Sermons

PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES
AT LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

Religious Unity and Fellowship

Introduction

1. The Bible clearly teaches the need for religious unity.

a. Psalms 133:1 (NKJV) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

b. John 17:21 (NKJV) "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

c. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2. There are 1200+ different "denominations" or "fellowships" in the United States. Many of these call themselves "non-denominational" and do not have hierarchal organizational structures, but still share certain doctrinal positions with others. The term "fellowship" is often used to describe such groups of churches.

3. An important emphasis on unity can be seen among religious groups today. While the desire for unity is commendable, there are problems with the way this desire for unity is being approached.

a. The Ecumenical Movement misses the point with its emphasis on "unity in diversity." The idea is not merely union, but unity in TRUTH. [Amos 3:3 (NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?]

b. Unity movements inside the church also tend to ignore differences on matters of truth in order to promote the idea of unity.

4. The Bible uses the word "fellowship" to describe the common bond holding us together as the people of God. It includes approval and encouragement of one another's activities. Let us study the basis of Christian fellowship.

I. Our fellowship is with ALL who have fellowship with God

A. 1 John 1:3 (NKJV) 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.]

B. Jews and Gentiles could have fellowship with one another ONLY when they were first reconciled to fellowship with God [Ephesians 2:13-17 (NKJV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.]

C Illustration of a wheel: The spokes "have fellowship" only through the unity of the hub. If they are joined together in any other way, they must be loosened from the hub.

II. We must not give our fellowship to those who do not have fellowship with God. To do so makes us partakers of their sin.

A. People who are out of fellowship with God are in that condition because of their sin. Sin separates us from God.

B. To fellowship and encourage one who "has not God" makes us a partaker of his evil doing [2 John 1:9-11 (NKJV) Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.]

III. We must not presume to withhold our fellowship from those who enjoy fellowship with God.

A. This is to make our standards higher than God's.

B. Denominationalism is guilty of this when it suggests that there are Christians in all denominations, but erects barriers of fellowship among different groups. If one is truly a Christian in fellowship with God, there must be no man-made barriers to fellowship.

C. We must not let matters of opinion sever our fellowship.

1. Versions

2. End with prayer or song

3. How to care for orphans

IV. How do we determine who is in fellowship with God?

A. All who walk in the light are in fellowship with God [1 John 1:7 (NKJV) 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.]

B. Whoever keeps God's commandments knows Him [1 John 2:3 (NKJV) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.]

C. It is necessary that we make judgments based on the information available to us.

1. Jesus required such evaluations [Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.]

2. We cannot know the motives and thoughts of a person, so our judgment must be based on their works -- by their fruits you will know them!

a. I might call upon a brother to lead prayer because I believe him to be a faithful Christian. In truth, unknown to me, he might be a reprobate and a scoundrel. If so, he is out of fellowship with God. But I extended fellowship to him when the information about his true spiritual condition was not available to me.

b. This is altogether different from encouraging one whom I know to be a false teacher.

CONCLUSION

1. We can give our approval only to those people who are in fellowship with God.

a. If the New Testament teaches that baptism is necessary for salvaiton, then only those so baptized are in fellowship with God. It is not an issue of fellowship as to whether or not we can consider brethren those who have not been scripturally baptized. If they fail to follow the New Testament, the issue of fellowship is settled.

b. If the New Testament teaches that instrumental music is wrong, then there is no question as to whether or not we can have fellowship with those who worship with the instrument.

c. If the New Testament teaches that we should partake of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week, there is no question of having fellowship with those who do not follow that teaching.

d. The same reasoning applies on any point about which the New Testament teaches. Fellowship is not determined by our attitude toward fellowship; it is determined by our attitude toward truth.

2. Fellowship is not based on perfection. None are sinless [1 John 1:8]. But it is based on walking in the light [1 John 1:7].

3. Let me close with this statement by Robert Camp: "Christians do not seek to exclude people from their fellowship. Indeed it is the goal of their lives to seek to include all men in that fellowship with God by helping them realize that they are excluded and then showing them how to be reconciled with God in that one body, for truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4. Invitation

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