Trinity and Fellowship

What We Believe: Trinity and Fellowship

 

God’s nature as Trinity has far reaching implications, especially with people, and even more specifically with his church. 

 

Exposition: What do we see?

Genesis 1:26-27 The Triune God created male and female in his image. This is the big picture of creation, answering the question of what did God do in creating man. 

1. Creation in his image is unity in diversity. Distinction and equality. Order and complementary. This is the basis of fellowship. Almost feel like we need to sit on that and let that soak in. 
2. Creation in his image begins with the family unit. 
   1. Family units are thus the building block of whole, right, peaceful, goodness. 

 

Genesis 2:18-25 The Triune God created male and female to be together as good, the family unit in the image of God as good, the family unit to multiply and fill the earth as good. This passage puts the microscope on 1:26-27 and answers the question of why God created mankind in his image. 

1. It is “not good” for mankind to be alone.
   1. It is not good because God in his being is not alone. 

 

1 John 1:1-4 Christian fellowship is inseparably linked to our fellowship with God who defines fellowship. 

 

Application: What do we do?

The “One Anothers” of the New Testament 

 

The “one another” commands of the New Testament are rooted in God’s nature with himself and how he then treats us. Therefore, as image bearers of God, we are to imitate him in his Trinitarian treatment of himself and others. 

 

You will see in these commands that our action is rooted in God’s display of these values. 

 

1. Mark 9:50 …be at peace with one another. (God is at peace with himself)
2. John 13:14-15 (ESV) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
3. John 13:34 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
4. John 15:12 (ESV) This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
5. John 15:17 (ESV) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
6. Romans 12:10 (ESV) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
7. Romans 12:16 (ESV) Live in harmony with one another.
8. Romans 13:8 (ESV) 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9. Romans 14:13 (ESV) 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, (related to issues of conscience not commandments) but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
10.  Romans 15:7 (ESV) Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
11.  Romans 15:14 (ESV) 14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
12.  Romans 16:16 (ESV) 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 
13.  1 Corinthians 11:33 (ESV) 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—
14.  1 Corinthians 12:24-25 (ESV) But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
15.  Galatians 5:13 (ESV) For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
16.  Galatians 5:15 (ESV) 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
17.  Galatians 5:26 (ESV) 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
18.  Galatians 6:2 (ESV) 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
19.  Ephesians 4:2 (ESV) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
20.  Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
21.  Ephesians 5:19 (ESV) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
22.  Ephesians 5:21 (ESV) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
23.  Philippians 2:3 (ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
24.  Colossians 3:9 (ESV) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices…
25.  Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
26.  Colossians 3:16 (ESV) 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
27.  1 Thessalonians 3:12 (ESV) and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
28.  1 Thessalonians 4:9 (ESV) Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
29.  1 Thessalonians 4:18 (ESV) Therefore encourage one another with these words.
30.  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
31.  Hebrews 3:13 (ESV) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
32.  Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
33.  James 4:11 (ESV) 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law.
34.  James 5:9 (ESV) Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
35.  James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
36.  1 Peter 4:8 (ESV) Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
37.  1 Peter 4:9 (ESV) 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
38.  1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
39.  1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
40.  (ESV) 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.
41.  1 John 3:11 (ESV) 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
42.  1 John 3:23 (ESV) 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
43.  1 John 4:7 (ESV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
44.  1 John 4:11 (ESV) 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
45.  1 John 4:12 (ESV) 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
46.  2 John 1:5 (ESV) 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

Trinitarian Fellowship Must Worship

1. God is not an idolator. He does not worship us. God delights in himself. 
2. As image bearers created for him, we then are most like him when we worship him.