REPOST FROM OCTOBER 6, 2025

 REPOSTING FROM MY FACEBOOK PAGE DATED OCTOBER 6, 2025

I’ve mentioned this before in my posts but for about two years I have been studying about our fellowship with God and with other believers. For me it’s been an intense study. Sometimes I spend all morning praying about one scripture and writing what I think that God is teaching me through that scripture. I look forward every morning to the time I spend studying. Yesterday at church, the Sunday School lesson, and both morning and evening sermons referenced scriptures I have studied recently and addressed concepts I have been learning. I’ve been praying and wondering about if now is the time to start teaching this study. Yesterday seemed to be a confirmation that I should. I’m concerned about starting because the study is not complete, so I continue to pray but am beginning to lean toward starting leading the study before I have studied all that is in the outline. Remember that the whole thing is an incomplete rough draft, but I am pasting the first few pages. Is this a topic that you would want to study? 

Introduction

It’s interesting the things we remember from decades ago. I remember one of high school my classmates sitting behind me in class, and almost constantly using curse words that suggest that God purposely condemns people to hell. I was easily intimidated as a teenager, and this young man was intimidating, but I had taken all I could stand. I turned around to him and said, “You are wrong. God doesn’t want that to happen to anyone. He died for us so that we don’t have to be.” 

Read John 3:16-18 

16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

Read 1 John 1:3-7 

what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Read 2 Peter 3:9 

9 The LORD does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Because of our sinful nature we are condemned. God came in human form, lived a sinless life, was crucified as the sacrifice for our sin, resurrected in His own power and makes intercession for us so that we can have fellowship with Him. We must not lose sight of the significance of that. All through scripture He has made provisions for people to have fellowship with Him. We use the word “fellowship” so lightly, and out of context with what God intended it to be. I pray that this study will help us refocus on the privilege we have to fellowship with Him, and the blessing of fellowship with others that we have because of His Spirit living in us. 

If you have not repented of your sin and accepted this amazing gift that God has given us, my heartfelt prayer is that you will do that now. 

Fellowship offerings

The dictionary has several definitions for fellowship. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary App)

• Community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience

• A company of equals or friends

• The quality or state of being comradely

The dictionary definitions for friend include:

• One attached to another by affection or esteem

• Acquaintance

• One who is not hostile

• One that is of the same nation, party, or group

• One that favors or promotes something

• A favored companion

• A person included in a list of one’s designated connections on social media

Dictionary definitions consistently seem so inadequate when defining the things of God as taught through scripture.

How would you define fellowship?

What does it mean to be a friend?

(We will come back to discuss these definitions later.)

We will start with what may seem like a tedious background, but we must understand at least the basics of the Levitical law to know how important fellowship is to God. Throughout the Old Testament, God provides a sacrifice that emphasizes fellowship. The word translated “fellowship” in the HCSB is also translated “peace” in other translations. It is the Hebrew word שֶׁלֶם, transliterated as “shelem.” The fellowship offering was not one of the required offerings but was a voluntary offering. The Israelites made this offering “to express gratitude, fulfill a vow, or seek peace and fellowship with God. The offering symbolized reconciliation and communion with God, as well as harmony within the community.”  (Dallas Theological Bible Hub Site) (Strongs Exhaustive Concordance)

As we try to grasp the significance of the fellowship offerings, we will also look at the appointed festivals and various other offerings. The instructions that God gave were extremely detailed, but we don’t want to become so focused on the facts of the regulations that we lose focus of the reason God was so specific, the Truth of Jesus. The regulations God gave His people were so meticulous and contained so many instructions that it seems overwhelming. Why was it so detailed, and even so confusing? Were they capable of completely fulfilling the requirements of the law? Absolutely not. Neither are we. God instituted the observance of the law so that we could acknowledge our own powerlessness to save ourselves. 

Read Romans 8:1-8

Was the law able to free us from the law of sin and death? How does Paul describe the Levitical law? How does he describe the flesh?

The Levitical law, even when followed meticulously and ritualistically, did not set the people free. The law was limited by our flesh. Living in obedience to our flesh brings death. Our flesh is hostile to God. It is not our nature to submit to God. We are completely unable in the flesh to submit to God’s law. We cannot please God because our flesh rebels against Him.

We were discussing something in Sunday School. I said something like this, “I try my best to submit to God.”  Someone perceived as a spiritual leader in the group said, “It never says we have to submit to God.” I was shocked. But the point is that even as believers, in the flesh, we are resistant to submitting to God. Our culture values independence, free thought, individuality. The word “submit” has become an unpopular word, yet to be truly free, we must submit to God.

What are your thoughts and feelings about submitting to God? Is your flesh undermining your true freedom?

Looking again at Romans 8:1-8: What sacrifice frees us from sin and death? How does Paul describe the mind-set of the Spirit?

