Page 24 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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Certainly there is more to “the apostles doctrine” than what is presented on the previous page. However, it is a
good sampling of the CORPORATE emphasis that the apostles placed upon the church of being joined
together with other believers. When Paul spoke of the Body of Christ, he stressed “The body is not one
member but many...there are many members, yet one body” (1 Cor. 12:14,20). To the Ephesian church he
stated, “...the whole body, joined and knit together...according to the effective working by which every part does
its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love“ (Eph. 4:16). Once your eyes are opened to
the corporate emphasis contained within the apostles doctrinal teachings, the Word of God will take on a new
perspective which places responsibility on every believer to work toward these corporate objectives. I am firmly
convinced that a great part of the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10-13, 2 Cor.5:9-11) will judge the level of
corporate involvement of God’s people. For instance Paul stated, “...that each one may receive the things done
in the body...whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). I believe Paul is referring to the corporate body of Christ in
these verses. What kind of corporate things have we done in the body of Christ-good or bad? Are you building
or tearing down?

Let us look now at the second costly building block of this spiritual
house:

“...AND THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN...

Fellowship is different than relationship. I am related to the whole

body of Christ by means of the blood of Christ.

Webster defines relationship as “united by blood-a blood relative.”

I have relationship to all brothers and sisters who are in Christ

via the new birth through faith in His blood. However, I do not, Acts 2:42
and cannot, have fellowship with all my spiritual brothers and

sisters in Christ. Relationship is universal, but the ability to have

fellowship is limited generally to a physical location. The definition

of this word will tell us why this is true. Webster defines fellowship

as: FELLOWSHIP: “THE COMPANIONSHIP OF PERSONS ON EQUAL AND FRIENDLY TERMS...
THE STATE OF BEING TOGETHER OR SHARING...MUTUAL PARTICIPATION,
COMMON INTEREST, OR EXPERIENCE...” Webster

The Greek word translated as “fellowship” in the New Testament literally means, “Partaker-one of a pair.”
Consider a fuller rendering of this word in Strong’s Concordance:

“KOINONIA” GR. “PARTICIPATION, SOCIAL INTERCOURSE...
TO COMMUNICATE, TO HAVE COMMUNION...
ROOT: SHARER, PARTAKER, PARTNER.”

This sampling of passages using the
word “together” conveys to us what is
a commitment to fellowship with one

another within a locally assembled
group of believers in which we spend

quality time together. It is far more
than relationship to other Christians.
It is a commitment to become “joined

together...knit together...built up
together.” It is to become a body of
believers that are one in unity and

purpose.

“...THAT YOU MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US;
AND TRULY OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

AND THESE THINGS WE WRITE TO YOU THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.”
1 Jn. 1:3-4

“...HAVE A WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU WERE CALLED,
WITH ALL LOWLINESS AND GENTLENESS, WITH LONGSUFFERING, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER

IN LOVE, ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.”
Eph. 4:1-3