I was sitting in the back of the room. It was high school group at my church and we had an evening of pure worship and Bible teaching. I looked around as the students were listening to my pastor speak about being luke warm, and how we need to repent of our selfishness and be full out for Christ. We then took communion as one body, remembering the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us. After the service was over, everybody started to talk, make jokes, throw the football around, etc. My mind started to wander, and I thought about the apostles and what they did when they were together. Did they make jokes and laugh together, how much of what they said was specifically about Jesus, did they openly fart and then giggle about it?

So when I got home, I opened up my Bible and started to research the importance of fellowship. I came across a very large amount of scripture on this topic. We see home fellowship mentioned several times in the New Testament (1 Cor 16:19, Col 4:15, Rom 16:5, Acts 20:20, Heb 10:25). The Bible says that “fellowship” is the evidence of walking in the light (1 John 1:7), it also says that “loving the brethren” is evidence of that walk. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10). This shows that there is a strong, inseparable relationship between “fellowship” and “loving the brethren.” Consequently, it appears that fellowship is intended to be the practice of loving the brethren, which helps keep us in a right relationship with Christ so that His shed blood can continue its full cleansing effect.

Many passages of the Bible confirm that “love toward the brethren” is proof of our salvation. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…” (1 John 3:14). In essence, we need brethren to have a right relationship with God. We are able to see our relationship with God from the reflection of our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. “…for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20). Fellowship with the brethren is an exercise of love bringing us toward spiritual maturity. “…If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:12).

 Fellowship with the body of Christ is where love is tested and proven, it is the opportunity to learn how to love one another . We are benefited by both, the strengths and weaknesses of the fellowship. The mature ones help to strengthen and encourage us, while the weaknesses in the less mature give us the opportunity to practice — to test our spiritual growth in such characteristics as patience, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, etc. At some time you may meet a few rude, offensive, immature believers in the body. They need someone like you to show them love and patience (so they’ll grow up), and you need them in order to practice and develop your love for the brethren. When you can remain loving and steadfast, even if brothers say negative things about you, let you down, or do offensive things, your love is being perfected — you’re growing up as a Christian and becoming more like Christ!

How much much love do you have for your brethren? The Bible says that we’re supposed to be ready to lay down our life for our brothers. But do you suppose you would really lay down your life for them if you’re not willing to even come together with them a few times a week for worship? “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Jesus expressed that we must be committed to the love of the brethren in the same way that He was. He stated that this love toward the brethren was the necessary evidence to prove our authenticity as Christians to the world. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

It is essential for every believer to be an active part of a Christian fellowship. Willful rejection of fellowship is evidence of not walking in the light. Paul Washer once said “show me a professing Christian who seldom attends Church, and I’ll show you a backslider who needs to get their heart right before God.” All through the New Testament, Jesus shows us that He takes personally, how we relate to His body. Our love, expressions of kindness, and ministry to any of our brothers and sisters in Christ are received as though they were done unto the Lord, Himself. “…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40). Therefore, would we refuse to gather with Jesus when the opportunity is given? If we refuse to gather with our brethren, we have, in reality, refused to gather with Jesus. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Fellowship with the body of Christ is not just an option, but is critical to our continued survival as Christians. We need the preaching and teaching from God’s Word, worship and praise, the encouragement which we draw from our brethren, the opportunities of Christian service, and we need the opportunity to practice love toward other Christians.

I pray that these scriptures have opened your eyes as it has mine. There are literally dozens more verses on this topic, so I would encourage you to study on your own. I will end with this:
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” (Heb. 10:24-26).