Jesus Christ, Messiah, was the sin offering that sets us free from sin and death. He came in the flesh but never sinned. He fulfilled the requirements of the law as the perfect sin offering. Because of Him we have His indwelling Spirit. We are not condemned. When we allow Him His perfect work in us, our thoughts are the thoughts of His Spirit. We have true life and true peace. We have true freedom.

If you do not have this peace, life and freedom, it’s available by placing your faith in Christ. I beg you to reach out and receive that gift from Him. (See “First Things First” at the beginning of this study for an explanation.)

If you have salvation through Christ and the incomprehensible life, peace and freedom provided when His Spirit dwells in you, take a minute to praise Him, thank Him and be amazed at the gift He has given you. 

Read Hebrews 1:6

Read this verse prayerfully and thoughtfully. What stands out to you in the verse?

According to this verse, what must we have to please God?

What are two components of faith that this verse lists?

Pleasing God is not based on our own merit. God is pleased when we come to Him in faith. Notice that the reason we have faith, and the result of that faith is drawing near to God. Faith produces fellowship. What must we believe, what must our faith include? We know from other scripture that our faith as believers in Christ is based on accepting Jesus as Savior and LORD. (Romans 10:9-10) In Hebrews 1:6 we see that our faith means believing that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Using this truth as a lens to look back at what we discussed about the verses in Romans 8 helps us to understand that strict adherence to the law could not, and did not, save anyone. The Old Testament saints were saved by faith (Hebrews 11 lists several examples. Read this chapter to see how their faith serves as an example for us). Simply put, God’s plan from the beginning was for Jesus to take human form, live a sinless life, die a sacrificial death on the cross as He bore the sin of the whole world in His body and soul, resurrect by His own power as proof of His victory over sin and death. When we acknowledge that truth, that He alone is Truth, then His Spirit comes and inexplicitly lives within us, freeing us from the death sentence of the law that could not save, but could point out our sinfulness and need for salvation by faith. 

Read Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus did not come to destroy the law. He came to fulfill it. 

What does Jesus mean when He says this?

His statement may be confusing at first reading. Is Jesus saying that we should follow the Levitical Law? I don’t pretend to understand all of scripture. The key is to look at passages in context from the whole scripture. Taking any scripture out of context can lead to serious misunderstandings. I have heard the extreme example that scriptures says that there is no God. Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘God does not exist.’” Scripture, out of context, says “God does not exist.” We will look at scriptures later that provide context of what Jesus says here, but let’s look first at the context in which He says it in these verses. In verse 20 Jesus tells the disciples that unless their righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. I don’t know who your modern-day heroes of the faith might be, but I can list a few possibilities: Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, Matt Chandler, Charlie Kirk. Think about the prominent Christian personalities you admire. Now, what would you think if someone said something that implied that they would not go to heaven? The scribes and Pharisees were considered the most religious and righteous figures of their day. They were the authorities on the law, but Jesus told the disciples that they would have to be more righteous than these men to enter the kingdom of heaven. The most legalistic following of the Law still did not allow entrance into heaven. The purpose of the law was to show that no one is righteous enough to earn heaven. Jesus fulfilled the law because He is the only perfect person to ever walk the earth. He alone is completely sinless. He was the only One who could accomplish this. Look again at Psalm 14:1-3. There is no one who is wise. No one who seeks God. All have turned away. All are corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. Except Jesus.

Read Matthew 5:21-48 

Jesus goes on to give examples of the results of His Spirit living in us. Maybe, just maybe, we could legalistically appear to follow the letter of the law. That was what the Pharisees tried to do. But in these verses, Jesus requires more than the letter of the law. He requires a change in our hearts. We cannot do this by our own efforts. The law was limited by our humanness, by our weakness in the flesh to be holy or righteous or have any semblance of true goodness. Jesus fulfills the requirements of the law that led to death and institutes the law of life by His indwelling Spirit. The outward act that the law condemns is murder, but the inner sin, the motive, even not acted out, is still sin. Harboring anger. Stewing over it. Wishing harm to someone else. These things are as much a violation of the law as actual bloodshed. It’s what consumes our hearts, not only the actions of our hands. (verse 22a)

