The Fellowship of the Saints

TEXTActs 2:42

INTRODUCTION:

A.      FELLOWSHIP: koinonia, "fellowship, contribution, communion, communication."

B.      LITERALLY, "JOINT PARTICIPATION" & " CLOSE ASSOCIATION."

I.      THE BASIS OF OUR FELLOWSHIP.

A.      OUR FELLOWSHIP DEPENDS ON FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD( 1 John 1:3-4 ).

B.      WHICH DEPENDS ON WALKING IN THE LIGHT( vs. 6-7 ).

          1.       Enemies while in sin( Rom. 5:10;  Col. 1:21 ).

          2.       Reconciled while in sin( 2 Cor. 5:18-20 ).

          3.       Reconciled in one body( Eph. 2:16 ).

II.     THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS ILLUSTRATED IN THE

        UNITY OF THE BODY.

A.      1 Cor. 12:12-31.  PAUL'S COMPARISON( vs. 12, 27 ).

B.      vs. 25-26.  WHERE THERE ARE FACTIONS, FELLOWSHIP IS DESTROYED.

C.      vs. 22.  EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY.

III.    THERE ARE SOME THINGS WITH WHICH WE ARE NOT TO

        HAVE FELLOWSHIP.

A.      NOT WITH THE DEVIL( 1 Cor. 10:20;  James 4:7-8 ).

B.      NOT WITH SIN( Eph. 5:11 ).

C.      NOT WITH UNBELIEVERS( 2 Cor. 6:14 ).

D.      NOT WITH ERROR( 2 John 9-11 ).

IV.   IN WHAT ARE WE TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP?

A.      IN WORSHIP( Acts 2:42 ).

B.      IN THOUGHT( 1 Pet. 3:8 ).

          1.       Same in perspective( 1 Cor. 1:10 ).

          2.       Same in affections( Rom. 12:9 ).

          3.       Same in priorities( Mat. 6:33 ).

C.      IN WORK( Rom. 12:4-8;  Eph. 4:15-16 ).

D.      IN SUFFERING

          1.       As a result of persecution( 2 Tim. 3:12 ).

          2.       In hardship( Rom. 12:15 )  How?( Heb. 10:32-34 ).

          3.       In temptation( Gal. 6:1-2 ).

E.      IN JOY( Rom. 12:15;  1 Cor. 12:26 ).

F.      IN SALVATION( Jude 3 ).

G.      IN HOPE( Eph. 4:4;  1 Pet. 1:3 ).

CONCLUSIONDO YOU HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD?

        ( 1 John1:3-4,6-7; 2:3-5; Rom. 6:3-4 ).