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Christian Fellowship Is All About Relationships Within The Body Of Christ
by Pastor Reinhard Westphal Christian fellowship within the context of the church means identification with the Body of Christ. Identification with the Body of Christ is all about relationships with other believers. To be a Christian does not only mean to be a believer in Christ. To be a believer in Christ also means to belong to the Body of Christ. As a believer you are a living cell in a living body. Christian Fellowship is identification with the Body of Christ, meaning with other believers. The center of the church is fellowship with God and with his people. 1 John 1:3 states: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ." John makes it very clear, that the fellowship he seeks with other believers centres around the Father and the Son. This is the only basis of true and meaningful relationships among Christians. There is no Christian Fellowship without human relationships. Fellowship has to do with relationships - Relationships with God and relationships with other Christians. Ephesians 2:19-22: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being build together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." In verse 22 it says, that in Christ, the members of the Church, are being build together to become a dwelling place in which God lives. It is absolutely not the will of God that you live your Christian live as a lonely ranger. You belong to a family - the family of God. When you were baptised, you where baptised into the family of God. You are part of it. The church of Jesus Christ exists, so that Christians can live in fellowship with one another! Not just so that preachers have a platform for their sermons. The importance of Christian Relationships within the church Hebrews 10.24-25: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us never give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..." Galatians 6.2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ" Every Christian needs relationships with other Christians in order to grow. If our relationships with other believers have Jesus Christ as the centre, then that will help you to become spiritual mature. Relationships with other Christians are not an option; they are a biblical mandate and a necessity. John even goes one step further. In 1 John 3.14 he says: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love (his brothers) remains in death." I always hear people say: I am a Christian. I believe in God. But I do not need to go to church. I live my life as a Christian all by myself. Well, the apostle John does not agree with this attitude. If you do not live in loving relationships with other Christians he says, then it is questionable if you have passed from death to life. 1 John 4.20: "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." John does not talk about a spiritual feeling of love towards others; he is talking about true, practical love with deeds of love and compassion. He talks about acceptance and forgiveness. He talks about serving the Lord Jesus together. In true spiritual fellowship you don't focus on your own shortcomings, but you focus on the potential of your brothers and sisters. The essence of true fellowship is the sense of belonging. The true value of the individual is not his reputation and what he has accomplished, but his willingness to give himself to the others. So, out of true Christian fellowship in the family of God comes: Less fear - but more security Less immaturity - but more growth Less criticism - but more acceptances Less apathy - but more joy Less division - but more unity Let's sum it up Christian fellowship is something very precious. Are you looking for security? Do you want to grow in the Lord Jesus? Are you longing for acceptance instead of criticism? Do you feel lonely at times? All these things are found build relationships with other believers. You need to find yourself some true Christian friends and experience genuine Christian fellowship Pastor Reinhard wants to encourage and inspire you to live the abundant live Jesus died for and wants you to enjoy; a life overflowing from God's Goodness, Blessings and Mercies. Download Reinhard's free MP3 teaching "How to renew your mind and Self-image" at http://www.myspiritualsupport.net Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |