The Importance of a Biblical Fellowship

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The Importance of a Biblical Fellowship Part 2
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Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• These kind of questions touch on important but
  sensitive areas.
• There is nothing more important than helping
  another person to give their lives to Christ by
  being born again.
• Even in this effort we must identify the path to
  Christ and help a person see where they are at.

3
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• In the ministry of Christ people often were blind
  to their real condition and needed help to see
  the way to God. (Jn 33-5, 9-10)

4
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• John 33-5 - Jesus answered and said to him,
  "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
  again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4
  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born
  when he is old? Can he enter a second time into
  his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus
  answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless
  one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
  enter the kingdom of God.

5
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• John 39-10 - Nicodemus answered and said to
  Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus
  answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of
  Israel, and do not know these things?

6
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• We do not want to put ourselves in the place of
  God. We simply want to do as the apostles did
  and deliver the message they received from God.
  (1 Jn 11-3)

7
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• 1 John 11-3 - That which was from the
  beginning, which we have heard, which we have
  seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
  and our hands have handled, concerning the Word
  of life -- 2 the life was manifested, and we
  have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you
  that eternal life which was with the Father and
  was manifested to us --

8
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to
  you, that you also may have fellowship with us
  and truly our fellowship is with the Father and
  with His Son Jesus Christ.

9
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• We cannot read mind and hearts but we can plainly
  see the way to God.
• Today many want to make sincerity or outward
  devotion the basis of fellowship. Paul was devout
  and sincere and very much lost! (Acts 231)

10
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• Acts 231 - Then Paul, looking earnestly at the
  council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in
  all good conscience before God until this day."

11
Who is my brother? To whom should we extend
fellowship?

• People and understandably very sensitive when
  another must make a judgment whether to extend
  fellowship to another. What does God want?

12
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• When I speak of fellowship I speak of those who
  God accepts and then those we should recognize
  and accept as Christians.
• Paul had both the church at Jerusalem and then
  the apostles make judgments concerning fellowship
  with him.

13
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• The church at Jerusalem at first refused
  fellowship and then learned that they should
  extend it. (Acts 926-28)

14
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• Acts 926-28 - And when Saul had come to
  Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples but
  they were all afraid of him, and did not believe
  that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him
  and brought him to the apostles. And he declared
  to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and
  that He had spoken to him, and how he had
  preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
  

15
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in
  and going out.

16
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• The apostles after investigation extended the
  right hand of fellowship to Paul as an apostle.
  (Gal 29)

17
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• Galatians 29 - and when James, Cephas, and John,
  who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace
  that had been given to me, they gave me and
  Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we
  should go to the Gentiles and they to the
  circumcised.

18
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• We are limited in this area. We can make the
  wrong judgement because we are not God. There are
  several reasons why we must do this!
• Local churches must determine who is among them
  and who is an outsider. (1 Cor 51-2, 11-13)

19
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 51-2 - It is actually reported
  that there is sexual immorality among you, and
  such sexual immorality as is not even named among
  the Gentiles -- that a man has his father's wife!
  2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather
  mourned, that he who has done this deed might be
  taken away from among you.

20
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 511-12 - But now I have written to
  you not to keep company with anyone named a
  brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or
  an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an
  extortioner -- not even to eat with such a
  person. 12 For what have I to do with judging
  those also who are outside? Do you not judge
  those who are inside?

21
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• People can fool us as to where their heart really
  is. Paul talked about false brethren. (2 Cor
  1126 Gal 24)

22
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 2 Corinthians 1126 - in journeys often, in
  perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils
  of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles,
  in perils in the city, in perils in the
  wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
  false brethren

23
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• Galatians 24 - And this occurred because of
  false brethren secretly brought in (who came in
  by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have
  in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
  bondage),

24
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• A men or a group of men can seize control of a
  church and cast out those who are true
  Christians. (3 Jn 9-10)

25
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 3 John 9-10 - I wrote to the church, but
  Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence
  among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore,
  if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he
  does, prating against us with malicious words.
  And not content with that, he himself does not
  receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish
  to, putting them out of the church.

26
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• If men can and do make mistakes then should we
  avoid making these decisions? No, we must with
  Gods instructions determine who is part of the
  local flock. (1 Pt 52)

27
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 1 Peter 52 - Shepherd the flock of God which is
  among you, serving as overseers, not by
  compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain
  but eagerly

28
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• When fellowship is extended where it should not
  be then the church will suffer. (1 Cor 56
  1118-19)

29
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 56 - Your glorying is not good.
  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the
  whole lump?

30
Christians must make a judgment as to whom we
should extend fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 1118-19 - For first of all, when
  you come together as a church, I hear that there
  are divisions among you, and in part I believe
  it. 19 For there must also be factions among
  you, that those who are approved may be
  recognized among you.

31
Who is a Christian?

• A Christian is one who has trusted in Jesus as
  the Son of God. (Jn 316, 36)

32
Who is a Christian?

• John 316 - "For God so loved the world that He
  gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
  in Him should not perish but have everlasting
  life.

33
Who is a Christian?

• John 336 - "He who believes in the Son has
  everlasting life and he who does not believe the
  Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God
  abides on him."

34
Who is a Christian?

• This belief is not in facts alone but in God and
  His power. (Rom 116-17)

35
Who is a Christian?

• Romans 116 - For I am not ashamed of the
  gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
  salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
  first and also for the Greek.

36
Who is a Christian?

• Many have misunderstood what a living faith means
  and as a result believe that they are in Christ
  when they are not.
• A dead faith with substitute outward actions and
  contributions for the power of a changed life.
  (2 Cor 517 James 218-20 Jn 336 NASV)

37
Who is a Christian?

• 2 Corinthians 517 - Therefore, if anyone is in
  Christ, he is a new creation old things have
  passed away behold, all things have become new.

