Unity of the Body of Christ
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what has destroyed our nation
Racism
politics
greed
hatred
heathenism
the real issue is disunity
You pick an issue and you will find at least 2 sides so firmly entrenched against the others that they will not cannot hear the pain of the other side and soon we no longer recognize their humanity. The other side simply becomes the enemy which must be defeated. The scum of the earth to be cleaned up so their betters can live in a better world. But do you hear the hatred and disrespect of that. You see by rejecting unity we have fought amongst ourselves and destroyed our nation yet even worse we have done the same within the church. We have fought and bickered over everything from doctrine to the color of the carpet and along the way Baptists have looked down on Pentecostals and Pentecostals on Presbyterians and Presbyterians on Methodists and Methodists on Assembly of God and Assembly of God on the Baptists. Until all we have accomplished is to tear apart the Body of Christ. That’s not to say some arguments like those of Doctrine do not have merit but rather let us as today’s passage says to bear with one another in love to speak the truth in love and to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. God wants a unified Church.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
One Hope
One Hope
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
walk in manner - worthy of the calling - called to be saints 1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
called to be children of God above Reproach
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
the bride of christ the light of the world the salt of the earth the body of Christ the heirs of heaven and so much more so then let us walk worthy of that calling
with these attitudes humility gentleness patience and peace
why do we live this way
one hope - Christ saves us
Christ unites us in our salvation
We as the church of God cannot create divisions in ourselves because it breaks the unity of the body of Christ
All Christians are saved by the shed blood of Christ.
One Purpose
One Purpose
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
We often think that people with titles are more important and this carries over into the church. Apostle prophets evangelists shepherds and teachers must be important people correct? Are not the knowledgeable to be given honor?
I tell you they are no more important than any other.
Knowledge has but one purpose to equip the saints for ministry.
Did you catch that is not the preachers and teachers ministry but the ministry of the all the saints
it is the saints job to build the body of Christ
Build the body of christ
New members - evangelism
mature manhood - discipleship
know doctrine - prevent heretics from influencing the church
Teachers preachers evangelists and pastors all help to equip the saints to do this but it all the saints job to do this.
One Responsibility
One Responsibility
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Grow the body of Christ
Difference between building and growing the body of Christ
building means taking more material and adding to something
growing means taking something that is whole and enlarging and strengthening it.
In this case we are talking of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We can all help each other. Even if one of our fellow saints is spiritually older or wiser than us does not mean they don't have struggles or weaknesses. They too need prayer and encouragement.
It is our duty our responsibility to lift each other up when we fall to help each other grow and be strengthened in the faith.
Yet our motive here is not duty but rather love
We help each other grow because of our love for each other.
We are one body united in Christ at the head and we only work when we are looking out for one another.
Imagine a man trying to walk with a leg that is strong and another that is weak as a kitten. It aint hard y'all know what its like to have a leg fall asleep yet the other is working fine. But you cant get much done like that. Imagine if that was permanent. Yet this is how many churches today operate one leg or maybe an arm working while the rest of the body is being dragged along.
Let us instead be strengthening each other and helping each other grow that the whole body be strong. that we might accomplish the work that lies before us.
Invitation
I pray that we be united in one hope one purpose and one responsibility that we might be ready to faithfully serve Christ as his body in accordance with his direction. Will you church today decide to seek unity and faithfully fulfill your purpose to build up the body and your responsiblity to each other to grow the body.
Yet maybe you are listening and you have never accepted Christ. You feel tired alone and defeated by life. You can find rest peace and hope today if you will admit your sin before a righteous God and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross to pay the price for your sins and make him Lord of your life. Then you too can join this family and find love beyond measure.