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Why are we having a problem with the subject of fellowship in the church? “Isn’t fellowship just a matter of opinion, because after all we don’t all agree on everything, do we?” “It just seems to me that many are just following party lines and are very arbitrary when it comes to who they decide should be fellowshipped today!”

These kinds of statements and articles that lend themselves to gobbledygook, mental gymnastics, and fuzzy arguments are brought to us today by the prevailing winds of change that work to undermine the direct force of the scriptures.

We should grant that truth never be decided by party lines, and that how many are on one’s side rarely ever establishes them as being the ones having the truth, or at least it never should be a contest of who can get the most on their side by which they determine truth and error.

1 John 1:7 clearly teaches that fellowship is first and foremost between God and man, and the fellowship that is maintained in that verse is not talking about fellowship with fellow Christians.   It is a grave error to somehow generate a doctrine from this verse that teaches fellowship is to be maintained based on how much we like each other.

If someone is not in fellowship with God, then I cannot be in fellowship with them. The maintaining of fellowship with darkness is condemned in Ephesians 5:1-11. 2 John 9-11 establishes this truth of the gospel, because it points to the fact that one is not even to give a greeting (salutation) to those that go along with those in error. 

Because of this strict attitude toward Fellowship which is taught in the scriptures we find ourselves being marked as narrow minded, trouble makers, factious men and women, those that have left the faith because they have put brethren out of the church.

We can see how easy and popular it is to write an article about fellowship that tends to let Christians off the hook in regard to this subject. No one seems to like to do discipline in the church, and no one likes to be the one “pouring cold water” on the local fellowship. After all, aren’t we all Brethren?

It sometimes appears by the writings of some of our Brethren that if only that family had not reported to Paul what they did about the church in Corinth, then there wouldn’t have been a problem that Paul would have to address in 1 Corinthians 5.

Those that advocate “open fellowship” are many, but the way they advocate it sometimes is not very obvious. Christians need to test the spirits (attitudes) to see if what they are hearing is really sound, or just a subtle lie used to deceive the hearts of the innocent. Romans 16:17-18

Fellowship is based on what we do know, not what we don’t know. We may well be attending services with someone that is living like the devil, but that doesn’t mean that if we find out about their actions that we continue to maintain fellowship that God does not recognize anymore. How can we judge such matters? Consider in your Bible Luke 12:51-57 and judge with righteous judgment. Jesus said, “and why of your own selves do you not judge what is right?”

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Unity is a spiritual blessing, Psa 133:1-3.
2. Why are there different churches of Christ?

I. CHRIST AND THE CHURCHES.

  A. Christ is Sovereign, Rev 1:10-11.
  B. Christ Walks among and Knows the Churches, Rev 1:13, 20; 2:2, 9.
  C. Since Christ does not have Fellowship with Sin and Error, how can We and Please Him? Rev 2:5, 16; 3:1-3, 15-16; 2 Jno 9-11

II. SOME CHURCHES ARE PRACTICING SIN AND ERROR, Rev 2:1, 4-5.

  A. Corrupted the Organization, Work, and Worship of the Local Church.
  B. Corrupted Morality, Eph 5:1-7.

III. SOME CHURCHES ARE BINDING OPINIONS, Matt 15:7-9; cf. Rom 14:1-3.

IV. SOME CHURCHES WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE (2 Tim. 4:3-4; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Jno. 9-11), cf. Rev 2:14-16.

  A. On Bible Authority (Acts 15:6-21).
  B. On Contending for the Faith, Jude 3.
  C. On Preaching the Whole Counsel of God, Acts 20:27 (20).

V. SOME CHURCHES ARE EXTENDING FELLOWSHIP TO THOSE WHO TEACH ERROR / PRACTICE SIN.

  A. Some Accept Christians Who Remain in Sin, 1 Cor 5:1-2, 13.
  B. Some Refuse Faithful Christians who Teach and Live the Truth, 3 Jno 9-10.
  C. Some Tolerate Error and Refuse to Rebuke It, Rev 2:20-23.

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