TITLE:  Who is In Fellowship?
TEXT:  1 John 1:3-7
PROPOSITION:  Fellowship has its limitations.
QUESTION:  How?
KEY WORD:  Questions
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. Greek word – koinonia – translated fellowship
   1. 21 times sin NT
   2. Thayer – ‘Fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse”
   3. NOUN – Fellowship – 13 times; Communion – 4 times; Communication – 1 time; Contribution – 1 time; to communicate – 1 time; distribution – 1 time
   4. VERB – 10 times – Thayer – “to communion or fellowship, to become a sharer, be make a partaker; to enter into fellowship, join one’s self as an associate, make one’s self a sharer or partner”
   5. Partaker – 5 times; partner – 3 times; fellowship – 1 time; companion – 1 time
2. Who is in fellowship with God?
   1. Text
   2. We should fellowship those that God fellowships
   3. We should NOT fellowship those that God refuses fellowship
3. How does one gain access into fellowship with God?
   1. Acts 2:28-47
   2. B, R, C, Baptism
   3. Acts 2:42
   4. 1 Corinthians 1:9
   5. When in fellowship with God – also in fellowship with others in fellowship with God – 1 John 1:7
4. Who is not in fellowship?
   1. Unrighteousness – 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
   2. Darkness – Ephesians 5:11
   3. Immoral – 1 Corinthians 5
   4. Doctrinal error – Romans 16:17
5. How is fellowship abused or misused?
   1. Big F / little f fellowship
   2. Big F = Obey the Gospel - in fellowship with God
   3. Little f = endorsement, support
   4. 2 John 9
   5. There is no difference in F and f fellowship
   6. Moral Issues / Doctrinal Issues
   7. Disfellowship the immoral - 1 Corinthians 5
   8. Remain with those in error - Romans 16

Conclusion:

1. A faithful dedicated child of God does not jump into apostasy overnight.
2. It is a gradual process – one small step at a time.
3. The end result is the same – departure from God
4. Departure from the fellowship of faithful Christians.