"Genuine Christian Fellowship” Series

Here are mentioned six persons who sent greetings through Paul to the church in Colossae: Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas. In their examples, we learn the characteristics of genuine Christian fellowship. Genuine Christian fellowship . . .

1. Reaches across social barriers.

The first three person mentioned by Paul were Jews. The last three were Gentiles. Like our world today, language, race, economics and culture threatened to divide people. But by the power of life change brought about by the gospel of Christ, here were six companions united in community, commitment, and cause.

Because they were united in Christ! At the most basic level, there are two realities revealed by the message of the gospel that out-weigh anything that might threaten to divide us, whether it be economics, race, language, or culture:

A. The problem of sin.

As we reflect on the message of the gospel, we are remined afresh of how sinful we are. That’s something we all have in common, regardless of our race, economic standing, language or culture.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” - Romans 3:23 (NLT)

Sinners is what we are. Whether male or female, rich or poor, we are all sinners. We have all been born with a sin nature and we all sin. To sin is to violate God’s law and therefore to dishonor Him. We sin when we do what God prohibits (sins of commission) and when we fail to do what God commands (sins of omission).

Sin is not merely external but extends even to our innermost soul, our hearts (Matthew 15:19). By breaking the law at even one point, we are guilty of breaking it all (James 2:10). By sinning in our hearts we have fallen short of the glory and righteousness of God (Romans 3:23). The just desert or wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Therefore, we are born condemned and increase our guilt with every sin. The only way to rectify this deplorable condition is to be perfect, which we are both unable and unwilling to do. 

The problem of sin is something that the message of the gospel reminds us we have in common; and as we each look to Christ, we are reminded of the problem of sin that we share. Why? Because who is the

personification of God’s glorious standard? The only One who has lived a perfect, sinless life? Jesus!

B. The promise of salvation.

As we reflect on the message of the gospel, we are also remined afresh of how great a salvation is ours in Christ. That’s something else every believer has in common, regardless of our race, economic standing, language or culture.

Amazingly, graciously, God sent His sinless Son to fulfill the righteous demands of the law which we have failed to fulfill and He suffered the penalty for our sins in our place (Romans 5:6–9).

Through faith in Jesus, we who are sinners are declared righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Not a righteousness of our own but the righteousness of Christ that we receive through believing in Him (Romans 3:21–22). So, yes, we have all sinned, but because the sinless One suffered the punishment for our sins and offers us His righteousness as a free gift, we who are sinners can be called saints. Indeed, our common calling to look to Christ, live for Christ, and tell others about Christ binds us together regardless of our race, economic standing, language or culture.

These are some of the most basic truths that we’re reminded of in the gospel message; and as we maintain our focus on Jesus, we will be helped to live each day in the reality of these truths, which will enable us to be like these six companions of Paul, who were able to cross all social barriers and be united in community, commitment, and cause.

Just like Vince Lombardi began each season by calling his players together, showing them a football, as he says, “We’re going to start out this season by returning to the fundamentals. Gentlemen, this is a football,” Christians need to daily return to the fundamentals of our faith as reflected in the message of the gospel. As we do, rather than focusing on what may divide us, we’ll be reminded of what he have in common because of Christ.

Like these Paul’s companions, we can experience quality Christian fellowship and reach across social barriers by looking to Christ and committing to live by the truth of the gospel and to share the truth of the gospel.

2. Resolves relational barriers - v. 10

Kent Hughes tells a story of two congregations, located only a few blocks from one another in a small community, who thought it better if they would become one united body, and thus larger and more effective, rather than two struggling churches. A noble idea. But they weren’t able to pull it off. Why? They could not agree on how to recite the Lord’s Prayer. One group wanted to say, “forgive us our trespasses,” while the other demanded that what was correct was to say, “forgive us our debts.” So one church went back to its trespasses, while the other returned to its debts!