The Greek word for fellowship has the meaning of sharing in something with someone. Fellowship means that those who are fellowshipping have something common in which they share.
Acts 2:41-42The people referred to here in Acts received the word of God and were born again. The King James version says that they continued steadfastly, which means they were devoted to the doctrine, to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayers. One of the things these people were devoted to was sharing in things common among them. This is evident in the verses following.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:44-46aFellowship is when people come together who want to share in something common. If you are forced to be with a group of people or coaxed into a group of people, that is not fellowship. You would not necessarily be sharing in something common with that group of people. The people in Acts were devoted to fellowship.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
Galatians 2:7-9Paul was sharing God’s Word with the Gentiles (the uncircumcision), even as Peter was sharing God’s Word with the Jews (the circumcision). It was their sharing in this common interest that brought them together in fellowship. Fellowship is people coming together to share in something common.
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
I Corinthians 10:16The word “communion” in I Corinthians 10:16 is the Greek 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?
When we have communion in our home fellowship, I tell people before we get together that we are going to be having a communion service. During the communion service I share how the cup represents Christ’s blood and the bread represents Christ’s body and how Jesus Christ gave them for us so that we could have wholeness. So when we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are sharing in something common, we are sharing in the body of Christ, we are sharing in the blood of Christ, we are sharing in what Christ accomplished for us.
Philippians 1:3-5These Philippians came together and shared in something common. And what they shared in common was the Gospel.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Fellowship is getting together with others and sharing in something that is common among you. It may be food or music or a hobby or ...
When we fellowship in the gospel, we are sharing in God’s Word which is common among us. When we fellowship in the body and blood of Christ we are sharing in what Christ accomplished for us which is common among us. When we fellowship in holding forth God’s Word we are sharing in the outreach of God’s Word which is common among us.
I John 1:3John declared God’s Word so that we could share in it with him and others. This verse also says that our fellowship is with God and with His son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3 declares that we are to share in things common with God and Jesus Christ.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
I John 1:3 is a verse to just take and think about for a while. Fellowship with God. Sharing in things common with God and Jesus Christ. This is what God has always wanted for man. God desired to have fellowship with man from the beginning.
In the next HOMEWORD we will take a look at some of the things common
between God and man that brings them together in fellowship.