Text: Philippians 1:3-6; 1 John 1:6-7
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)
Why do we gather for fellowship? What are the true gains from genuine fellowship? How does real fellowship come to be, and how do we steer clear of false connections? These are crucial questions for every believer, as the Bible consistently emphasizes the profound importance of Christian community. True fellowship is far more than just social gathering; it’s a vital, life-giving component of our walk with God.
The Essence of True Fellowship
Fellowship stands as one of the four foundational pillars of early church life, as highlighted in Acts 2:41-42: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
The core idea of fellowship, from the Greek word koinonia, is “sharing” or “having things in common.” Acts 2:44 illustrates this perfectly: “And all the believers were together and had all things in common.” This commonality was so profound that, as Acts 4:32 records, “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.” This practice served as a powerful testimony in a time when many new converts in Jerusalem were poor.
True fellowship possesses both material and spiritual dimensions. In the physical dimension, it’s expressed through the giving and receiving of help, contributions, donations, and love gifts (Philippians 4:15). This is what Paul referred to in Philippians 1:5 as the Philippians’ “participation in the gospel from the first day until now.” In the spiritual dimension, it’s the shared experience of having the same Spirit, believing the same gospel, ministering, and receiving God’s Word and other spiritual benefits when Christians gather (Philippians 2:1-4).
These two dimensions are inseparable in true fellowship. As 1 Corinthians 9:9-11 and Romans 15:25-27 illustrate, if we sow spiritual things, it’s not too much to reap material things. Fellowship in material things without spiritual depth is superficial. Conversely, fellowship only in spiritual things without a tangible material connection is hypocritical. Paul himself embraced both dimensions, even desiring to experience the “fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10) with Christ. The same holds true for our fellowship with other believers.
Benefits of Being in the Right Fellowship
In his First Epistle, John deeply explores the spiritual dimension of believers’ fellowship, outlining numerous benefits we receive when we maintain right fellowship with one another:
1. Becoming Part of a Spiritual Family
In the right fellowship, you become part of a family of believers. 1 John 1:3 declares, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Jesus Himself highlighted the immense value of this spiritual family, stating in Matthew 12:48-50 that those who do the will of His Father are His true family. Your brothers and sisters in the Lord are the most important people in your life, especially those “who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). This results in a fullness of joy, as 1 John 1:4 confirms: “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” The right fellowship is truly your spiritual family on earth.
2. Accountability Over Our Actions
The right fellowship encourages us to confront sin in our lives. 1 John 2:1-2 assures us that if we sin, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” However, this advocacy is tied to confession. If we claim fellowship with God yet “walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6-8). In a healthy fellowship, sinning believers receive forgiveness and cleansing upon confession (1 John 1:9-10), knowing that Jesus advocates for us before the Father. The right fellowship helps us face the reality and presence of sin in this life.
3. Victory Over Sin and Evil
The right fellowship actively contributes to the believer’s fight against and victory over sin and evil (1 John 2:12-14). When we are in fellowship, everyone prays over struggles, provides ideas and suggestions, and checks in on one another. This collective support means that in the end, everyone wins! The right fellowship helps us overcome sin through the help of the body of believers.
4. Equipping for Spiritual Warfare
The right fellowship prepares us for our spiritual warfare in this world. It equips us with the will of God to fight against the world’s allure (1 John 2:15-17), and with anointing and knowledge of the truth to discern the spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:18-21). Furthermore, it helps us “remain” – in the truth, in the Son and the Father (the Godhead), and fundamentally, in the right fellowship itself (1 John 2:22-24). The right fellowship helps us fight our battles.
5. Assurances and Confidence
John repeatedly uses the keyword “remain,” emphasizing that right fellowship guarantees we are “in Him” and that we “remain in Him” (1 John 2:3-6). To remain in Christ’s teaching is to be in the right fellowship (1 John 2:24), and to receive the teaching of the Holy Spirit confirms our place in this fellowship (1 John 2:27).
This remaining leads to profound confidence at Christ’s coming. 1 John 2:28-29 urges us to “remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming.” In the right fellowship, we are taught how to prepare for Christ’s coming, filling our hearts with hope and purifying ourselves (1 John 3:1-3). The right fellowship builds our confidence and excites our hearts to be ready for the coming of Christ.
6. Prevention from Continual Sinning
The right fellowship helps prevent us from sinning continually (1 John 3:6-9). “No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him.” We remain in Christ because His divine “seed” remains in us; we remain because we have been born of God.
7. Assurance of Eternal Life
Being in right fellowship strengthens our belief and provides us with the assurance of eternal life. As 1 John 5:13 states, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
8. Protection from the Evil One
Finally, the right fellowship offers protection from the evil one (1 John 5:17-18). We are protected by Christ Himself and by the knowledge of the true God. “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:19-20).
Conclusion
Fellowship is one of God’s primary means for building you up and establishing your faith in this broken world. While God can certainly build us up individually, He can accomplish far greater things when we come together. The right fellowship is the visible expression of the Body of Christ—the Church. By ourselves, we are practically invisible, but together, we become a visible testament to our community.
Therefore, connect yourself deeply with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not separate yourself from the fellowship. Instead, invest in the fellowship of believers with your time, your resources, and your unique skills and abilities. Actively promote this fellowship within your family and by participating in gatherings as often as you can. For in the richness of right fellowship, we find not just companionship, but divine strength, protection, and assurance for our spiritual journey.
