I praise the Lord for bringing my life into His living Church (Body of Christ) that are His hands and feet here in this world. The purpose of His Body is to make disciples of all nations while spreading His gospel and His love to this dying world. However, there is a distinct difference between gathering with a combination of those in Christ and those of this world (not born-again), and the intimate fellowship (koinonia) we share with others who are in Christ. They are not the same, and Jesus demonstrated the need for intimate fellowship (koinonia) with other true believers alone throughout His ministry here on earth. During His days He would be surrounded by the thousands who were following Him (some just to see what He might do for them), and these crowds were a mix of His true disciples and those who were not. However, in the evenings He would meet with His selected few, a small group of true disciples who shared a true personal relationship with the Lord to share fellowship or koinonia.
Furthermore, Jesus spent intimate time with His true disciples to teach, guide, and love them. This was His personal fellowship (koinonia) time that we continue to need to share with Jesus and His true disciples today in this world. Many wrongly believe that going to church satisfies this intimate need. These gatherings, no matter how large or small, are likened to the daytime gatherings Jesus experienced where there may have been some true disciples, however these gatherings also include many who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. There is nothing wrong with joining in these gatherings as long as true believers understand that this is a place to spread the gospel to the many who are not yet part of the kingdom. Nevertheless, the true believers who do attend these mixed gatherings must understand that they still have a spiritual need for true intimate fellowship or koinonia with others who are in Christ. That is what it means that we should not neglect meeting together as found in Hebrews 10:25.
What does koinonia mean? (From CompellingTruth.org)
Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship. It refers to community, one's place in a group, and the representation of fellowship such as a joint gift. It appears seventeen times in the New Testament. The concept of koinonia is an important one because it is intended to characterize the Church (the Body of Christ). John says that the purpose of the Gospel is to lead people to have koinonia with others and with God (1 John 1:3, 6-7). Several verses exhort us to have koinonia with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1). And Acts 2:42 says of the very young church, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Like many seeming-nouns in the Greek, the natural result of koinonia is inherent in its existence. That's something we should remember: there is no fellowship without action. Our actions are widely influenced by our associations. Fellowship is both the unity of the group and whatever is brought forth out of that association. For this reason, we are to be careful with whom we have koinonia. Second Corinthians 6:14 says "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" Our associations direct our actions, and to be bound with unbelievers will inevitably lead to wrong actions. To have koinonia with God and other believers, however, is to find our place in the Body and the work of Christ.
Furthermore, Jesus spent intimate time with His true disciples to teach, guide, and love them. This was His personal fellowship (koinonia) time that we continue to need to share with Jesus and His true disciples today in this world. Many wrongly believe that going to church satisfies this intimate need. These gatherings, no matter how large or small, are likened to the daytime gatherings Jesus experienced where there may have been some true disciples, however these gatherings also include many who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. There is nothing wrong with joining in these gatherings as long as true believers understand that this is a place to spread the gospel to the many who are not yet part of the kingdom. Nevertheless, the true believers who do attend these mixed gatherings must understand that they still have a spiritual need for true intimate fellowship or koinonia with others who are in Christ. That is what it means that we should not neglect meeting together as found in Hebrews 10:25.
What does koinonia mean? (From CompellingTruth.org)
Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship. It refers to community, one's place in a group, and the representation of fellowship such as a joint gift. It appears seventeen times in the New Testament. The concept of koinonia is an important one because it is intended to characterize the Church (the Body of Christ). John says that the purpose of the Gospel is to lead people to have koinonia with others and with God (1 John 1:3, 6-7). Several verses exhort us to have koinonia with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1). And Acts 2:42 says of the very young church, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Like many seeming-nouns in the Greek, the natural result of koinonia is inherent in its existence. That's something we should remember: there is no fellowship without action. Our actions are widely influenced by our associations. Fellowship is both the unity of the group and whatever is brought forth out of that association. For this reason, we are to be careful with whom we have koinonia. Second Corinthians 6:14 says "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" Our associations direct our actions, and to be bound with unbelievers will inevitably lead to wrong actions. To have koinonia with God and other believers, however, is to find our place in the Body and the work of Christ.
