Chapter 4
... Foundation
v.9
God is faithful,
by whom ye were called
unto the fellowship
of his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
v.10
Now
I beseech you, brethren,
by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak
the same thing,
and
that there be no divisions
among you;
but
that ye be perfectly
joined together
in the same mind
and
in the same judgment,
v.11
For it hath been
declared unto me
of you, my brethren,
by them which are
of the house of Chloe,
that there are
contentions among you.
-1 Cor.1:9-11
Paul is sounding the alarm. Something is seriously wrong in the Corinthian Church. There are divisions and contentions among the members. He encourages them to come to an agreement.
Because Paul exhorts members of the Corithian Church not to let divisions exist among them ... should we presume like the world and so many churches today ... that divisions are wrong?
... Or should we conclude that divisions are a valuable means to alert us ... when doctrinal error creeps into the body of believers ... so doctrine can be corrected and genuine unity maintained?
v.18
For first of all,
when ye come together
in the church,
I hear that there be
divisions among you;
and
I partly believe it.
v.19
For there must be
also heresies among you,
that they which are approved
may be made manifest
among you.
-1 Cor.11:18-19
Paul is teaching that division in the church is God's means of separating truth from error ... so the true doctrines of Christ may become evident and plainly recognized.
If it were not for the light of Truth ... we would never realize that we are living in spiritual darkness.
(We will discover more regarding this in future chapters.)
v.19
What say I then?
that the idol
is any thing,
or that which is offered
in sacrifice to idols
is anything?
v.20
But I say,
that the things which
the Gentiles sacrifice,
[unbelievers]
they sacrifice to devils,
and
not to God:
and
I would not that
ye should have
fellowship with devils.
v.21
Ye cannot drink
the cup of the Lord,
and
the cup of devils:
ye cannot be partakers
of the Lord's table,
and
of the table of devils.
v.22
Do we provoke the Lord
to jealousy?
are we stronger than he?
-1 Corinthians 10:19-22
When we do not follow God's specifics regarding our worship and service to Him ... we become guilty of idolatry.
Therefore ... we are forbidden to attempt to "fellowship" with any type of religion that is not genuinely submitted to the one true God.
It does not matter whether we are bowing down to a statue made with human hands ... or trying to establish our own will above God's will.
Both are considered "idolatry" and bring us into "fellowship" ... association ... agreement ... with devils ... whether we are aware of it or not.
Through the idolatry of our own "good works"
... and yielding to our own will instead of God's Word and Holy Spirit
... by gradually ... even over many years ... out of the fear of facing the consequences and possible resulting persecution of offending others with the Truth of God's Word
... have become partners in crime ... with the devil ... and are assisting him in his destructive plans
... instead of living in harmony with God's plan ... trusting Him for abundant and eternal life.
Please note that I did not say "living in harmony with others"
... on the contrary ... when we live in harmony with God's plan ... He has told us that it is more likely that we will be out of harmony with others and suffering persecution as a result.
"Yea, and all
that will live godly
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution."
-2 Tim.3:12
v.1
Paul and Timotheus,
the servants of Jesus Christ,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus
which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons:
v.2
Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father,
and
from the Lord Jesus Christ.
v.3
I thank my God
upon every remembrance
of you,
v.4
Always in every prayer of mine
for you all
making request with joy,
v.5
For your fellowship
in the gospel
from the first day until now;
-Philip.1:1-5
Paul and Timotheus are writing to the Church in Philippi and describing the foundation for true fellowship among believers. They are referring to this specific type of association as their "fellowship in the Gospel."
But to discover what true fellowship is ... it is also helpful to understand what it is not.
Is the "fellowship" in this verse ... a type of exclusive socialization ... established by the church or denomination ... and granted to members ... who profess to believe the Gospel and the church's specifically sanctioned ... doctrines ... sacraments ... and/or ... traditions.
Or ... is true fellowship not socialization at all ... but a unique interaction established on something more important than a church or any religious group?
The Apostle Paul makes it clear ... that true ... genuine ... fellowship depends exclusively on the Gospel itself ... the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
v.4
And
did all drink
the same spiritual drink:
for they drank
of that spiritual Rock
that followed them:
and
that Rock was Christ.
