This week we are examining the second point of absolute devotion the early believers had which helps us capture a clear image of the lofty heights from which the 7 churches in Asia Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 & 3 fell.

This second point of devotion was to “THE FELLOWSHIP”.

Now in English this sounds like an odd wording but it is consistent with the Greek and greatly impacts the meaning.

The Greek word koinonia implies partnership, sharing in common, and active participation. It was not merely socializing, but sharing one’s life, resources, and spiritual union in Christ.

It pointed to a specific, defined community and a concrete reality rather than an abstract concept of general friendship. It refers to a REAL partnership, sharing in common, and active participation with Christ and all who belong to Christ. It is not merely socializing, but sharing one’s life, resources, and spiritual union in Christ.

Today we began exploring examples of this in the letters of the New Testament.

Sound Doctrine, Sound Doctrine, Sound Doctrine… the need to be devoted to Sound Doctrine, its study, its eager examination and investigation was a primary focus of the early church. In fact it was FIRST in the list of 4 things the early church focused upon without ever even being told to – they were compelled from within by the Holy Spirit of God. The other things were THE fellowship (koinonia) of the brethren, the breaking of bread (including communion) from house to house and THE prayers.

We’ve been examining the Ephesian church in view of Jesus’ warning that He would remove their church if they did not repent (change their minds) and do the FIRST WORKS, by which Jesus was speaking of placing their love for Him as #1 in their lives in chronology and priority. These believers had their Sound Doctrine down, but their love life had been neglected. In our study of the Ephesian church AND the initial church found in Acts 2, we have uncovered the need for every believer to continue with the ardent strength of their first love for Christ and to allow THAT, along with their reverence for Him to generate a passion and urgency to study His words to be sound in doctrine.

This week in our study of the 1st letter of Jesus to the churches in Asia – that of Ephesus.

We established the meanings of the two key words regarding their future judgment if they failed to repent which were “quickly” and “remove”. These English words may not be as clear a representation of what was said, it one might think.

Then we spent the rest of our time looking at the way the first believers – those coverts following Peter’s preaching at Pentecost since their love for Christ was fresh and strong – which is what Ephesus was lacking. We found that without a “script” to go by, they all unanimously found themselves – DEVOTING TEHMSELVES to – the teachings, the fellowship, the Lord’s Supper & THE prayers. The result was the reverential fear and awe of God fell on them all and they found favor in the eyes of the onlooking world.