Unity
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Unity
TEXT: John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
THESIS: To teach the scriptural point of view of unity.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Because of the expansive nature of the word unity, it touches on a variety of topics in the Bible.
2. There is unity between God and man and the means by which that is achieved.
3. There is also unity amongst ourselves and how we are able to achieve that unity.
4. There is unity among friends.
5. If a man is going to be in unity with God, and with other men, or even in marriage, then there are at least three aspects we have to remember.
DISCUSSION:
I. Unity In Character (1 Cor. 13:4-7) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
A. Throughout the book of 1st Corinthians, Paul listed problem after problem with the church in Corinth
They had divisions over financial issues (1 Cor. 6:1)
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
They had divisions with favorite preachers and teachers (1 Cor 1:10-15),
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
3. Divisions over property, business, and money 1 Cor. 6:1-11
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Divisions over moral issues surrounding marriage(1 Cor. 7)
lack of care for offending a weak point in a brother’s faith (1 Cor. 8), use of miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-11) and various others problems that were caused by a lack of Christian character.
2. The turning point of the whole epistle centers around chapter 13
a) Paul could speak every language but be nothing in God's sight
(1 Cor. 13:1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
b) Paul would be of no value because he had a gift of prophecy, could understand every scripture and all knowledge, and have all the faith in the world to accomplish God's will, if he did not have love.
B. If we are going to be united with each other in any sense of the word it is going to require a Christian character (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
1. The Lord said to be people of love and that the world would know us by our love for one another (John 13:35) “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
2. God defines Biblical love for us in chapter 13 of first Corinthians.
C. John wrote that we should love one another (1 John 3:11) and that those who are in unity with God, are those that dwell in love (1 John 4:16).
D. There are numerous other scriptures that teach us to be a people of love, as has been defined (1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble minded” [ASV]; Colossians 3:14 “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
II. Unity in Priority (Matt. 22:37 “And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”)
A. We must have a priority to do that which is right (1 Pet. 1:16 “because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.”)
B. We must have the right goals in life as individuals (Mark 8:36-37 “For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?”)
C. We must realize that our goal as the church is to make known the wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10-11 To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”)
D. We must remember our number one mission is the salvation of lost souls (Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
III. Unity in Authority (Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”)
A. Whatever we do in any area of religious devotion, moral choosing, worship of God, must be done in the name of Jesus, and that means by the authority, by the authorization, or commands given by God. (Act 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men”)
B. If we are going to be united in Christ as the one body, we have to remember there is only one faith, or better said, one system of faith (Eph 4:3-6 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”)
C. We have to remember who is our head, the head (1 Cor. 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”)
CONCLUSION:
1. Unity can only be approached when the people seeking to be united, seek to share a common character.
2. Unity can only be attempted when we share a common goal with a common priority that we seek to achieve and put first.
3. Unity can only attained when we walk by the same standard of life and submit to the same authority for all our actions.
4. Phil. 2:2 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”