What ‘Two Are Better Than One’ Teaches Us about Christian Fellowship

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Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, one thing is for sure: we are called to fellowship with one another in Jesus Christ. As we have been reconciled to God through Christ as sons and daughters, we have been reconciled to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. This unity is a reality we come to recognize as believers, and one we are to grow in continually. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian, for that is not how God created us. 

With that introduction, I want to discuss why “two are better than one” holds true in Christian fellowship. The concept alone comes from Scripture itself in the book of Ecclesiastes where it states: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). This verse is consistent with the idea that there is strength in numbers because it's true, you are able to accomplish more with the help of others than you could on your own. Moreover, such unity entails that we are united to God through Jesus Christ.

One Body

Jesus’ High Priestly prayer in John 17:21 includes a request for unity for His disciples: “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” That unity our Savior prays for amongst each other is tied with His unity with God the Father, and how that includes us, so that it would bear witness to the world that He was sent by God the Father. That has tremendous implications for Christian fellowship, because it bears witness to the world that we are in Christ, who has come into the world to save sinners. We know that very well because we are the recipients of His grace, knowing that we did not earn or deserve salvation. In Christ, we are both reconciled to God the Father and to one another as the body of Christ, that is, the church. Therefore, why would there be division? That is inconsistent with who we are, the people of God. Like the apostle Paul states to the church at Corinth, which was suffering such division:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).

This is the reality for us believers; thus, who are we to tear that asunder? We are a living witness before a dying world, so why are we consumed with tearing each other apart when we are to be building each other up in unity?

No Neglecting One Another

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).

Christian fellowship also teaches us that there are no lone rangers in the body of Christ. As the author of Hebrews noted, some neglected to meet together with other believers to the point that it became a habit. Without the body of Christ, someone trying to live the Christian life on their own will struggle because they have no one to hold them accountable and encourage them. Sure, they may say “I don’t need anyone except God,” yet isn't it the same God who said “it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)? That text is referring to Adam’s need for a companion, which would ultimately be with Eve, but it highlights our need for companionship rather than solitude. Just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are united in fellowship, so that applies to us. 

We can affirm that two are better than one because iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Spiritual growth is more effective in community because we can encourage each other and pray for one another. I am grateful to those whom the Lord has used as encouragement in my life, because they have been of tremendous help in my own walk with God. Hearing others' testimonies has been a significant encouragement to me because it reminds me that I am not alone on this journey. First and foremost, the Lord is with me, and He will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8), and we are on this walk of faith together as the body of Christ. 

That being said, having the right company matters. Proverbs 13:20 states it clearly: “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” We have to be discerning regarding who we surround ourselves with because they will either build us up or tear us down. This likewise applies to the church, where we must discern with whom we associate ourselves. Not everyone who professes to be a Christian is truly Christian. Some are either immature in their faith or not saved at all. Additionally, some treat church like a social club rather than God’s House. To grow in our spiritual maturity, we need to surround ourselves with those who likewise share that desire to know the Lord and make Him known. Seasoned saints are a great example as they have been through the struggles, trials, and tribulations in their lives by the Lord’s grace and providence. 

Praise the Lord who has reconciled us to Himself and to one another. It doesn’t matter your background, for “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Being in fellowship is a blessing because we all are sinners saved by His marvelous grace. We are a family that extends far beyond our earthly family, here to encourage each other in the Lord. 

Love One Another

Therefore, as we loved the Lord, who has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 11:3), let us love another as He loved us (John 13:34). Without love, It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you know or what spiritual gifts you have because none of that matters without love (see 1 Corinthians 13, aka the love chapter). Let us pray that we grow in our love and service to one another as the body of Christ. For indeed, we are one body. That is our reality. Everyone has a part to play; no one is left out. That is what Christian fellowship entails: that we are all one with Christ. It doesn’t matter your background; what matters is that we are one in Christ.

In closing, let us consider Psalm 133 and pray for this kind of unity amongst ourselves as the church. May we grow in unity together to the glory of God. Amen.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!

It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore" (Psalm 131:1-3).

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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.