1 John 1:1-3 -That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the

THEME OF THE DAY. WHAT IS BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP? We might call it a “buzz word” in our Christian circles. Oh, it is a good “buzz word”, but it can be misleading. It is the word “fellowship”. At times, we may say to other Christians, “Let’s get together for fellowship” and what occurs is a time of socializing around food, and maybe, maybe not, some spiritual conversation sprinkled into the setting. Or we might have our churches advertise a night of “fellowship” to enjoy each other’s company, but the spiritual tone or emphasis is not primary. In both settings, there is nothing wrong with “Christian socializing”, but let’s be slow to call it “fellowship” without really understanding what Biblical fellowship is.

In the Apostle John’s first letter, he uses the word “fellowship” four times in the first seven verses of the opening chapter. This letter is not only the source to gain personal assurance of salvation, but an excellent place to grasp what true Biblical fellowship is all about. As John unfolds the opening of his letter, he focuses on the eternality and Personality of the Lord Jesus and extends an invitation to have the most profound and soul-satisfying experience possible for a human being – fellowship with God. To understand this fellowship, we need two things. First, define the word; then make application.

First, the definition. Fellowship means “the act of intimate communion, sharing and participating in activities of mutual interests and delight.” With this simple definition, “fellowship” may occur in many different venues. Unsaved individuals may have “fellowship” in social clubs, activities, causes, and organizations. All that is required is to have a commitment to participate in something of mutual interests and delight. But now comes the application for Christians using the same definition of the word “fellowship.”

To rightly practice Biblical fellowship with other Christians and foremost with God, we must be communing, sharing, and participating in the interests and delights of God. So, what would Biblical fellowship with other Christians and the Lord look like? First, it would be founded on prayer. The most important and the primary way we know God and get close to other Christians is through prayer. Prayer is the language of love. Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian and church. To be prayer-less toward God and with other Christians is to be out of fellowship with both. Next, Biblical fellowship is a participating in spiritual growth in the Word. It is a regular commitment to be under the Word preached and in the Word studied with other believers. We are a people of the Word. Neglect or remove this, and like being prayer-less, we are out of fellowship with the Lord and one another. And don’t think we can be in fellowship with God if we are living the “lone ranger” type of Christianity of not being in prayer and the Word with other Christians. As much as we may say and think we are in Biblical fellowship with the Lord, we cannot be. He has not established or allowed for privatized Christianity. One other way we practice Biblical fellowship with God and other believers is through the work of the Gospel. We are people on a mission in this earth; a mission of the Gospel in partnership with the Lord and one another. All true fellowship with God and each other is saturated with the Gospel in our conversations and our activities.

So, Biblical fellowship . . . it goes beyond a meal and checking up on each other’s lives. To be truly Biblical, it means we are a praying people, a Word seeking people, and a Gospel-focused people with each other and Him who calls us to such fellowship.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for calling me to fellowship with You, Your Son, and Spirit.”

QUOTE: “Biblical fellowship may contain a social element but to be Biblical, it must primarily be spiritual.”