I believe that fellowship among believers is a beautiful thing. It’s something that should be done intentionally and frequently so as to encourage one another. Fellowship with other believers can only come from our fellowship with God that was given to us through God’s invitation to us that was only possible through His son Jesus’ death on the cross for us. And so everytime we think of the cross, it should drive us towards Him and into His arms for His love for us. God has always been in constant fellowship with Himself, through God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit through all of eternity. They glorify one another kind of like a constant orbit around each other, always receiving and giving glory and love to the others. And it was from this beautiful fellowship that He already had that He chose to create us, so that we may also join in and be able to share in this fellowship. That we may join in and glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He glorifies us by using us and through our glorification of Himself. So I hold fellowship with God and other believers to the highest of admirations and necessities.
It’s so important that in every letter that Paul writes to the churches he keeps in contact with he says something about brotherhood, or fellowship among believers, here are just some examples:
Romans 12:10-13
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
2 Cor 13:11-14
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Philippians 2:1-4
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I basically just gave you verses or passages in all the letters to the churches that Paul wrote to. I left out Hebrews because it’s still unsure whether or not he actually wrote that one. And so with these, I know and understand the beauty of the fellowship of believers that we are called to. It’s good to spend time together sharing about what God’s doing in our lives with one another. To love and encourage one another through the good times and the rough times. I do not condemn any times of fellowship with believers. In Gal 6:10, Paul even tells us: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” To do good especially to the believers.
But there is one thing that I would like to point out to people and that is that as good and beautiful fellowship with God and fellow believers is, we wouldn’t have it if no one invited us into this fellowship in the first place. We share in the fruits of someone else’s labor through God’s Spirit.
We cannot and must not deny and ignore the commands of Christ, who calls us to:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)
and
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inb the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28: 18-20)
In John 14:15 Jesus says, “‘If you love me, you will obey what I command.” In John 14:21, He says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.”
So the question is, “DO WE ACTUALLY LOVE JESUS?”
Fellowship with Believers and Loving Jesus
I believe that fellowship among believers is a beautiful thing. It’s something that should be done intentionally and frequently so as to encourage one another. Fellowship with other believers can only come from our fellowship with God that was given to us through God’s invitation to us that was only possible through His son Jesus’ death on the cross for us. And so everytime we think of the cross, it should drive us towards Him and into His arms for His love for us. God has always been in constant fellowship with Himself, through God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit through all of eternity. They glorify one another kind of like a constant orbit around each other, always receiving and giving glory and love to the others. And it was from this beautiful fellowship that He already had that He chose to create us, so that we may also join in and be able to share in this fellowship. That we may join in and glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He glorifies us by using us and through our glorification of Himself. So I hold fellowship with God and other believers to the highest of admirations and necessities.
It’s so important that in every letter that Paul writes to the churches he keeps in contact with he says something about brotherhood, or fellowship among believers, here are just some examples:
I basically just gave you verses or passages in all the letters to the churches that Paul wrote to. I left out Hebrews because it’s still unsure whether or not he actually wrote that one. And so with these, I know and understand the beauty of the fellowship of believers that we are called to. It’s good to spend time together sharing about what God’s doing in our lives with one another. To love and encourage one another through the good times and the rough times. I do not condemn any times of fellowship with believers. In Gal 6:10, Paul even tells us: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” To do good especially to the believers.
But there is one thing that I would like to point out to people and that is that as good and beautiful fellowship with God and fellow believers is, we wouldn’t have it if no one invited us into this fellowship in the first place. We share in the fruits of someone else’s labor through God’s Spirit.
We cannot and must not deny and ignore the commands of Christ, who calls us to:
In John 14:15 Jesus says, “‘If you love me, you will obey what I command.” In John 14:21, He says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.”
So the question is, “DO WE ACTUALLY LOVE JESUS?”
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