CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

[p_rehbein]

An amazing Article on Christian Fellowship:

(short excerpt)

You may be thinking, “My view of fellowship is much richer and deeper than mere social activity. True fellowship involves getting together for spiritual purposes: for sharing needs, for prayer, for discussing and sharing the Word to encourage, comfort, and edify one another.” And you are right. This certainly is an aspect of Christian fellowship, and one much more important than the first idea. It is an area of fellowship that is often lacking in the church today and one that needs to be remedied. But even this does not comprehend or grasp the full and rich meaning of “fellowship” in the New Testament.


(found here)

Christian Fellowship | Bible.org

 

[p_rehbein]

Romans 14:19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 10:23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 .) Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Ephesians 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 .) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 .) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 .) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 .) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 4:29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 .) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 .) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 .) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

1 Timothy
1


1 .) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 .) Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 .) As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 .) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 .) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 .) From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;


The wisdom found in the Word of God......

 

[p_rehbein]

Psalms 16:7) I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 .) I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

 

[p_rehbein]

Proverbs 3:5) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 .) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 .) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 

[p_rehbein]

I believe that "fellowshipping" is consecrated..............and consecrated in a most precious way.....

Hebrews 10:16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 .) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 .) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 .) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 .) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 .) And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 .) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 .) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised
24 .) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 

[p_rehbein]

I believe that fellowship, especially congregational fellowship is ordained by God. I say this because the Apostle said:

2 Timothy 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 .) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

And, if this is Truth, then surely God ordained congregational fellowship, and one purpose for this is the "edification" of the Church (based on the following Scriptures that the Apostle also taught)



Romans 14:19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 14:12) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Ephesians 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 .) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 .) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

[p_rehbein]

I believe the Writer of Hebrews made it clear that we are NOT to forsake the assembling," and, in so doing, justifies the Biblical Truth that congregational fellowship is of God.

Hebrews 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.




I also believe that Jesus Christ Himself ordained the concept of congregational fellowship.....

Matthew 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.


I am left to wonder how any believer can say that congregational fellowship is not of God?

 

[p_rehbein]

Another of the joys of Christian fellowship, when done in a congregational setting is that the Holy Spirit can work through the gifts He imparts to the various members of the congregation........James, and other Apostles, spoke about what can occur in such a setting, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit surely are reflected therein..........This is another reason I truly believe that congregational worship is so very important to the Church, and the Christian fellowship that occurs in such a setting is so very edifying for the Church that Jesus Christ established.

THE GIFTS:

1 Corinthians 12:4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 .) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 .) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 .) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 .) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 .) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 .) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 .) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 .) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 .) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 .) For the body is not one member, but many.

THE GIFTS REFLECTED IN CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP:

James 5:13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 .) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 .) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 .) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Romans 10:8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 .) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 .) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 .) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 .) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 .) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 .) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 .) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

1 Timothy 2:1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 .) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 .) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 .) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 .) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 .) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 .) Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 .) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

(and many more examples are found in Scripture)