FELLOWSHIP

Sharing things in common with others. In the New Testament, fellowship has a distinctly spiritual meaning. Fellowship can be either positive or negative.

Positively, believers have fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:21-26; Philippians 2:1; 1 John 1:3), as well as with other believers (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:3,7). The only reason why we dare to have fellowship with God, in the sense of sharing things in common with Him, is that He has raised our status through the death and resurrection of Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7). What believers share in common with God is a relationship as well as God's own holy character (1 Peter 1:15). Those who have fellowship with Christ should enjoy fellowship with other believers. This fellowship ought to illustrate the very nature of God Himself (John 13:35; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 1:5-10).

Negatively, believers should not have fellowship with unbelievers. This means they should not share in unbelievers' sinful lifestyles (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). This does not mean, however, that believers should have nothing to do with unbelievers. The Bible plainly teaches that believers are obligated to share the gospel with unbelievers (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 9:16-17).