Daily Friendship with God #6 Fellowship

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1Corinthians 1:9)

The Greek word for fellowship is koinōnia and here is some of the aspects of its definition: association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, intimacy. Jesus calls all into fellowship with Himself. 

 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matthew  11:28)

Once a person responds to Jesus call into fellowship with Him through the receiving of the gospel, then He desires for the person to grow in Intimacy (close familiarity or friendship; closeness) every day all day with Him. It is the greatest calling in the life of the followers of Jesus. Another thing that Jesus calls those who follow Him to participate in is communion as noted in the following passages Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:14–23, John 13 also read Daily Friendship with God #9 to understand communion. Interestingly the word communion in its original language is “koinōnia”  which is the same word for fellowship. 

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1Corinthians 10:16)

The next thing Jesus calls those who follow Jesus into is the fellowship of the Gospel.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:3-5)

The fellowship of the Gospel is that of being in union with Jesus death for our sins His  burial and His resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, I Corinthians 15:1-4). When we have entered into a relationship with Jesus based on the good news of His love for us His love compels us to love Him in return. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus said the following:

 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth (John 14:15-17a) 

Jesus knew that we would need a powerful Helper in order to keep His command to love others and share the message of the truth of the Gospel. This is why He said that we would be indwelt with the Holy Spirit (John 14:7, Romans 8:9,11,15, 1 Corinthians 3:16) and also overflowing with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:29, John 1:33, 7:38-39, Acts 1:5,8). The passage below makes it clear that we have fellowship with the Spirit and the proof of that is being like-minded in love, as well as in our feelings, desires, affections (soul). 

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)

When you enter into fellowship with Jesus you come into fellowship with the Holy Spirit as He dwells in you. In addition to fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit indwelling you there is another aspect of fellowship with the Holy Spirit which is when He empowers you to manifest the love of God (Galatians 5:22-23) in order to be a witness of Jesus.  

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) 

First we have united fellowship by the life of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Next God invites us into united fellowship with the power to walk in the Spirit to be a witness for Jesus. (Acts 1:8)

The Apostle Paul wrote the following concerning another aspect of fellowship:

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10)

Suffering comes in many different forms, internal (mental and emotional) and External as in the physical body whether it be by outward or inward pain. Jesus suffered all forms of suffering as noted in Luke 22:44 as well as in Mark 15:27-24. Noted in the Daily Friendship with God #3 The Trinity the Son Jesus was God and Man at the same time and suffered just like any other man in His humanity. Ever since  sin entered the world we have all suffered in some way. When Paul wrote about knowing Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings he wanted to have fellowship with Jesus in that suffering. He was also saying that while he suffered he wanted the results to be deeper intimacy with Jesus. Paul wrote other things about suffering to make us aware that having a relationship with Jesus is not a promise to a life apart from suffering. 

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29). If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:17b-18) 

Fellowship with Jesus changes the way we live. 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)

Our fellowship with Jesus results in us becoming more like Him. Jesus said He is the light of the world. When we have fellowship with Jesus we have fellowship with Light and we walk in that light. He also said He is the Truth. When we are in fellowship with Jesus we are not living in a lie and we practice the truth. The results of all this is we will naturally have a desire to be in fellowship and community with those that fellowship with Jesus. Below it is noted that when we fellowship with each other we are at that time also in fellowship with the Father and Jesus.  

We have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3) 

Below is another passage that speaks to us all having fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy  Spirit be with you all. ( 2 Corinthians 13:13)

This means we have relationship with the Holy Spirit as we experience the grace and love of God in our daily lives. 

Another aspect of the word fellowship is that of giving. 

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (2 Corinthians 8:3-4)

The following is another aspect of the definition of the word koinōnia  which is the Greek word for fellowship: A gift jointly contributed a collection a contribution as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship. 

He who sows/gives sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) 

When we give jointly to we participate in fellowship with each other when we give to God.  

Which leads us into our next Daily Friendship with God # Giving and Stewardship