True and Divine Fellowship

By Bryan R Braswell

It amazes me, in a Bible study, when someone begins to beam with happiness and shows that great emotion, and perhaps for the first time, begins seeing the Bible come alive. After all, the word of God is a living message (Hebrews 4:12). When an actual text in the Bible is seen in the right light or perspective, from the vantage of the author’s viewpoint, and we read it with that perspective, we can all thrive and tend toward a great spiritual enlightenment. (cf., Ephesians 3:1-5 et al.). The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and light for our path. (Psalm 119:105). When we walk in this light, our fellowship is sweet and the blood of Jesus keeps us revived continually. (1 John 1:5-10). John, in fact, wrote for that very purpose according to 1 John 2:1-3: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

Fellowship is sweet, but the only way we can truly enjoy that is to break down carnal barriers, selfish pride and ego, and sit down together and study God’s word, with the desire to know it. Jude wrote this: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 20-25).

The first priority is always maintaining and guarding self, making sure our motive is pure and holy. This is why Paul said: “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:27). However, as Jude said, “[B]uilding up yourself” first, in that most holy faith, you build up your own faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God, and without the word of God there could be no faith or substance (cf., Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1, 6 et al.). Further, as Jude said: “Pray in the Holy Spirit.” Now, there should be no confusion with this, because most certainly the Holy Spirit, then, as now, serves as an intercessor by means of the truth. (Romans 8:26-27). He was the final say-so, revealer of (all) the truth. (John 16:13). So, while we are praying, both Christ and the Spirit are apparently attentive, and on our behalf, by their very authority, they make such intercession—the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf—for us, not to us. Of course, Paul says this: “he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.” (Romans 8:27).

Now, back to Jude’s context, which is one of great interest to me. In the New Testament, of all the 27 books, 21 are clearly written to encourage the saved, and therefore keep the “Saved,” saved! Jude addresses an issue, which seems similar to James’s exhortation: “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20). Jude speaks of “snatching some from the fire,” and “having compassion on others,” who have fallen, such that is back into the world of sin. And, knowing when to “snatch” and when to have “compassion,” this is not always an easy thing to know or do; but nonetheless it is a necessary matter to practice when we are restoring “such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1).

The best place to start, always, is with an honest Bible study, engaging the text as a living message. It will create and produce divine fellowship—it will restore us!