Fellowship: Sharing One Life

Philippians 1:1-11

What does the New Testament mean when it uses the word 'fellowship'?

κοινωνία- koinōnia

Spatial- commonness, partnership, 'sharedness'

Relational- sharing one life

Christian partnership, Christian community, Christian sharing

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge. 6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The heart of Christian fellowship is the gospel that draws us in and forms us into one body and life.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We can only truly know genuine fellowship with each other when we are restored to proper fellowship with God.

Philippians 1:1-11 

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[a] 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you[b] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel is the story of the transforming work of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the message that God has come to us, and has offered to share His life with us (koinōnia), and to fill us up with Himself.

And a key component of that new life with and in Him is living life with others.

Our distance from one another signals our distance from God.

Fellowship is not an optional benefit of faith, it is a necessity.