God’s goal of unity

Unity is a reflection of God’s person

Dt 6:4; Jn 17:22

See also Jn 17:11; Mk 12:29; Mk 12:32; Ga 3:20; Jn 1:1; 1 Jn 5:7

Alienation is a result of sin

Alienation from God

Ge 3:8; Ge 3:23–24; Is 59:2; Eze 28:16; Jas 4:4

Alienation from one another

Ge 4:7–9; Ge 4:23–24; Ge 6:11; Jas 4:1–2; Jud 19

God’s purpose in unity

To bring together all peoples

Ps 133:1; Eph 1:9–10

To unite all peoples under his rule

Zechariah 14:9 NASB 95

And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.

See also Re 11:15; Php 2:9–11; Jn 10:16; Ge 49:10; Is 2:2–4; Ps 72:8–11

To unite all peoples in worship

Isaiah 19:23–25 NASB 95

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

See also Re 15:4; Zec 14:16; Ps 86:9; Is 56:6–8; Zec 8:20–23; Mk 11:17

To bring reconciliation between Jew and Gentile

Ephesians 2:11–19 NASB 95

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

See also Is 14:1; Ro 10:12; Col 3:11; Ga 3:28

To bring reconciliation among his people

Jeremiah 50:4 NASB 95

“In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the Lord their God they will seek.

See also Php 4:2; Mic 2:12; Is 11:10–13; Eze 37:21–24; Mt 5:24

To reconcile humanity to himself

Colossians 1:19–22 NASB 95

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

See also 2 Co 5:18–19; Ro 5:10–11; Heb 10:19–20

Expressions of unity brought by God

Unity between husband and wife

Genesis 2:24 NASB 95

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

See also 1 Co 6:16; Mal 2:15; 1 Co 7:10–11; 1 Co 7:4; Mt 19:5–6

Marriage as an expression of unity between God and his people

Je 2:2; Eph 5:31–32

See also Je 31:32; Ho 2:16; Is 54:5; Jn 3:29; Re 19:7; Re 21:2; Re 21:9

Unity within the church

John 17:21 NASB 95

that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me.

See also Eph 4:13; Ac 4:32; 1 Co 1:10; 1 Co 12:12; Ac 2:1; 1 Co 10:17