1 John 1:1-4

In the New Testament koinonia is the word translated “fellowship.” It means to share in something, a partnership, to be a partaker or participant. It refers to the things that people share in common. It also refers to the living bond between us and Christ.

Our Common Connection
Jesus Christ is the common connection all Christians enjoy. Jesus is the only Son of God. he came lived and died and rose from the dead. Because we trust in the work of God through Jesus we are connected with Jesus through all time.

[Eph 4:3-6 ESV ] [Be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Because of our connection to Jesus we share in aspects of his life: his life, sufferings, death, resurrection, inheritance and reign.

The Bible gives us several images of our connection to Christ:

  • Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
  • Household, family, brothers and sisters, bride of Christ, first-born (Eph 2:19; Rom 8:29; Heb 2:11; Eph 5:22ff;
  • Vine and branches (John 15:5)
  • Temple or building (Eph 2:19ff)

Each of these images demonstrates a different aspect of our connection with Jesus. But they also highlight our connection with other Christians There is an interconnection between us and every other Christian.

This is one of the meanings of the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed “the communion of saints.” Among all of the doctrinal statements of faith in the Creed is one about our connection with each other. Like all the other statements of doctrine, this one is meaningless if it is not lived out in our lives.

Created for Community
The Trinity exists in complete community. In the beginning when the man was first created, for the first time God said “It is not good.” God, then, went about establishing community.

As humans we were created in the image of God. If we are created in the image of God, and God exists in community, then I am created for community. If community is going to be authentic, I must see you as created in the image of God as well. The fruit of the Spirit, and Spiritual gifts are meaningless outside of community.

Fellowship includes the following

Care for one another

Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 (LB)

Share our lives with one another

Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NLT)

Hold each other accountable

Speaking the truth with love, we will grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head. Eph 4:15 (NCV)

Protect one another

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Eph 4:3 (NIV)

These are all in the context of relationship. The quality of the relationship determines the depth of each aspect of fellowship

We are connected to Christ Jesus in a very real way and because of that connection we are connected to every follower of Christ. One of the ways, the primary way live out our connection to Christ is through our connection with others.
It is easy to criticize others for not caring about us, but we do not have the luxury of that self-indulgence. We will not be held accountable for what others did or did not do, but only for what we do or do not do.