What is True Biblical Fellowship
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
How are believers called to Connect, Walk, and Interact With One Another according to the Bible?
Introduction:
Biblical fellowship is not casual social interaction, entertainment, or shallow religious bonding. True fellowship is a spiritual union rooted in Christ, governed by truth, holiness, love, accountability, humility, service, and mutual edification.
The modern church often reduces fellowship to food, entertainment, and casual conversation. However, Scripture reveals that fellowship is deep spiritual communion, grounded in shared faith, obedience, prayer, and growth in Christ.
The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means ‘sharing, communion, partnership, and participation. True biblical fellowship means believers walk together in truth, holiness, and love, sharpening one another in faith and obedience.
1. Fellowship Is Rooted in Christ
True fellowship begins with salvation and unity in Christ.
1 John 1:3 (KJV)
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Biblical fellowship is not primarily social hangout— it is spiritual fellowship with God, extended through believers. When believers come together for “fellowship” it’s not merely a “hangout” or casual meeting place so people can express their focus on themselves. True fellowship is not about anyone who is present, it’s about what God intends when believers gather and meet in fellowship, and the purpose of their fellowship is to have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ when believers are gathering together.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (KJV)
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Fellowship is a divine calling, not a social option because one is bored, lonely, or just need some company to hangout with for a while.
2. Fellowship Requires Walking in Light and Truth
True fellowship cannot exist in darkness, compromise, or hidden sin.
1 John 1:6–7 (KJV)
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Believers must walk in obedience, repentance, and holiness for fellowship to remain genuine.
3. Believers Must Love One Another Deeply
Love is the defining mark of Christian fellowship.
John 13:34–35 (KJV)
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Christian love is sacrificial, patient, forgiving, and humble — not emotional sentimentality.
1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
4. Fellowship Includes Edification and Spiritual Growth
Believers are commanded to build one another up in faith, doctrine, and obedience to the doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fellowship is not the place to express ones opinions about life’s happenstances although everyone has had many circumstances in life happen to them and there is a time in which to share as the Lord would have them to share when gathering with other believers, but the focus must always be in what the Lord did form them and not what happened.
Fellowship is commanded in scripture, yet many within the body of Christ are out of fellowship with one another. The purpose of coming together must also include exhorting one another in the Lord.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (KJV)
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Romans 1:11–12 (KJV)
“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
True fellowship is not about what one can get from others, but what one can offer to others to strengthen others faith through doctrine, holiness, and endurance. The purpose of believers gathering in fellowship should never be about what can get, but what “spiritual gifts” can one offer to others to help enhance and establish their faith and life in the Lord.
5. Fellowship Requires Humility and Servant Hearts
Pride destroys fellowship. Humility preserves unity. When people make their fellowship about them it becomes “pride” because the focus is then taken off of Jesus and placed on them. This will always give place to the devil and lead to strife and must never be allowed or tolerated in any gathering of believers.
Vain glory always leads to strife, but when believers esteem one another better then themselves the love of God is present and unifies the body of Christ.
Philippians 2:3–4 (KJV)
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Romans 12:10 (KJV)
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Kind affection and brotherly love brings honor the Lord.
6. Fellowship Involves Mutual Accountability and Correction
True fellowship includes loving rebuke and correction when believers walk in error.
Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Galatians 6:1 (KJV)
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Hebrews 3:12–13 (KJV)
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Biblical fellowship rescues, restores, and protects believers from deception and sin.
7. Fellowship Must Be Guarded From Corruption
Not all relationships are godly. Scripture commands discernment.
2 Corinthians 6:14–17 (KJV)
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
There may be times when the Lord will cause a believer to break fellowship from another if a person refuses to adhere to the teachings and doctrines of Christ. The Bible calls this “unequally yoked” with people who do not believe what the scriptures teach concerning love toward one another.
The word of the Lord is clear when God said to love one another, this is why the Apostle John inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote these strong words of warning we find and read in scripture.
1 John 4:20 (KJV)
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?“
Any brother or sister who ignores or rejects the word of the Lord and refuses to love their brother or sister is not walking in the truth and God calls them “a liar” because they are claiming they know God but walk in darkness.
The Apostle John understood what it means to walk with the Lord, and instructs believers to do the same.
1 John 4:20 (KJV)
“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
Amos 3:3 (KJV)
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Believers must protect fellowship from false doctrine, rebellion, immorality, hate, and compromise.
8. Fellowship Involves Prayer and Spiritual Unity
Prayer is foundational to biblical fellowship and the early church focused on the teachings of the Apostles that God gave unto them and set them in the church to lead by example.
Acts 2:42 (KJV)
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Matthew 18:19–20 (KJV)
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
As believers walk in the love of God, the Lord is present in their gathering.
9. Fellowship Produces Spiritual Strength and Stability
God designed fellowship to prevent isolation, weakness, and deception.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (KJV)
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The Lord does not have “lone rangers” in his kingdom, the Lord has one body with Christ Jesus at the head of the body of believers.
Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Conclusion: God’s Pattern for Fellowship
Biblical fellowship is:
Christ-centered conversation
Rooted in doctrinal truths
Built on the biblical definition of love
Governed by holiness
Strengthened by accountability
Protected by discernment
Promotes the unity of the body of Christ
Sustained by prayer and doctrine
True fellowship produces spiritual growth, endurance, holiness, and unity, preparing believers for faithful service and eternal glory.
Final Exhortation
Romans 15:5–6 (KJV)
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
May believers restore true biblical fellowship, not shallow religious association — walking together in truth, holiness, and love, until Christ returns.
