Category Archives: Partakers

Bible, Companions, Grace, Partakers, Partner, Scripture

PARTAKERS OF GRACE

PHILIPPIANS 1:7

“For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.” 

I have several “companions” in ministry. I am closer to some than others. Do you know how we got closer? We spent time together. Some of these brothers I have known for 20 or more years. Some are recent acquaintances. Time spent together makes all the difference. We have experienced things together. We have cried, laughed and prayed together. We have truly experienced grace together.

Paul had a lot of companions in ministry. I love that he calls the Philippians his “partakers of grace.” The Greek word for “partakers” is sugkoinónos.  It comes “from sun and koinonos; a co-participant — companion, partake(-r, -r with).” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) Remember, that little preposition sun is that inseparable “with” used in the Greek. Paul had been bound together with these brothers through the grace they shared in Jesus.

APPLICATION

This word sugkoinónos may look a little familiar. Part of it, koinonos, comes from a word we looked at earlier, koinonia, which means fellowship, communion. It is always good to do a deep dive word study on these compound words like sugkoinónos to see where they come from. This word is only used three other times in the New Testament. Let’s look at them.

In Romans 11:17, Paul uses this word when he writes, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,” God has grafted the Gentiles into the promises He made to Israel.

Paul uses this word again in 1 Corinthians 9:23. “I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” Paul was joined to the Gospel. His passion was to deliver it to everyone he met. But he also lived it every day. The Gospel of Jesus had grabbed him on that Damascus road and never let go.

Lastly, we see sugkoinónos used by John in Revelation 1:9 as he begins to share about his vision at Patmos. “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Being a partner isn’t always pleasant, especially if it means persecution.

Are you a partner with others today in grace? Do you share their passion to spread the Gospel? Are you willing to suffer along with others for the cause of Christ? Be a partaker of grace today.

Father God, You have bestowed on me the privilege to partake of Your grace and share it with others.

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Allies, Bible, Partakers, Partner, Scripture

THE RIGHT PARTNER

EPHESIANS 5:7

“Therefore do not become partners with them;”

You’ve probably heard the expression “Partners in Crime.” It’s meant to portray people who tend to stick together. Now, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. I have some friends who I can stick with through anything. I used to have some friends in my “before Christ” days who could have been classified in the negative way. We just looked for things to get in trouble. You may have people like that in your life. Perhaps this verse is for you today.

Paul warns the Ephesians again in today’s verse to stay away from those who practice all the negative things he has just written about. Their goal is to bring them down. Paul uses the same Greek word back in Ephesians 3:6 which is translated as “partners” here. These are the only two times this word is used in the New Testament. Interestingly enough, back in 3:6 it is used in a positive sense whereas here in today’s verse it is used negatively. You can be partakers or partners with a lot of people. You just have to guard against joining yourself to the wrong crowd.

APPLICATION

I love spy movies. Often in those movies someone will innocently get involved with a bad spy. Before they know it, they are wrapped up in their schemes and are doing things they never thought they would do. The same is true of us. I love how Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible explains this. It says it means “In their sins, and acts of disobedience; by keeping needless company with them; by abetting and encouraging sinful practices; by conniving at them, and not reproving for them; or by committing the same things.”

Who are your “buds”? Who do you hang out with the most? Are they a good influence on you and point you to Jesus or do they lead you away from the truth? Choose your friends wisely. Choose carefully whom you spend time with and associate with. Yes, we need to reach the lost. Yes, we need to get to know unbelievers and invite them to Jesus. But we cannot become wrapped up in their lives at the expense of our spiritual life.

The devil is very sneaky. He will send people into your life who seem above board. They may say all the right things, but they don’t believe them. To all of you out there who are dating an unbeliever – stop now. Don’t buy the lie that you can change them. You can’t. Only Jesus can. And if He wants them to be your spouse, He will change them into what you need to grow spiritually. Enough said!

Father, give me partners who agree with Your truth and can help build me up.

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Abiding, Access, Bible, Blessing, Church, Fellowship, Heirs, Members, Partakers, Scripture

FELLOWS

EPHESIANS 3:6

“to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”

Last night I had the privilege to attend a meeting with about 70 men here in Knoxville. I watched these men during the evening and was so encouraged at their fellowship. Many of them knew each other from the ministry where I serve, Every Man A Warrior. These guys hugged each other, shook hands, laughed and just generally enjoyed the night. What was amazing, though, was to see how they welcomed the other guys who were new to this. They made them feel welcomed and like, well, one of the fellows.

Don’t you just love this verse today? Paul tells the Ephesians that they are now fellow heirs, fellow members and fellow partakers. That’s a lot of fellows! In the Greek text, the word “fellow” does not occur. Each time it is really the preposition, sun or syn, which means to be closely identified with. You’ve heard me say it before that this preposition is that inseparable, permanent “with.” Paul wants us to know that these positions we are now in will always be that way.

APPLICATION

“Fellow heirs” is the Greek word sugkléronomos, which means “joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ.” (HELPS Word studies). We will share jointly in the inheritance of Christ. There will be no dividing the inheritance. We will all share it together forever.

“Fellow members” is the word sussómos, which literally means joint body. The body refers to the body of Christ as in the community of believers which make up the church. Some denominations think they are the only ones who will be in that body, that they are the only true church. Paul says differently here. If you have believed in Jesus and have given your life to Him, you are a permanent part of that body. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

The final “fellow” is “fellow partaker.” This is the word summetochos which means to be changed having taking part in something. The promise of Jesus Christ presented to us in the Gospel. The word is only used here and later in Ephesians 5:7 where it is used in a negative way. Let’s back up to verse 6 to get the context. “6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them;”

You are a fellow heir, member and partaker. Enjoy it!

Father, thank You for bringing me into the fold as an heir, a member and a partaker.

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