Crossroads

Here is another bit from Kenneth Maresco’s class on biblical fellowship. Enjoy!

Gospel-Centered Fellowship

1. As we share our lives together, we become aware of sin—in our own thoughts and actions and in the thoughts and behavior of the members of our group. Before moving on to helping people change, we must make sure they see their sin in light of the gospel.
2. Fellowship is possible only because of the gospel. God intends for us to grow in grace in the context of a gospel-saturated, grace-filled community of brothers and sisters.
3. Therefore fellowship must be gospel-centered. When we are practicing fellowship and seeking to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), we must always remember that the gospel is “of first importance”. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

• It is the gospel’s work that makes us alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)
• It is the gospel that enables us to cultivate relationship with one another. Because we have fellowship with God as our Father through his Son Jesus, we have fellowship with one another. (1 John 1:7)
• It is the gospel that makes it possible for us to be humble and confess our sins with one another, because our sins need God’s forgiveness and have in fact been forgiven. (Colossians 1:21-23)
• It is the gospel that enables us and motivates us to forgive one another and be patient with one another, even as we have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32)
• It is the gospel that makes it possible for us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit and gives us hope that even as imperfect sinners, by the grace of God we can grow into the image of Jesus Christ together. (Romans 8:28,29)
• It is the gospel that compels faith for change. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Why do we pursue fellowship? Because of the gospel. Apart from God’s gracious work through the gospel in our lives, we would not desire to be more like Christ. But because the gospel has come to us and God has allowed us to respond to the gospel and experience the forgiveness of sins through Christ, we have a desire to become more like our Savior and have faith that He is at work in our lives. It’s very important to remind one another of this reality as we pursue fellowship so our pursuit of fellowship won’t become an aimless spiritual exercise.