-1 Cor.10:4
When we consider the "Rock" from which the people "drank" ... the Spirit of God ... immediately brings forth a picture ... of the children of Israel in the wilderness ... from Exodus 20
... where Moses is striking the "Rock" instead of speaking to it ... attempting to bring forth "water" ... as God had instructed
... but Moses' doing it his own way.
What is the predominant message we are being given?
By taking a closer look at the Words that create this picture ... we see:
"spiritual drink"
= water
= "water of the Word"
"spiritual Rock"
= Jesus Christ
Because Jesus Christ ... IS ... the "Word of God"
... as the Word
... He is also "the living water" ... coming from the "Rock"
... therefore ... this picture is identifying JESUS ... as the Water ... the Word ... and the "Rock" ... all at the same time.
... when the people of God ... drank that "spiritual drink" ... that "Living Water" ... that "Word of God" for physical refreshment ... and the strength required ... to follow God's direction through the wilderness
... symbolically they were demonstrating ... that the strength to follow God's instructions in order to successfully survive "wilderness experiences" together
... would be provided by the " Water of the Word of God"
... even before ... Jesus ... "thee Word ... became flesh and dwelt among us."
While there may be several ways this scene could be interpreted
... emotionally charged self-will ... and ... disobedience are the predominant sins Moses committed by disregarding the details of God's instructions ... and ... wanting to get what God promised to provide
... BUT ... in his own way.
As a result of Moses' disobedience ... God did not let him enter into the promised land with God's people
...but used Moses' disobedient ... self-willed ... disregard for the specifics of the Word of God
... as an example to God's people of what NOT TO DO
... and established his failure as the criteria for determining
... when it was time to separate the flock
... when it was time to break "fellowship."
This reaction from God was required ... especially because Moses had failed to set an example ... as the leader of God's people ... to stay united in "fellowship"
... by remaining together ... all obediently following the same ... specific instructions of God's Holy Word ... found in the "Water of the Word of God".
v.18
And
I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter,
[Peter=G4074=a stone
=soul hard=unyielding]
and
upon this rock
[rock=G4073
=large solid rock
=Jesus Himself
=firm strength of soul]
I will build my church;
and
the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it."
-Matt.16:18
There is a very significant difference ... in the two types of "rock" mentioned in the above verses.
The true Rock of our salvation is Jesus Christ.
Then there is the smaller "rock" ... or stone ... that is Peter.
Peter is a tough ... hard-headed fisherman ... yet would deny Christ three times ... by yielding to fear and peer pressure.
Jesus knew this ... so in their initial meeting ... He wanted Peter to know that He would not expect him to do something ... he was not equipped to do.
The Church of Jesus Christ was not going to be built on the efforts of a mere man ... but on the superior strength and power of Christ Himself ... "the Solid Rock."
The Church ... which is made up of the "fellowship" of true believers cannot have any other "foundation" but Christ.
Therefore ... the real Church of Jesus Christ cannot be built with human hands or independent good works.
Christ is the Creator and Leader of His Church ... which is His true Bride. She loves Jesus as her Husband and is committed to following Him ... His specific Word ... and His specific will
... because the true Church is exclusively based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ ... Himself.
"Fellowship" in the Word of God definitely involves much more than socialization.
There is nothing wrong with socialization ... but let us put socialization in its rightful place on our list of priorities.
We would be more accurate ... if we brought back the phrase ... "church social" ... than to mislabel social interaction in the church as "fellowship."
If you have ever attended church ... or are currently attending a church ... think about what your church "fellowship" looks like.
Certainly when we get together with other Christians ... we need to be concerned about what is happening in their lives.
But does "How are you doing?" ... refer to wanting to know all about the sports activities the kids are involved in ... or what color you decided to paint your living room?
Or should the question really refer to ... how your life has been recently affected by the Word of God ... or how it relates to the Gospel of Jesus Christ today?
If someone actually desired to engage in this type of real "fellowship" ...they might be required to get permission from church authorities ... before speaking on the topic of ... what Christ is actually doing in their life today.
It may not be "pc" (politically correct) or in this case ... "cc" (church correct) ... to freely "fellowship" in the Word of God
... without some sort of control through special training or a "discipleship program" provided by the church or denominational headquarters ... to insure that new members understand the boundaries of acceptable speech and conduct in their church.
While "fellowship" during a time set aside for socialization should be encouraged
... a time set aside for "fellowship" ... should not turn into a purely social session.
This was the real purpose of Paul's warning to the spiritually immature church at Corinth.
While the exchange of information ... and social interaction ... are necessary functions among believers ... these activities must be conducted as such ... and not deemed "fellowship."
"Fellowship" has been designated by the Word of God ... to occupy an exclusive position and priority ... above socialization.
What would happen if a true believer came into your church and attempted to actually "fellowship in the Word of God?"
If there be therefore
if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any bowels and mercies,
-Philip.2:1
#1...
#2...
#3...
#4...
#5...
Paul actually provides a detailed list ... of characteristics that should be evident in the "fellowship" of genuine believers:
#1...
"consolation"
[G3874]
= to draw near to console
.. sympathize .. encourage
.. inspire .. support
= refresh with kind words
= strengthen
.. with helpful advice
#2...
"comfort of love"
[G3890]
= gentle assurance
= offering tender loving
.. hands-on care
.. (love in action)
.. caring for physical life
.. caring for spiritual life
.. in the Name of Jesus
#3...
"Fellowship of the Spirit"
[G2842 + G4151]
= believers together
.. sharing close mutual
.. association with
.. the Holy Spirit
.. communicating
.. Word of God
.. as Spirit leads
#4...
"bowels"
[G4698]
= motivated
.. from deep within
.. from heart
= source of emotions
#5...
"mercies"
[G3628]
= tender affections
= compassion .. pity
= (desire to help restore)
.. physically .. spiritually
Genuine "fellowship" is a "fellowship" of the Spirit via the Word of God that should be even closer and more significant than one's own earthly family.
This gives us a picture of the Spirit of Christ right in our midst ... as we interact with one another.
When Christ and His Word are not present in the conversation ... the conversation ceases to be true "fellowship."
"Fulfil ye my joy,
that ye be likeminded,
having the same love,
being of one accord,
of one mind."
-Philip.2:2
When Christ and His Word are present in the conversation ... believers will be in unity and harmony in their thinking.
They will be communicating through the same type of love.
Perhaps this is referring to the "first love lost."
I did not say that "fellowship" is the "first love lost"
... but that the type of love lost is the same type of love missing from true "fellowship."
The point to remember ... is when the "first love was lost" ... real "fellowship" with Christ ... and among those professing to be believers
... was also lost.
"I John,
who also am your brother,
and
companion in tribulation,
and
in the kingdom
and
patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle
that is called Patmos,
for the word of God,
and
for the testimony
of Jesus Christ."
-Revelation 1:9
John speaks of this "fellowship" also as "companionship in tribulation" ... something else true believers have in common ... as a result of their similar testimonies regarding their relationship with Christ.
"tribulation"
[G2347]
= pressure .. oppression
.. affliction
(from world .. flesh .. devil)
When we are living as members of the Kingdom of God ... all true believers will suffer similar circumstances and tribulation ... because we are all holding fast to the same truths of the Kingdom.
Yes ... when we remember what was lost ... repent ... and do the first works
... we will also find true "fellowship" and genuine unity among believers.
* * * * *
Please Note:
... Current chapters will be found at the top of the listings ... when blog opens
... but will be placed in chronological order when a new chapter is posted.
... To find assurance of eternal salvation in Christ ... and escape the wrath to come ... scroll to the top of the blog and click on the gift wrapped in gold in the left column.
**When you get to very bottom of this page
..click on "older post" in very tiny print on right side of page for next chapter.
...or...
...go to first post when blog opens ... to read most current chapter posted.
**When you get to very bottom of this page
..click on "older post" in very tiny print on right side of page for next chapter.
...or...
...go to first post when blog opens ... to read most current chapter posted.
♡♡♡
No comments:
Post a Comment