38
Who is a Christian?

• James 218-20 - But someone will say, "You have
  faith, and I have works." Show me your faith
  without your works, and I will show you my faith
  by my works. 19 You believe that there is one
  God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and
  tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish
  man, that faith without works is dead?

39
Who is a Christian?

• John 336 NASV - "He who believes in the Son has
  eternal life but he who does not obey the Son
  will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on
  him."

40
Who is a Christian?

• A living faith must be nurtured and protected.
• A Christian is one who has turned his heart
  completely to the Lord. (Acts 238)

41
Who is a Christian?

• Acts 238 - Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and
  let every one of you be baptized in the name of
  Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you
  shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

42
Who is a Christian?

• The greatest challenge we face is repentance. Do
  we really trust God?
• Repent - strictly perceive afterward (1)
  predominately of a religious and ethical change
  in the way one thinks .. repent, change one's
  mind, be converted (MT 3.2) (2) as feeling
  remorse regret.. (LU 17.3, 4)

43
Who is a Christian?

• Repentance comes from Godly sorrow that moves you
  to surrender.
• This is not just a casual decision like deciding
  to join a club.
• Jesus is now viewed as Lord. What constitutes
  true obedience? Consider the example of the son
  following his fathers instructions.

44
Who is a Christian?

• Christian has made the good confession. (1 Tim
  612)

45
Who is a Christian?

• 1 Timothy 612 - Fight the good fight of faith,
  lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also
  called and have confessed the good confession in
  the presence of many witnesses.

46
Who is a Christian?

• When does faith save us? It can never save
  without repentance!

47
Who is a Christian?

• God requires as a condition of initial
  forgiveness a specific verbal confession. (Rom
  109-10)

48
Who is a Christian?

• Romans 109-10 - that if you confess with your
  mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
  that God has raised Him from the dead, you will
  be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes
  unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
  is made unto salvation.

49
Who is a Christian?

• We see an example of this with the Ethiopian
  Eunuch. (Acts 835-38)

50
Who is a Christian?

• Acts 835-38 - Then Philip opened his mouth, and
  beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to
  him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they
  came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See,
  here is water. What hinders me from being
  baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe
  with all your heart, you may." And he answered
  and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
  of God."

51
Who is a Christian?

• 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still.
  And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the
  water, and he baptized him.

52
Who is a Christian?

• Under Johns baptism there was a confession of
  sins. (Mt 36 Mk 15)

53
Who is a Christian?

• Matthew 35-6 - Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and
  all the region around the Jordan went out to him
  6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan,
  confessing their sins.

54
Who is a Christian?

• Mark 15 - Then all the land of Judea, and those
  from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all
  baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing
  their sins.

55
Who is a Christian?

• Why does God require this? We can see where one
  would not have been baptized without knowing
  if one believed. God did say to do this and we do
  not always know why God requires something!
  Naaman had to learn this lesson! (2 Kings
  510-13)

56
Who is a Christian?

• 2 Kings 510-13 - And Elisha sent a messenger to
  him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven
  times, and your flesh shall be restored to you,
  and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became
  furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said
  to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and
  stand and call on the name of the LORD his God,
  and wave his hand over the place, and heal the
  leprosy.'

57
Who is a Christian?

• 12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the
  rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
  Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?"
  So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his
  servants came near and spoke to him, and said,
  "My father, if the prophet had told you to do
  something great, would you not have done it? How
  much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and
  be clean'?"

58
Who is a Christian?

• The church in which I was raised did not take
  this seriously!
• Every Christian is baptized into Christ to be
  forgiven by the blood of Christ.
• In the great commission we learn about a
  wonderful conditional promise of God. (Mk
  1615-16)

59
Who is a Christian?

• Mark 1615-16 - And He said to them, "Go into all
  the world and preach the gospel to every
  creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized
  will be saved but he who does not believe will
  be condemned.

60
Who is a Christian?

• Forgiveness of sins is the goal of the promises
  in the great commission. (Lk 2446-47)

61
Who is a Christian?

• Luke 2446-47 - Then He said to them, "Thus it is
  written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ
  to suffer and to rise from the dead the third
  day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of
  sins should be preached in His name to all
  nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

62
Who is a Christian?

• What was preached in Jerusalem? (Acts 238, 41)

63
Who is a Christian?

• Acts 238 - Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and
  let every one of you be baptized in the name of
  Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you
  shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

64
Who is a Christian?

• Acts 241 - Then those who gladly received his
  word were baptized and that day about three
  thousand souls were added to them.

65
Who is a Christian?

• How did Paul receive the forgiveness of sins?
  (Acts 2216)

66
Who is a Christian?

• Acts 2216 - 'And now why are you waiting?
  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
  calling on the name of the Lord.'

67
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• We could actually stand in the way of helping one
  find eternal life! (Ezk 1322)

68
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• Ezekiel 1322 - "Because with lies you have made
  the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not
  made sad and you have strengthened the hands of
  the wicked, so that he does not turn from his
  wicked way to save his life.

69
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• When we give in to pressure because of the desire
  to please men, we have become ashamed of the
  cross of Christ! (Gal 511 612)

70
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• Galatians 511 - And I, brethren, if I still
  preach circumcision, why do I still suffer
  persecution? Then the offense of the cross has
  ceased.

71
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• Galatians 612 - As many as desire to make a good
  showing in the flesh, these would compel you to
  be circumcised, only that they may not suffer
  persecution for the cross of Christ.

72
What if we extend fellowship where God has not?

• We need wisdom in how we work with others who
  believe they are following God but may not have
  understood and responded to Gods conditional
  promises.
• What message are you conveying to your religious
  neighbors and family?
• How can we more effectively expand the fellowship
  of God?