Category: Fellowship

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 13

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

PART SIX

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE MINISTERING OF BENEVOLENCE

 

LESSON THIRTEEN

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE MINISTERING OF BENEVOLENCE

One area of Christian fellowship, one with another, involves the sharing of our material blessings with the poor and the needy. The church of Christ had hardly been established until a situation arose where many members of the church were in need of the necessities of life. Their fellow-members, who were blessed with material goods, rallied to their support and liberally shared their blessings with those who were not as fortunate as were they. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 13” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 12

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

LESSON TWELVE

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS

While the Christian life is predominately a life of joy and happiness, because of the salvation that one has in Christ Jesus, nevertheless, there must be times when there will be sickness and sorrow, crying and tears, pain and death. For these things will not pass away until we reach the heavenly state (cf. Revelation 21:4). Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 12” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 11

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

PART FIVE

FELLOWSHIP WITH SUFFERING

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST AND PAUL

It is the lot of all who live in the flesh to suffer. Suffering is never a pleasant thing, but like many unpleasant things it can work together for our good. One must make sure, however, that his suffering is due to the good that he has done and not to the evil (Cf. 1 Peter 5:15-16). One of the prominent features of the life of Christ was that he suffered. He suffered from his enemies, he suffered many times from his friends, and finally he suffered upon the cross. One of the most glorious things about the Christian life is that we may have fellowship with the sufferings of Christ. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 11” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 10

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

In this lesson we shall further examine the fellowship of both the Jew and the Gentile in spiritual things: “It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things” (Romans 15:27 NKJV). Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 10” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 9

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HEAVENLY CALLING, THE OLIVE TREE, THE GOSPEL

“It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things” (Romans 15:27). In this statement Paul affirmed that the Gentiles had been made partakers of the spiritual things of the Jews. In previous articles, several of these spiritual things of which both Jew and. Gentile were made partakers have been mentioned; several more spiritual things concerning both the Jew and the Gentile will be examined in this essay. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 9” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 8

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

LESSON EIGHT

FELLOWSHIP WITH FAITH AND GRACE

“It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things” (Romans 15: 27 NKJV). It is the purpose of this essay to further specify the areas in which both Jew and. Gentile may have fellowship in the spiritual blessings that are in Christ Jesus and his spiritual body the church. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 8” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 7

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. –Galatians 2:9 KJV

PART FOUR

FELLOWSHIP WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS

LESSON SEVEN

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST

Near the end of the great letter, which Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, he stated to them his desire to visit them on his way to Spain. But at the time he was writing the letter to them, he was on a trip to Jerusalem, to minister unto the saints in that area. He stated to them how the Christians at Macedonia and Achaia had been pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor saints, who were at Jerusalem, and then he added these significant words,

“It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things” (Romans 15: 27).

Often the subject of fellowship is treated in too general a way. It is the purpose of this essay and some which are to follow, to define Christian fellowship in more specific terms. In Romans 15: 27, we have a phrase that specifically defines Christian fellowship. Paul speaks of the Gentiles having been made “partakers of their spiritual things.” The word partakers, is from koinoneo, and is a first aorist indicative verb meaning, “to come into communion or fellowship, to become a sharer, to be made a partner” (Thayer, p. 351). Partaker is used in Rom. 15: 27, with the dative of the thing in which they shared and were made partners; therefore, the object of the verb partakers is the clause, “spiritual things.” Since the term partakers, is a verb, this implies certain acts were done in order to have and maintain fellowship with spiritual things. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 7” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 6

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
-Galatians 2:9 KJV

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP

PART THREE

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRISTIANS Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 6” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 5

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.-Galatians 2:9 KJV

LESSON FIVE

FELLOWSHIP WITH DARKNESS

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).

Today, some are saying that after one has obeyed the gospel, and has entered into fellowship with God, what he teaches in the way of doctrine has nothing to do with his fellowship with God; and therefore, we should not withdraw fellowship or draw the line on a person regardless of what he might teach. This is obviously false, for according to the apostle John, doctrine is very important. In fact, one who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ and goes beyond the doctrine of Christ does not possess God, meaning, he does not have fellowship with him. Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 5” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 4

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.—Galatians 2:9 KJV

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP

PART TWO

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE DEVIL

LESSON FOUR

FELLOWSHIP WITH SIN

Sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). Sin also involves an omission of our duty (James 4:17). Participation in things unauthorized by the word of God involves sin (Romans 14: 23). The Christian as far as humanly possible is to walk in the light as Christ is in the light, and to keep himself from sin. To this end the apostle Paul wrote his son in the faith, and preacher of the gospel, young Timothy, advising him to: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5: 22). Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 4” →