BOUND TOGETHER BY THESE THINGS

As God’s dear children, there are more things to unite us than there are to divide us. There are certain fundamental and vital truths that all true believers embrace—such as the deity of Christ, the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus and salvation by grace through faith in the Son of God. We may differ about what the unpardonable sin is and whether it may be committed or not and other matters, but if we are truly saved by God’s grace, there are some things that bind us together. Each one of these thoughts begin with the word "fellow."

I.                   WE ARE FELLOW-PARTAKERS OF ONE CALLING. Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Our calling to salvation was from heaven. God’s plan involved

bringing both Jew and Gentile into one body through faith. That body is the Church of Jesus Christ (not the Mormons). It was not revealed in the Old Testament that both Jew and Gentile would become one body. The mystery of the church is that of New Testament revelation. Our calling is both a heavenly one and a holy one.

II.                WE ARE FELLOW-CITIZENS OF ONE COUNTRY. Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

We are fellow-citizens with God’s people. God’s true household is not a building of brick and mortar, but people who have been redeemed by the grace of God.

Someone has suggested there are six pictures of the church in

Ephesians 2:19-22. It is…

1-A New Nation

2-God’s Family

3-God’s Building

4-A Growing Organism

5-A World Wide Temple (Or The Church Universal)

6-And A Local Temple (The Local Church).

The country of which we are citizens by faith, is a perfect, peaceful place. 

III.             WE ARE FELLOW-MEMBERS OF ONE BODY.  Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

It is "saved" people that make up the body of Christ. Salvation involves confession with the mouth, and faith toward Christ in the heart. Salvation brings deliverance and delight into ones life.

IV.              WE ARE FELLOW-LABORERS WITH JESUS Philippians 4:3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

In that verse Paul uses the term "yoke-fellow." A yoke was a collar that bound two oxen together for plowing. The collar held them tightly so they might pull together and get the job done. A "yoke-fellow" is one who pulls and works cooperatively with others.

V.                 WE ARE FELLOW-HEIRS OF A HEAVENLY MANSION. Jesus promised all of His children a mansion in heaven one day (John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.)

In this life only a few possess mansions, but all in heaven will have

one.

Conclusion:

Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.