Fellowship in the Gospel
Introduction
- Have you ever received a nasty letter?
- Paul wrote different types of letters
- Some are hard hitting
- They are different in tone
- Philippians – full of warmth and love
- Phil 4:1 – Beloved, crown and joy
- The word joy is used 16 times
- Paul is writing from prison
- He has been accused of sedition
- He was under house arrest but it is now nearing his time of trial
- He could face execution
- Yet Paul is writing a letter full of affection
- Over joyed through the Holy Spirit
- Example of John Bunion writing Pilgrim’s Progress
- Christians can know the blessing of God in the most difficult of situations
- Paul is writing from prison
- Romans – full of doctrine and teaching
- Philippians is quite easy to read
- There is no moral lapse in the Christians here
- There is no need for correction – as in Corinthians
- The Galatians have serious doctrinal problems
- This is a strong united Church (though they were not without problems)
- Philippians is quite easy to read
- Looking at v1-8 entitled "Fellowship in the Gospel"
- At Coleg Trefeca the Assistant Pastor talked about fostering fellowship
- Do you lack fellowship?
- Overview:
- What is Christian Fellowship?
- How is it achieved?
- How is it best expressed?
- Will it last?
What is Christian Fellowship?
- Difference between friendship and fellowship
- Example of Friendship
- Example of Fellowship
- Involves the former examples but much deeper
- No just about common belief
- A belief in God and the truths of the Bible that has changed your life
- All united to Jesus Christ – a bond with Him
- One with God through Jesus Christ
- United to God and therefore united to one another
- Example of Lydia, the servant girl, the jailer
- They all born again and so have fellowship with Paul
- "To all the saints in Christ Jesus" (v1)
- You are either in Him or outside of Him
- You are united to Him or you are not united to Him
- The name of Jesus Christ is multiple times (v6,8)
- Both in the first chapter and the whole book!
- It is not possible to have fellowship with a non-Christian or a nominal Christian
How is it achieved?
- How can we have fellowship with one another?
- We must overcome the barrier of sin
- Though we cannot overcome this ourselves
- We cannot have fellowship with God simply by praying when our heart is full of sin
- We must overcome the barrier of sin
- God must come to us first
- Phil 2:6 – God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ
- Phil 2:8 – Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the cross
- Jesus came to give His life for sinners and to remove the barrier between God and man
- Phil 3:7-8 – Pauls’ earthly merits are rubbish in comparison to what Jesus has done for him
- Paul has gone from religion to relationship with Christ
- We cannot achieve fellowship ourselves but God has given Jesus Christ so that we may have fellowship with God
- It is an incalculable cost – the precious blood of Jesus Christ
- Yet free to us
- It is achieved in Jesus Christ
- It is an incalculable cost – the precious blood of Jesus Christ
How is it best expressed?
- Humble attitudes
- Paul wrote the letter but Timothy was a co-labourer (v1)
- Phil 2:19 – He lifts up Timothy
- He includes Timothy’s name at the start of the letter
- What about this?
- Do we want to be superior?
- Do we exclude others?
- Do we consider other people’s needs?
- Phil 2:3 – put others first
- Paul wrote the letter but Timothy was a co-labourer (v1)
- Seeking God’s blessings on the Church
- Grace and peace
- Not an earthly grace or peace
- A deep grace and peace that comes from God and Jesus Christ
- Grace and peace
- Remembering the best of God’s people (v3)
- Was it a perfect church – no!
- Paul does not call to remembrance negative things but good things
- Paul overlooked their faults and failings – love covering sin
- Phil 4:15, 4:10
- When we remember the best of God’s people
- Do we show practical love to our fellow believers?
Concluding next time