Continuing the thought that what is in our hearts is just as significant as the actions we take because of our thoughts, Jesus goes on to talk about derogatory and hurtful words used toward others. When I was a child my parents said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I love my parents, but that’s simply not the truth. Words hurt. I don’t remember any injuries I have received from the hands of my school classmates, but I still remember, fifty years later, some of their hateful words. I’m not angry with them. I even realize that the words they said weren’t true. But I remember, and I was hurt by them then. The words that were considered technical and medical when I first began my professional career as a speech language pathologist are now considered demeaning and their use is frowned upon, prohibited in some cases. Children, teens, adults took the terms that explained a person’s intellectual disability, and used that word to joke, degrade and embarrass others. I told my friend recently that 20 years from now, people will be using the words that are now considered acceptable in the same way they used the words that were acceptable 20 years ago. The words reflect the attitudes of our hearts. Words are just sounds strung together. The connotations change because of how those sound strings are used. What makes them hurtful is what is in the heart of the speaker. (verse 22b) Jesus goes on to teach that lust is as sinful as adultery. Envy is as sinful as stealing. Restoring relationships is as important as holding others accountable under the law. Making empty oaths should not be necessary because we should consistently speak honestly. Love and forgiveness are more important than retribution and lawsuits. Generosity and service to others should be the norm and not the exception. Loving our enemies is the perfect way. All these things speak to the attitudes of hearts. Jesus fulfills the law when His Spirit works in us to change our hearts to be more like His. 

We also know that He fulfilled the law by being the perfect sacrifice. We will talk more about that later.

Read Romans 7:7

What purpose did the law serve?

The purpose of the law was to make us aware of our sinfulness. We experience this in our daily lives. I have this love/hate relationship with the assisted cruise control in my car. It’s nice when it automatically slows down if the car in front of me is going slower than I am. It’s nice that it recognizes the speed limit and automatically adjusts. It’s annoying when it slows dramatically when approaching a slight curve that could easily be navigated without breaking. But the thing that frustrates me the most is when it doesn’t recognize the speed limit signs correctly. Last week I was driving along allowing my cruise to do its automated thing. I suddenly realized that it had sped up when the signs did not reflect my increase in speed. Fortunately, the policeman sitting right there did not stop me. But he would have been justified in doing so. I was breaking the law, not on purpose, but still was over the speed limit. The law, like the speed limit signs, makes us aware of our sin, our lawlessness.

Read Galatians 2:15-16

Explain what Paul is saying about being justified by the law.

As a Sunday School teacher and as a speech language pathologist I posted expectations on the wall in my classrooms. These weren’t always the same, but they were something like this: “Use kind words, respect personal space, sit in your chair correctly, obey instructions, take turns…” When a student said hurtful words, stood in their chair, or other similar behaviors, I could point to the expectations on the wall, and ask, “Where those kind words?” “Were you sitting in your chair correctly?” I wanted them to realize that the expectations were clear and reach the conclusion themselves that they had not been obedient. In a similar way God gave the law so that we as humans could acknowledge our sinfulness. 

Read Hebrews 7:18-28

What do these verses say about the law and the priests?

What do these verses say about Jesus.

The law was unable to perfect anything. The priests were just men who were set apart to be committed to God. They were mortal men. They died and were replaced by other men. They were unworthy men, who had to make sacrifices for their own sins before they could make sacrifices for anyone else’s sins. They were weak and completely unable to save anyone by their own actions. They made sacrifices daily. Over and over and over... Always trying but never enough. You and I understand this. There are things we do repeatedly and never finish. In our jobs we constantly do tasks, depending on where we are employed: writing reports, serving hamburgers, cleaning toilets, teaching children, prescribing medicine, cutting hair, and the list goes on. In our homes: laundry, cooking. cleaning, yard work…We understand the concept. The priests under the law never accomplished what they wanted to accomplish. 

Jesus is a better hope. Through Him we draw near to God. He is the guarantee of something better than the law. Jesus is King of Kings and LORD of LORDs, but He is also a high priest forever. The oath that made Jesus our High Priest is from God Himself, who has sworn and will not change His mind. Jesus is our priest forever. He is God, completely holy. He has never sinned. He doesn’t need to make sacrifices daily like the priests under the law did because He is the Sacrifice for our sin. No other sacrifices are required because he fulfilled the whole purpose of the law when He became the perfect and final sacrifice for sin.

Read Hebrews 1:1-12

What do these verses teach us about Jesus?

This passage can be difficult to process because our minds are finite. God is infinite and Jesus IS God. Always has been. Always will be. God spoke to the human world through Him, through Jesus in human form, but He has existed from eternity past as God. He is the heir to all things. ALL things. Not only is He the heir to the earth on which we stand, He is the heir to all the universe, the stars and planets and galaxies that our scientists are yet to discover. He made them all. He is the radiance of God’s glory. Can we even begin to visualize the radiance of God’s glory? That’s who Jesus IS. He expresses the nature of God because He is God. He holds the whole created universe, sustains every aspect of it, by His powerful word. He will reign forever and ever. He administers justice. He is righteous. After the earth and heavens perish, Jesus will still be God. His reign will never end.

We know now that Jesus was the Passover Lamb, but He is also the fulfillment of all the other sacrifices and festivals, the prophesies, the prayers, and songs in the Psalms. He IS God incarnate.  I don’t think we give much thought to how fellowship offerings point to our commitment to Him as not only the sacrifice for our redemption, but also the LORD, the King of Kings who loves us so much that he bore the burden of our sin as He willingly made the greatest and best sacrifice, once for all.