Conditions of Fellowship (Part 1)

A basic commitment to one another - "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10)

Without a basic trust, there can be no fellowship. The depth of fellowship will depend on the depth of commitment.

Our commitment must be based on 'Agape' - Agape is a one-way love which is not affected by the other person's inconsistent behaviour.  "A new commandment I give you: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34)

True Fellowship is Christ-Centered - Our fellowship with one another is founded in our common commitment to Christ.  "...And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 Jn 1:3)






Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Fellowship

The fellowship of Christians is very important for it is in our unity together that:

1. The believer is encouraged and grows in Christ " I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Rom 1:11,12)
2. The world comes to know that Jesus was sent of God.  "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:22,23)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Temptation

Satan attacks the individual Christian mostly through temptation.  And he focusses this assault in two spheres:

The Desires of the World

He will seek to tempt a believer to become absorbed into the world's system:

• to make the material blessings that the world offers
• to make the honour and recognition of this world an important goal; and
• to make the comfort of being one with those of this world our basis for security

The Desires of the flesh

Through Christ's work on the Cross, the true Christian is delivered from the results of sin, and from the power of sin (Rom 6:6-14).  But he still lives in a physical body that is subject to natural appetites and desires.  Satan will use these to try and get a Christian to place greater importance upon them than upon the prompting of the Holy Spirit within him (Rom 8:5-9)





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng