Fellowship
The word "fellowship" in our English translations most often is a translation of the Greek word "loinonie This word is defined by scholars as meaning "communion, fellowship, sharing in common (from koinos, common)", is translated "communion" in I Cor. 10:16; Philemon 6, R. V., "fellowship", for A. V., "communication"; it is most frequently translated "fellowship"; (b) that which is the outcome of fellowship, a contribution. e.g., Rom. 15:26; II Cor. 8:4.
"Metoche" in the Greek is translated "fellowship" in II Cor. 6:14. The word seems to have a more restricted sense than "Koinonia" W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
A careful study of this word as it is used in the New Testament would be enlightening to those who want to learn and certainly would teach us better than to use the word as it is commonly used by many religious people today.
We need first of all to be interested in fellowship with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The Christian is said to have fellowship with all three. The Apostle John tells us that the Gospel was revealed by the Apostles in order that we might have fellowship with them and that fellowship is with God and Christ. He also tells us that fellowship is through the Gospel. (I John 1:3)
In I Cor. 1:9, Paul tells us that as Christians we have been called by the Father into the fellowship of His Son. Then in Philippians, chapter 2, verse 1, Paul says, "If there be therefore any consolation of Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
So in the saved relationship which Christians enjoy in the body of Christ, they have fellowship with all three persons of the Godhead. Fellowship, communion and companionship with deity is a wonderful provision of grace and mercy. We should value it so highly that we would seek after it diligently and forfeit it for nothing that this world has to offer.
Let us consider though, how that fellowship may be enjoyed and what its demands are of us. John tells us that this fellowship can be enjoyed only through the Gospel. Communion and companionship with God is possible only because God has offered it through His divine revelation. In mercy and grace He has provided the means of man's reconciliation. Man was alienated from God by his sin. (Isaiah 59:1-2) All have sinned and fallen short of His glory. (Romans 3: 23) All responsible persons are alienated from God - spiritually dead in trespasses and sins - because they have sinned. For this reason and in this state they are under the sentence of spiritual death - eternal separation from God. (Romans 5:12) Jesus said, "If ye die in your sins, where I am you cannot come." (John 8: 21) Paul said, "The wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)
Reconciliation has been provided through Christ and His death upon the cross. (Eph. 2:11-16) That reconciliation (making friends again) cost the blood of the Son of God. It has been provided in the body of Christ, which is His church. It is offered unto men through the Gospel - the word of reconciliation revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles, (Col. 5:18--20).
Only in this saved state as Children of God, can men enjoy fellowship with God. When men reject the Gospel and walk in their own wisdom, there is no fellowship with God. When they walk in the wickedness of the world, there can be no fellowship with God for God will not receive them into His presence. God is perfectly holy and cannot countenance anything unholy in His sight.
In very plain and positive language, we read this in I John 1:6-7: "II we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin." When we claim to have fellowship with God then, while we walk in "darkness" spiritually, we are liars. We cannot misunderstand this plain declaration.
But what does it mean to "walk in darkness"? In the scriptures "darkness" represents two conditions spiritually: ungodliness and sin, and ignorance or disregard of the truth. The term "darkness" is used to designate evil works. (Romans 13:12; Eph. 5:11) When men practice sin - walk in sin - they cannot have fellowship with God. For instance, when a man and woman live in adultery, they forfeit, by their illicit relationship with one another, all fellowship with God. Sometimes we hear men say that one cannot live in adultery, but only commits the sin when he contracts an unscriptural marriage. Such people have not read some plain statements of scripture or else have rejected what they teach. Paul said, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which thing's sake cometh the wrath of God on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also once walked some time, when ye lived in them." (Col. 3:5-7) When men walk (live) in sin - continue to engage in the practice of it, they cut themselves off from fellowship with God.
In the passage cited above (Eph. 5:11) Paul said, "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." God will have no fellowship with those who do not walk circumspectly before Him and in accordance with His righteousness as revealed in His Word.
In these days when men are casting the standard of God's righteousness aside and professing to be wise enough to determine for themselves what is right and wrong, those who are interested in fellow ship with God and with Jesus Christ His Son must constantly keep in mind that they must dwell (walk) daily in the light of God's will - the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ. If fellowship with God here, and the hope of dwelling with Him in the eternal tabernacles after while, means as much to us as it should, we will gladly and readily put off those things from our lives and characters that are offensive to Him and put on those garments of righteousness that will adorn us in His sight and make us acceptable to Him.
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