FELLOWSHIP WITH WHOM?
Psalm 133:1
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WHAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH OTHERS?
BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
A. I am willing to admit that this is a question that I have wrestled with over the years and I can say that my attitude has changed much (hopefully as I gained some wisdom).
B. What should be our attitude about associating with other people?
C. I believe that there is a tremendous tendency to be an isolationist in any group.
D. WHAT SHOULD BE THE CRYTERIA BY WHICH WE ASSOICATE WITH OTHERS??
T/S I BELIEVE THERE ARE 3 PHASES OF FELLOWSHIP.
1. Fellowship in Adam.
2. Fellowship in the Family.
3. Fellowship in the Faith.
I. The first phases of fellowship is FELLOWSHIP IN ADAM?
A. We are fellow human beings. We should be able to fellowship in the fact that we live on the same planet. We breath the same air. We hold many of the same things in common.
Paul said, " And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;" Act 17:26
B. We all probably have things we consider important that we differ about – but come on – Let’s work of the thousands of things that we hold in common as travelers on planet earth.
II. The second phases of fellowship is FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY?
Now, I am not talking about our physical family. We should love and get along with Mom & Dad, Brother or Sister, Son or daughter. It is a sad, sad fact that many, many families do not get along with each other but we should.
A. What I am talking about the Family of God. "Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another." Rom. 12:10 {Amp.}
I just cannot come to the conclusion that God would have anyone have an attitude of "EITHER AGREE WITH ME OR GO TO HELL".
B. There are some boundaries that a person or organization can go that I will no longer want to be associated with them in any function other than a fellow member of the human race.
C. However, it must never be a limit set my ME. (Hear me carefully). It must be the limits set by the Word of God.
Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
D. Our association as one fellow Christian to another must be based on the gospel.
1. What is the gospel?
1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
E. You will say, Well that’s easy. It is just based on the gospel. Well, think about what Paul said was involved in the gospel.
1. The gospel declares the doctrine of the person of Christ. (It was The Christ who died)
1 John 4:1-4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confessed not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2. The gospel declares the doctrine of sin. (He died for our sin)
a. It is universal. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
b. It’s Penalty. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. The gospel declares the doctrine of His death as the substitution for sin’s penalty.
2 Cor 5:14-21 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: {15} And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
{16} Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. {17} Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {18} And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; {19} To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
{20} Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. {21} For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
4. The gospel sets forth the Doctrine of the Inspiration of Scripture. (It is declared by the Scriptures) (He did it according to the Scriptures)
5. The gospel set forth the doctrine of the Resurrection. (he was burried - He arose again the 3 day.
1. The resurrection of Jesus
2. The resurrection of believers.
III. FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAITH.
Then we have the Word of God to direct us in the degree of fellowship we can have with those who are member of our own particular, local assembly.
(Jude 1:3 KJV) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
1 Cor 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Titus 3:10-11 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Matt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
