"They Continued Steadfastly..." - From The Christian

by S.J. Hill | Category: General | May 1972

"They continued steadfastly ... in the Fellowship", that is in active participation in those things which they had in common as added together ones. They had been brought into a partnership, and this involved privileges and responsibilities. No longer were they independent units, but were mutually responsible one to another under the Lord's controlling hand. To use a common illustration, we may compare them to a piece of mechanism, say a watch, only that in this case there were more than three thousand different parts. The effect produced by the teaching of the apostles we may liken unto the skilful placing of the various parts in their proper positions relative to one another. Then the whole is set going, each one moving in his appointed sphere and doing his appointed work, each contributing to the efficiency of the whole, but with no confusion, no interference, no jarring.

Thus this word views the company not merely as rightly placed and ordered but as workers in fellowship. Note that an assembly is viewed as a company of workers as well as a company of worshippers, and it becomes all in an assembly to be exercised firstly to know what to do and then to do it with all their might in fellowship with others.

Unquestionably there are great dangers of disagreement and trouble amongst a company of workers, and especially in a day such as the present, when after grave departure from the truth, there is an anxiety in many to be conformed to the will of God as to methods of service. Al such a time and in such a connexion the epistle to the Philippians appeals to us with peculiar appropriateness and force, for its subject is that of fellowship in service. Its address is suggestive. Paul and Timothy as servants send the letter. Here we have an example of true yokefellows in the service of the Lord. They address their letter to "all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the overseers and ministers". Thus the saints are viewed also as united with their leaders in the service of the Lord.

Then he goes on to warn them against a party spirit by alluding to certain in Rome who were preaching Christ even of envy and strife. We may judge that the danger to the Philippians was very real for the apostle to adopt so extreme a course as to hold up as a beacon that which was happening in another assembly.

S.J. Hill | May 1972
General