Fellowship

Feature 1 – February 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Fellowship

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. —Acts 2:42 NKJV

From my early years as a believer, I remember a brother saying that the four elements mentioned about the early Church are indispensable, or absolutely essential, for proper assembly life. These basics are closely linked together. The brother compared them with the four wheels of a car: when one wheel is missing, the car will not move. These four elements belong together: the doctrine and fellowship linked with the apostles, when practiced with God’s help, will produce a response toward God and the Lord Jesus, as expressed in the b reaking of bread. All is sustained by prayer and true dependence on the Lord. Moreover, the apostles’ doctrine cannot be separated from fellowship with them as well as with the believers.

Acts describes the flow of events, as the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven onto the believers. Luke reported on the believers in Jerusalem after they received the Holy Spirit, summing up these essential components of a local testimony of the Lord. The same fundamentals are indispensable for us, even though the times have changed. After about 2,000 years, what Luke reported is still relevant today.

Be Careful How We Read Acts
Acts does not authoritatively teach doctrine as the Epistles do, and we should not base doctrine just on what Luke, the writer, reported. However, Luke was working closely together with the apostle Paul, through whom we have received much of the doctrine concerning God’s Assembly – the Church of the living God – and its functioning. Therefore, we should try to connect what Luke described in Acts with the teaching God established through apostolic writings in all the Epistles.

Furthermore, 2 Peter 1:20-21 shows that we should not follow our own ideas that we may gather from Scripture, for God’s Word interprets itself. In other words, we need to go by what Scripture says about itself instead of following human thinking, traditions or creeds – regardless of how good these may be in themselves. Even believers who go by the Scriptures are in danger of following their own ideas by picking and choosing out of the matters Luke described, without testing them by what the Scriptures really teach.

One example may suffice, namely about the Samaritan believers who had been baptized by Philip, the evangelist. They received the Holy Spirit only after the apostles Peter and John had come from Jerusalem to lay hands on them (Acts 8:14-17). Some take this, and even impose it, as a rule that new believers receive the Holy Spirit only in this manner through laying on of hands not realizing that this was an exceptional case. Why was it done this way here? It was because of the danger that the new believers in Samaria would start something independent of the apostles. Later, the Spirit came immediately on new believers, without any human intervention (Acts 10:44, 11:15). Let’s be careful and read what Acts reports in the proper context and not follow preconceived ideas, traditions or wishful thinking.

Focus On Fellowship
Fellowship has been described as “two fellows in a ship,” which gives the idea. The word “fellowship” is the English translation of the Greek word koinonia,* which expresses the concept of having something in common. Acts 2 describes how the Savior-God in His grace gave the new believers in Jerusalem the Holy Spirit, not long after the whole nation had rejected their Messiah and crucified Him. Yet God shared this precious Gift with the believers only after they had separated themselves from the guilty nation which was then under God’s judgment (v.38). The God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10) enabled these new believers to receive His blessings and share them with each other and others.

Notice that the word “doctrine” is mentioned first in Acts 2:42. Even though we don’t base doctrine merely on the events in Acts, it is nevertheless important to understand why Luke mentioned doctrine first. Many people say, “Doctrine divides,” and they use this as an excuse to set doctrine aside (even though they will not say so) in order to go by “what feels good,” “what sounds nice or right” or “what is popular.” But that is not an honest approach to God’s Word, for without the right foundation we cannot have the right fellowship. From Acts 2:42 we learn how important the right doctrine is, linked directly with the apostles the Lord gave at the beginning (please read Eph. 2:19-22, 3:5-12; Gal. 2:9).

John, along with Peter and Paul, insisted on this right foundation, “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 Jn. 4:6 ESV). This verse shows how God’s apostles communicated what is of Him and comes from Him, and how they agreed with God and with each other. That is why we need to listen to the apostles.

This issue is closely linked with the concept of fellowship, which is our present topic. It is not only important to follow the right doctrine, but we should also be careful to exercise fellowship in that context. There are Christians who say that they believe God’s Word (thank the Lord for that!), but then they say, for instance, that 1 Corinthians was written to address a specific problem of those days. They claim this epistle is not mandatory for us now.

The implication of such a statement is that we, today, would then not have any doctrinal foundation as laid by the apostles, nor the fellowship linked with them! That is why it is important to follow the example of the new believers described in Acts 2:42, which reads that they persevered in the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship with them. This means that they continued in these matters, for we read nowhere that they stopped doing it. Sadly, following generations left their first love and allowed different doctrines and foundations to enter in (see Rev. 2–3).

