Fellowship of Light and Darkness
The Greek word used for "Fellowship" in the New Testament is "Koinonia". It means a deep spiritual partnership. We are to have fellowship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and each other. This doesn't just mean being part of a church, praying, singing and talking to each other each week. This is an intimate relationship, where we support each other in suffering and encourage each other in our walk with God. This relationship has to be based in the truth in order to be effective.
Paul told the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith because their sinful behaviour testified against them. This practice of self-examination is not encouraged in a church setting today. Self-reflection is usually done alone, rather than with others. We may admit that we are all sinners, but we often use this blanket statement to cover a multitude of personal dysfunction that we would prefer not to acknowledge. This hidden dysfunction then bleeds into our communities and makes our fellowship one of darkness, not light.
Jesus' teaching about repentance and forgiveness sheds light on how we should treat dysfunctional people in our midst. But are we mature enough to hear what he is saying to us today?
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Bible references
Genesis 9:18-28 - Noah’s Descendants (Ham) Become Corrupt; Genesis 11:27- 12:5 - Abram’s call; Genesis 14:13 - Abram the Hebrew; Genesis 15:1-21 - God’s Covenant with Abraham; Genesis 18:1-19 - God promises Abraham a Son; Genesis 21:1-21 - Ishmael and Hagar cast out; Genesis 22:1-19 - Sacrifice of Issac; Genesis 25:19-34 - Esau gives up his birthright; Genesis 27:1-46 - Jacob is blessed by Issac and has to flee; Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob wrestles with God; Genesis 35:1-15 - God blesses and renames Jacob, Israel; Genesis 37 - Jospeh sold by his brothers; Genesis 3- The Fall; Genesis 4 - Cain kills Abel; Jeremiah 9:14 & 16:12 & 18:12 & 23:17 - People follow own desires lead to destruction; Jeremiah 8:4-6 - People’s perpetual backsliding; Psalm 36 - Vanity and arrogance of evil doers; Isaiah 47 - Pride of Wicked; Micah 6:8 & Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - Do God’s will; John 14:15-24 - Jesus says do his commandments; 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine Yourselves; 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 - Arrogance of Corinthians; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - Corinthians have seen the power of God; John 3 - To Be Born Again; John 16:8-11 - Holy Spirit convicts us; John 16:13 - Holy Spirit of Truth; 2 Corinthians 12:20-13:5 - Paul’s admonishment - Are you in the Faith?; 1 Timothy 3:1-13 - Manage own household; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 - Divisions in the church; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 - Lord’s Supper fiasco; Matthew 6:22-23 - Eye is the lamp of of the body; Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt and Light; Matthew 23:27-28 - White washed tombs; Matthew 5:14-16 - City on a hill; 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Imitators of Christ; Ephesians 5:1-2 - Imitate God, love each other; 1 John 2:6 - Walk in the same way Jesus walked; 1 Corinthians 2:16 - Mind of Christ; Romans 12:2 - Renewal of mind; 1 Corinthians 5 - Sinners cast of out church; Hebrews 12:15 - Beware of the root of Bitterness; Matthew 18:15- 20 - Treat them as a tax collector; Matthew 18:21-35 - Seventy time seven and Parable of unforgiving servant; Revelation 2-3 - Church defilement; 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Cleanse yourself from all defilement; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - What fellowship does light have with darkness?; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 - Godly grief leads to repentance; Romans 1:21-23 - Foolish hearts are darkened; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 - God sends them a strong delusion; 1 Peter 4:1-19 - Love covers a multitude of sins; Matthew 6:9-13 - Lord’s Prayer; Romans 10:9 - Confess that Jesus is Lord; 1 John 1:5-10 - If we say we are not sinners, we lie; 2 Chronicles 7:14 - If you seek my face and turn from your wicked ways; Matthew 7:21-23 - I never knew you; John 8:31-32 - Truth sets you free; Luke 17:20-21 - Kingdom of Heaven within you; John 7:37-39 - Streams of living water; Luke 13:3 - Repent or perish; Acts 3:19 - Repent and sins will be blotted out; Psalm 36 - In your light do we see light; Psalm 53 - There is none who does good; Psalm 55:19 - They do not change and they do not fear God; Psalm 7:11-17 - God feels indignation everyday; 1 John 5:11-13 - Eternal life in Jesus.
Other books
The Gospel of Jesus - John MacArthur
Video resources
