Time Together
February 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Time Together
In general, fellowship involves being associated with someone in a friendly way, usually connected through a similar interest. Believers spend time together because of our common enjoyment in the Lord Jesus Christ, even though we may be largely different from one another in other ways.
The first record of fellowship in man’s history is found in Genesis 2, as God communicated with Adam. This expanded quickly as God made a helpmeet for Adam, bringing Eve to him. Together, Adam and Eve apparently enjoyed fellowship with the LORD God, as they could recognize the sound of His “walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3:8 NKJV), but by this point man had sinned and was burdened by guilt. Therefore, Adam and Eve hid from God. They had disobeyed, breaking the fellowship once enjoyed by all. Mankind was then placed under judgment and expelled from the garden.
In 1 Corinthians 1 we read about fellowship with God the Son, again in an intimate way as established by God. We read: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (v.9). This could only take place because we, by faith alone, have been made “blameless” (v.8) through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. There He bore our sin and judgment. Now we can freely enter into the presence of God – we no longer feel a need to hide from Him!
What about you? Are you enjoying fellowship with God? Do you enjoy the same things as He does? You can, if you accept His offer of salvation by believing in Him (see Rom. 10:9-10). Then do not do things which grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Instead, confess your sins as quickly as possible in order to maintain fellowship with God (1 Jn. 1:7-9).
Acts 2:42 lists aspects of the Assembly. Fellowship is one of them. We have presented thoughts on the other parts in Feature articles already. “Apostles’ doctrine” was in the January 2020 magazine, “breaking of bread” in the March 2019 issue, and “prayers” was in the November 2017 edition. These magazines can still be viewed on our website.
May you enjoy what the Lord desires to share with you in the following pages.
By Paul Alberts