Title: Great Fellowship
Content 2. Great fellowship (1:3-5)
1. The great prayer (v. 4) = an example that can be an example of prayer for us.
① Subject of audit
Paul clearly articulates his relationship with God.
“My God” not “our God”
② Contents of the audit
‘Every time I think of you’ was gratitude for others./ This was a great gratitude for others, not for myself.
All of Paul's 13 episodes, except Galatians, begin with thanksgiving.
Gratitude is thinking and giving thanks for spiritual blessings.
Those who grow spiritually are full of gratitude.
③ Reason for audit
a. Fellowship in the Gospel (verse 3)
'Companionship' = 'Companionship' Fellowship means more than sharing what a thief stole.
Fellowship includes more than just sharing joy, it also includes the meaning of participation.
‘Participation’ is not attendance, but participation.
To participate in God's work and to participate in the gospel of God is called fellowship.
Fellowship in the gospel brings one heart.
b. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2:1)
Fellowship in the Gospel is mutual participation, whereas fellowship in the Holy Spirit is mutual participation in the Holy Spirit. / Just as a bird lives in the atmosphere and a fish lives in water, so we live in the Spirit.
Attending worship with a sick body is not only the purpose of worshiping God, but also fellowship among the saints is an important mission of the church.
He said that worshipers should first be reconciled with their brothers and then worship.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is the fellowship of those who live in the Spirit.
c. The fellowship of suffering (3:10)
We should rejoice in sharing in the sufferings of Christ.
(Colossians 1:27) “God may make them known how rich the glory of this mystery is among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The process of suffering is through which God transforms us into glory.
d. fellowship with God
The apostle Paul speaks of fellowship in the Gospel, fellowship in the Holy Spirit, and fellowship in Jesus Christ. It refers to communion with God in the Trinity.
Participating in God's work is fellowship with God.
May our fellowship with God always be with us in our lives.