Callings of the Believer: Fellowship

It's so easy to lose focus on what fellowship really is and implies. Accordingly, fellowship has been redefined many times. The definition of the word means a companionship, association or even membership. In the Scriptures, it is very closely connected with the word communion. Broken down, the etymology of communion means a union with others, a coming together as one.

One of our first calls as believers, is to have fellowship with Christ. Jesus commands His disciples to "abide in me, and I in you," (John 15.4), for the purpose of bearing fruit. Abiding can indicate a substitutionary action. Because of the Cross, our sins abided in Christ's sacrifice. After our salvation, Christ's Spirit now abides in us.

But this is a little more than justification. Other passages more specifically state to abide in Christ's words. We see how this is tied in to personal discipleship with God in John 8.31: "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples."

We have to actively walk with God to have fellowship with Him. In 1 John 1.5, 6, John writes, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." It is impossible to fellowship or commune with God while we still practice sin and wickedness.

And then we discover a commonality with other believers. 1 John 1.7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." Our fellowship with other Christians is based on our fellowship with God.

Fellowship, or unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, is meant as an encouragement. True fellowship is not only based around the Cross, but also points to the 'Day' when the work of Christ is brought to a completion at the Second Coming. Paul says in Hebrews 10.24, 25 to "let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." We need to be stirring one another up to love and good works when we're fellowshipping.

Seek fellowship with God first and then fellowship with other Christians will be more encouraging, rewarding and fruitful!

God bless,
~Curtis~