Fellowship Means Having Things In Common
Fellowship is only good when it is on the right foundation, laid down by the apostles the Lord gave. It is imbedded in the other issues: the breaking of bread in response to our great Giver, and prayer that is needed for all we do. That is why the car with its four wheels is a helpful illustration of Acts 2:42. If we say that we desire to follow the example of the early Christians but we select certain parts of the apostles’ doctrine that we want to follow and reject others, then we have a problem. If we say that we have nothing to do with Paul because he was not with the Twelve, we have another problem, because the Twelve expressed intimate fellowship with Paul (Gal. 1-2; Eph. 3). Even though Peter was corrected by Paul (Gal. 2:11-14), he accepted this correction and held him in honor (2 Pet. 3:15).

Some say that they accept all these things, but then they reinterpret the doctrine to suit their own ideas or desires. For instance, saying that the scriptural order in the assembly meetings was only for those days and that the instructions for sisters then does not apply today, is being disobedient to God’s Word. They say that such teachings only applied to Corinth or to the days of the apostle Paul, and that his instructions are no longer valid for our days – and the list could go on.

However, let’s read carefully what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “To the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2 JND). This statement should settle the matter. The teachings God gave us through His apostles, including Paul, are valid for the worldwide Church for the whole Church period, until its rapture (15:51-58; 1 Th. 4:14-18).

Fellowship, Perseverance, Unity, With Persecution
The perseverance of the early Christians was “with one accord.” We read: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14 NKJV). “Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (2:46). Shortly after this, the apostles were put in prison and later released again, but not before having been beaten and threatened. Having returned home, together with all the believers, “they lifted their voices to God with one accord” (4:24 nasb). We learn from these examples that the fellowship was constant and with all the believers, thoroughly united together. It was not limited to prayer and teaching, but implied sharing meals and possessions. On the other hand, we should not think that this fellowship was just having a good time together. As important as this may be, this is not the only biblical meaning of fellowship.

The Greek word translated “fellowship” was also used to indicate ministering to the saints (2 Cor. 8:4) as a sacrificial service and financial aid (see also 1 Tim. 6:18). Paul was thankful for the “fellowship in the gospel” of the believers at Philippi (Phil. 1:5), saying to them, “You all are partakers of grace with me” (v.7). “Partakers” is from the same word as fellowship, meaning co-participants. This kind of fellowship may even bring persecution, which was and is often the case in many countries.

Today we may desire to follow Christ’s humility and sacrificial love (Phil. 2:5-8) through the “fellowship of the Spirit” (2:1). We do not know everything about Paul’s sufferings, even though we have more information in several other epistles. Yet, we have the privilege of knowing “Him [Christ] and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:10 NKJV).

Fellowship, Communion, Stewardship
The very first New Testament reference about fellowship is with respect to Simon Peter and his colleagues, John and James – called “partners” (Lk. 5:10). As associates they were part of a fellowship in their business as fishermen. The term koinonia used in Acts 2:42 for fellowship can be translated “partnership” and relates to the four important points of prayer, the breaking of bread, the teaching of the apostles and fellowship.

The apostle Paul used this term when he wrote about “the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16). The word “communion” is from the same Greek word that is translated fellowship. Perhaps you now see that this “fellowship” is serious business.

As we have seen, fellowship was accompanied by teaching, prayer, worship and ministry to the poor (Acts 2:45). The fellowship of believers was “in favor with all the people” as they esteemed them. Furthermore, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (v.47). This shows that a work of God accompanied them, as He added daily new believers to them, according to His plan and grace.

Now we come to stewardship. We should differentiate between giving everything away and sharing or having things in common in fellowship. To demand that a new believer, the moment he gets saved, should give away everything he has, based on Acts 2–5, is pure legalism. If a believer is led by the Lord to give everything away and then go to a mission field, who can oppose that? But one cannot and should not impose this as a rule that all must follow. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that we must be good stewards of what God entrusts to us (see 1 Tim. 6:17-19).

We do not criticize the early Christians who gave away everything they owned. However, they became dependent on the help of others instead of being able to help others. Everything we have belongs to our Lord, and as His stewards we may administer the things He confides to us. With them, we may help others as the Lord leads. Each believer needs to submit to Him with all he has and then manage these things as good stewards, just as Levi did, also called Matthew (Lk. 5:27-29). When the Lord called him, he left all to follow Him. But the next day, as a good steward, Levi served the Lord with the things that now belonged to Him, and which He had committed to his care as His steward.

