THE RIGHT HANDS
OF FELLOWSHIP
By
Shelby G. Floyd
December, 2008
PART FOUR
FELLOWSHIP WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS
LESSON NINE
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HEAVENLY CALLING, THE OLIVE TREE,
AND THE GOSPEL
“It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” (Romans 15: 27.) In this statement Paul affirmed that the Gentiles had been made partakers of the spiritual things of the Jews. In previous articles, several of these spiritual things of which both Jew and. Gentile were made partakers have been mentioned; several more spiritual things concerning both the Jew and the Gentile will be examined in this essay.
Fellowship with the Heavenly Calling
The author of the letter to the Hebrews addressed his readers as being partakers of the heavenly calling: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” (Hebrews 3: 1.) In the above statement the term partaker is from metochos, and means to share in or partake of a certain thing. It is used in this verse with the genitive of the thing in which they were made partakers, which is the heavenly calling. (Cf. Thayer, p. 407.)
What is this heavenly calling of which both Jew and Gentile had been made partakers? It is simply accepting the invitation of Christ to enter into and to live the Christian life; it is the heavenly calling because the invitation extended to man on earth originated in heaven; it is styled by the apostle Paul as the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Cf. Philippians 3:14); therefore, it is a heavenly calling. This heavenly calling has been extended to both the Jew and the Gentile. (Cf. Romans 9: 24.) All who accept this heavenly calling are obligated to walk worthy of that vocation into which they have been called. (Cf. Ephesians 4:1.)
This heavenly calling involves the church; for we are called into one body and into peace. (Colossians 3: 15.) The preaching and obedience of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings about this heavenly calling; for everyone who accepts the heavenly calling is called by the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 2: l4.) Therefore, once again we are enabled to see that fellowship involves the church and the truth of the gospel. Those who will not walk worthy of the gospel do not have fellowship with the heavenly calling.
Fellowship with the Olive Tree
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul in a figure of speech likened the Gentiles to branches of a wild olive tree being grafted into a tame olive tree. He likened the Jews to branches of a tame olive tree that had been broken off. The Jews had been broken off because of unbelief and rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gentiles had been grafted into the tame olive tree by belief and obedience of the gospel. Paul states that the Jews may be grafted into the tree by belief or in the same way that the Gentiles were grafted in. No doubt, the tree into which both Jew and Gentile may be grafted is the tree of faith.
The Jews were broken off because of unbelief; the Gentiles were grafted in by belief. “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree.” (Romans 11: 17.) The Gentiles therefore by belief and obedience of the gospel were made partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree. In Romans 11: 17, the word partakest is from sunkoinonos, and means a participant with others in anything, joint partner. (Thayer, p. 593.) In Romans 11: 17, it is used with the genitive of the thing in which they were joint partners or co participants, that is, the root and fatness of the olive tree. Therefore, in view of this statement, fellowship with the root and fatness of the olive tree is contingent upon belief and obedience of the gospel.
The Jews were cut off because of unbelief and the Gentiles had been grafted in because of belief, but they also could be cut off anytime they rejected the gospel. Therefore, Paul says, “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.” (Romans 11: 21-23.)
Again, fellowship with the people of God involves faith, but faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17.) Therefore, fellowship with the olive tree involves abiding in the truth of God. Those who by disbelief reject the word of God do not have fellowship with the olive tree. Those who have rejected the truth of the gospel are cut off by God, that is, God has cut off fellowship with them; therefore, the people of God should not fellowship those with which God has no fellowship.
Fellowship with the Gospel
To the Corinthians Paul stated that he became all things to all men that he by all means might save some men. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 9: 22.) He then added this significant statement: “And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” (1 Corinthians 9: 23.) Paul became all things to all men that they might be saved and he might be a partaker with them in the salvation of the gospel. The word partaker means to be a participant with others in anything or to be a joint partner. (Cf. Thayer, p. 593.) Paul was a joint partner with the Corinthians in the benefits and blessings of the gospel.
Paul made many sacrifices in order that the gospel might be received by various nations of people and in order that he might share in the benefits, blessings and triumphs of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He even refused his power to receive support from the Corinthians in order that he might not be charged with abusing his power in the gospel. Even then, he had nothing of which to boast, saying, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for a necessity is laid upon me; woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9: 16.) Paul wishes the Corinthians to understand that he willingly made great sacrifices that he might share with them in the blessings of redemption and the glories of heaven itself.*
*Shelby G. Floyd originally published The Right Hands of Fellowship in The Informer, bulletin of the Garfield Heights Church of Christ in Indianapolis, Indiana, September 23, 1973—March 17, 1974. The lessons are now presented in a thirteen week class format with questions for discussion. Copyright ©2002, 2008 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved
QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON
1. What is the heavenly calling in which both Jew and Gentile have been made partakers?
2. How does Paul describe this heavenly calling in Phil. 3: l b?
3. Discuss the universal scope of this heavenly calling in view of Rom. 9: 24.
4. Discuss how this heavenly calling relates to the gospel and the church.
5. State why the Jew had been broken off the olive tree and the Gentile grafted in?
What is the olive tree?
6. Upon what condition is fellowship with the root and fatness of the olive tree contingent?
7. Discuss the false doctrines of the impossibility of apostasy and predestination in view of
Paul’s teaching in Romans 11: 21-23.
8. Can God’s people have fellowship with those who do not have fellowship with the olive tree?
9. How did Paul become a joint partner with the Corinthians in the benefits of the gospel?
10. Discuss how fellowship with these spiritual things applies today.
SCRIPTURE TEXTS
Rom 15:27
27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in
the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
NIV
Heb 3:1
3:1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the
apostle and high priest whom we confess.
NIV
Phil 3:14
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ
Jesus.
NIV
Eph 4:1
4:1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have
received.
NIV
Col 3:15-16
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and
be thankful.
NKJV
2 Thess 2:13-14
14to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NKJV
Rom 11:17
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been
grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,
NIV
Rom 11:21-23
21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but
kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut
off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft
them in again.
NIV
1 Cor 9:23
23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
NIV
1 Cor 9:16
16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do
not preach the gospel!
NIV
MEMORY VERSE
Heb 3:1
3:1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the
apostle and high priest whom we confess.
NIV