that are meant to give us a clear idea of who to turn away from, reject or shun:

2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Paul goes on and makes a distinction about those whom he counts as the congregation of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue^[4] thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Many say they know and believe in Christ, but He is clear in Luke 13:27 "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity."

Over and over we are reminded by Christ, and therefore know that Paul, preaching Christ first, must have said the same:

Matthew 13:41 "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

We were to be Doers of the word and not hearers only. And though many will say, "Lord, Lord"^[5] and saying that they believe, it will be by their works that we will know them.

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So who are the true believers with real faith, and who are the ungodly and unrighteous of men?

How do we know

Paul goes to great lengths to give us lists of characteristics you will not find in the people that truly believe.

Romans 1:19 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

If saying you believe was all that was truly required, why does Paul go into detail about things like:

Romans 13:7 "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

So if you really love Jesus, then you will work no ill against him. You will Keep the Commandments.

Not inherit the kingdom

A common teaching in the Modern Christians is that all you have to do is believe and you are saved because the Ten Commandments are done away with in the New Covenant.

We know there is a verse in Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

Paul is not talking about the Ten Commandments as the hand written ordinances, because God wrote them and because they would not be contrary to us. Besides we know from Romans 2:15 and 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 ^[9] that the law should be written on our hearts according to his new covenant^[10] as prophesied in Jeramiah.^[11]

If what we do, our works, are in violation of those Ten Commandments of God that is evidence that our faith is not real faith.^[12]

But still, many modern Christians persist that the Ten Commandments are done away with because Paul says we are saved by faith. We are saved by faith but how do we know if we have real faith?

To hold up a few verses and interpret them out of the context Paul and the whole gospel bring vain imagination and a strong delusion. who says in 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

If they were correct about their interpretation of Paul then that would mean that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God because the Ten Commandments telling us not to do these things was done away with.

We see a similar list with the same outcome in Galatians 5:18 "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

The law still has to be written on your heart and mind otherwise you are not the 'we' spoken of by Paul.

Loving one another includes taking care of one another by love which is also translated charity.

If the law is written on your heart and mind then will see the evidence of it because there are consequences as we see in 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14.

In Acts we see Paul and the Apostles keeping the commandments caring for the people through charity alone unspotted by the world.

Acts 6: 1. "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration."

They were keeping the Ten Commandments about not coveting anything that is thy neighbors because it was written on their heart.

Many modern Christians both in the institutional church and home church movement do not follow the instruction of Jesus Christ concerning not being like the rulers of the gentiles who "exercise authority" one over the other to provide benefits by way of a welfare system of force and debt.

In the New Covenant Jesus was adamant and forbid His followers to make the governments of the world and the rulers who exercise authority their benefactors. See Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42 , Luke 22:25.

Forcing your neighbor to provide you with free stuff is not love but the works of iniquity. The early Church would not do that but modern Christian under a strong delusion do so as a matter of policy and these false teaching that it is okay to violate the Ten Commandments of God that is supposed to be written on our hearts and minds by His Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

If modern Christians would repent and do what Christ told the early Church to do, and we see being done in Acts by them, then they too would be providing daily bread from house to house through charity and not the Covetous practices which is clearly not love.

These lists of people whom we are told will not inherit the Kingdom of God may think they believe but James tells us by their works we know their faith is dead.

Could you be on that list?

You say you believe in Christ, but do you?

1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Paul is not saying you can still do these things and be saved because if you are still doing these things then you have not really repented nor could you really love Jesus because if you did you would keep His commandments.^[13]

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, : : 20 Idolatry, witchcraft^[14], hatred^[15], variance^[16], emulations^[17], wrath^[18], strife^[19], seditions^[20], heresies^[21],

21 Envyings^[22], murders^[23], drunkenness^[24], revellings^[25], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love^[26], joy^[27], peace ^[28], longsuffering^[29], gentleness^[30], goodness^[31], faith^[32],

23 Meekness ^[33], temperance^[34]: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

We are saved by faith but that faith, when it is true faith, produces the works of faith.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication [metaph. the worship of idols ], wickedness[evil purposes and desires]^[35], covetousness^[36], maliciousness^[37]; full of envy^[38], murder^[39], debate^[40], deceit^[41], malignity^[42]; whisperers^[43],

30 Backbiters[defamer]^[44], haters of God,^[45] despiteful^[46], proud^[47], boasters^[48], inventors[ contriver] of evil things^[49], disobedient^[50] to parents,

31 Without understanding^[51], covenantbreakers^[52], without natural affection[unsociable]^[53], implacable[without a treaty or covenant ]^[54], unmerciful^[55]

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

1 Corinthians 5:9 ¶ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

New Testament

We see this word in:

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship <koinonia>, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution <koinonia> for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship <koinonia> of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion <koinonia> of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion <koinonia> of the body of Christ?

2 Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship(this is not koinonia but metoche ^[56] meaning partake or sharing.) hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion <koinonia> hath light with darkness?"

2 Corinthians 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship <koinonia> of the ministering to the saints.

2 Corinthians 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution <koinonia> unto them, and unto all men;

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion <koinonia> of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. « The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas. »

Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship <koinonia>; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship <koinonia> of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Philippians 1:5 For your fellowship <koinonia> in the gospel from the first day until now;

Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship <koinonia> of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship <koinonia> of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Philemon 1:6 That the communication <koinonia> of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate <koinonia> forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship <koinonia> with us: and truly our fellowship <koinonia> is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship <2842> with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship <koinonia> one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship^[57] hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?