The word fellowship means "joint communion; partaker; joint participation." Let's consider what it means to have fellowship with one another and with God.

"That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." {1 John 1:3}

1. Fellow Heirs." ... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel," {Ephesians 3:6} We have an inheritance prepared for us. Read 1 Peter 1:3-9.
2. Fellow Members. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." {1 Corinthians 12:2} We are members of Christ's family (the church), and He is its head.
3. Fellow Partakers. "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end," {Hebrews 3:14} As members of His one body, we share in all the blessings promised to those who are in Christ. Read Ephesians 1:3.
4. Fellow Citizens. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," {Ephesians 2:19} This world is just a temporal dwelling. We have a permanent home beyond the bright blue. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," {Philippians 3:20}
5. Fellow Laborers. "And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." {Philippians 4:3} In the parable of the talents, Jesus showed that we all have different abilities. Yet, we work together as a team to achieve good for Christ and His cause.
6. Fellow Soldiers. "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." {2 Timothy 2:4} The Lord's army consists of Christian men and women. Our common enemies are Satan and sin. We must willingly engage in conflict and defeat these enemies. To assist our accomplishment of this task, we have God's love and the armor He has provided-His word. Please read Ephesians 6:10-18.
7. Fellow Prisoners. "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." {Romans 16:7} During our sojourn here on earth, we are imprisoned by various things-depression, suffering, sickness, and discouragement to name a few. These things, along with other discomforts, have as their purpose holding us in bondage to Satan. Yet, through Jesus Christ we have hope.
   
   "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil," {Hebrews 6:19}

In this wonderful relationship, we share many things with God, and with one another. We could not be members of a greater family than one whose citizenship is in heaven {Philippians 3:20}. Through Christ, God's children everywhere belong to His spiritual family. Are you part of the chain?