Iron Sharpens Iron - Christian Fellowship

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." That speaks to the importance of Christian fellowship. In fact, in some ways it encompasses the very essence of what Christian fellowship is about. Christian fellowship is more than just coming together for coffee, desert, and idle chit-chat. Christian fellowship has to do with believers coming together to lift each other's countenance. To hold each other accountable in our walk with Jesus.

John said, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). "Walk in the light" refers to our sanctification, or our continual day-to-day growing in faith and becoming righteous. Our growing in faith is enhanced by our uplifting fellowship with one another. This is where we see iron sharpen iron, or one man lifting up another in his walk with Jesus.

"Fellowship" translates the Greek word koinonia. It means "sharing in common" (W.E. Vine, M.A., Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition, [MacDonald Publishing Company: McLean, Virginia, no copyright], 962). Believers have Christ in common. So whenever two true believers come in contact, even for the first time, they have an immediate bond, or a mutual trust from the moment they meet. This bond leads to action. There is an immediate comradery. It is as if they have known each for a long time, all because they share Christ in common. So they begin to encourage each other in their faith.

Fellowship is part of God's plan to bring glory to Christ. Also, fellowship is the natural outcropping of the establishment of God's church. Peter preached Jesus to the crowd that had gathered outside the upper room where the disciples were gathered. We are told, "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them" (Acts 2:41).

Then we are told: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (vv. 42-47).

I almost can't imagine what this would be like. The church was barely getting started in Jerusalem, and three thousand new believers were added in a day! Wow! It blows my mind! Oh, the sudden organization that was needed. But God was there working through the apostles to get it done. And so, the church had started, as the believers, new and old, came together. They sat under the apostles as they taught the Scriptures daily.

Fellowship was the natural result of their gathering under the teaching of the Word. Iron sharpening iron, as these believers met together and encouraged each other in their daily walk with Jesus. They came from many different countries (vv. 5-11), yet with Christ in common, they came together as one, each sharpening his brother in Christ. Amen.