Going back to Acts 2, selfishness hinders practicing “all things in common.” However, the Lord desires us to be unselfish and to care for each other, all the while following the four basic principles, under His leadership and in fellowship with Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord help us to be His good stewards. Then we will have fellowship with Him and with each other as believers, and we will honor Him.

Fellowship Implies Various Relationships
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). First, we are intimately linked with God our Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom this fellowship belongs. The new believers in Corinth came from many different backgrounds and walks of life (see 6:9-11). God’s powerful call had brought them like us today into His family, consisting of “many sons brought to glory” (Heb. 2:10) and for whom the Lord Jesus meant everything.

As believers we are linked together with new bonds between us, closely related to each other, and therefore we feel it when one member suffers, because then all suffer (1 Cor. 12:12-26). Of the early believers in Jerusalem we read that they were being mistreated: “partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated” (Heb. 10:33). “Companions” means “partakers” and is linked with the word “fellowship.” Here the emphasis is on the links between the members, just as in the next passage. “Our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers [of the same fellowship] of the sufferings [the same experiences], so also you will partake of the consolation [enjoying the same comfort]” (2 Cor. 1:7). This is because we are intimately linked with “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (v.3), who provides this consolation.

Consider one more example: “It pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution [literally, “fellowship”] for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem” (Rom. 15:26). Compare this with Romans 12:13, where “contribute” or “distribute” is from the same Greek word meaning “fellowship.” Here we see how this care for the members is worked out in true fellowship. Isn’t it amazing?

Peter showed that, as children of God, we are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4), in intimate fellowship with Him. The apostle then wrote that the sufferings in which believers partake or have fellowship with, that is, with Christ now will ultimately result in glory and great joy with Him then (1 Pet. 4:13). That is why he could write: “I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed” (1 Pet. 5:1 ESV), and then continue his exhortations to properly shepherd the flock (vv.2-7).

Fellowship, Now And Forever
“That which we have seen and heard we report to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is indeed with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 Jn. 1:3 JND). John introduced the believers into the most wonderful fellowship, namely, with the eternal Father and His Son. The Lord had prepared him for this because as His disciple he had been resting in and on His bosom (Jn. 13:23, 21:20). John wrote about Him who is the Beginning and whom he had heard, seen, beheld, and touched (1 Jn. 1:1) which implies His incarnation, the “Word became flesh” (Jn. 1:14). This represents an unfathomable mystery, yet, through Him, we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, this was written so our joy may be full (1 Jn. 1:4) already now, and it will last forever.

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (vv.6-7). Through Him we have fellowship with the believers, soon in perfection. It is because of His shed blood – His sacrifice – that we have fellowship with Him and can share with Him and interact. On the same basis we have fellowship with all the true believers. This implies the necessity to judge ourselves, so that we may have true and unhindered fellowship (v.9, 2:1-2). God has introduced us into a relationship with Him and with His dear Son that will last and we will enjoy forever. His desire is that we would enjoy this already.

We close with a negative note, a warning because of today’s rampant seduction, or leading away from the faith. A seducer who would knock on the door to come in with attractive words should be refused entrance to our homes, since the one “who greets him partakes [or, fellowships] in his wicked works” (2 Jn. 1:11). Our God and Father desires that what was seen in the Lord Jesus and made known would impact us and remain in us, so He may be in us as the truth. This means that we become practically, or in practice, what we already are before God positionally. The enemy tries to hinder such a moral transformation by introducing counterfeits which deny or attack the reality of who the eternal Son is: the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father (v.3). Because this relationship is so precious, it is under constant attack. That is why we need to be watchful and careful. May the Lord help us!

ENDNOTE
* Koinonia is linked with several words derived from the same root. Taken together, we find that they occur fourteen (2x7) times in Paul’s writings (Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 1:9, 10:16 twice; 2 Cor. 6:14, 8:4, 9:13, 13:14; Gal. 2:9; Phil. 1:5, 2:1, 3:10; Phile. 1:6; Heb. 13:16) if we may include Hebrews. Doing so, brings the number of Paul’s epistles to 14. John used the term five times (1 Jn. 1:3 twice, 1:6-7; 2 Jn. 1:11). All words linked with fellowship occur 35 (5x7) times in the Greek New Testament, whereas all words derived from the basic Greek root koinos (common) occur 73 times. This is an interesting subject to study!

By Alfred Bouter

“As spokes get nearer to the center of the wheels, so they get nearer to one another. Thus, as we get closer to the Lord, the more we love our fellow believers.” —William MacDonald