Unity The Fruit Of Maturity

Without doubt unity along with loving one another is the greatest fruit among believers. In recent times there has been attempts to establish unity on false pretenses.

Unity isn’t pretending that problems and differences don’t exist, but unity happens when Christians in a mature way focus on Christ and glorifying God.

As Christians we should actively seek and cultivate unity within our churches recognizing that our personal growth in faith is deeply interconnected with the spiritual health and growth of the body of Christ. This can help address issues like division or strife within congregations.

Ephesians 4:3–6 ESV

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.

Unity takes work, it means putting my brothers and sisters issues above my own. In this day of self centered culture we have been impacted by this. Understanding that our spiritual maturity is demonstrated by our commitment to one another as members of the body of Christ, called to love and serve each other.

The health and maturity of the church are measured by our commitment to unity, reflecting our collective identity in Christ, which is essential for effective witness to the world.

There are churches out there that have a uniformity based on a hierarchy which is not unity, but rather authority that can never be questioned.

The struggle with bible believing churches is, we can question authority, which is a good thing most of the time. But there are moments divisions happen for unjustifiable reasons. satan isnt bothered about churches ran under a hierarchy he is more concerned about bible believing churches. They are a greater threat to him. this is why bible believing churches often go through more troubles than hierarchical churches.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider using Logos to explore the theological implications of unity in Psalm 133, particularly looking at its historical context. In John 17, delve into the nuances of Jesus' prayer to understand its implications for believers today. Paul’s teaching in Ephesians can be examined through a study of the original language to better grasp what he means by 'growing up into Christ'. These insights will enrich your sermon, making the call to unity more resonant with your audience.

Psalm 133:1 ESV

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

Galatians 5:14–15 ESV

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Psalm 133:2 NASB95

It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard,Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

Oil often being emblematic of the Holy Spirit, typifies the oil of joy and gladness. In context Gods people were in unity as they approached the temple to worship. Their minds were on the Lord.

Psalm 133:3 ESV

It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Jesus' Prayer for Oneness

John 17:21–23 ESV

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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Jesus has never prayed a prayer that was never answered or outside the Fathers will. As impossible as it sounds church unity will be accomplished.

3. Paul's Path to Maturity

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

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.

Heresy is one of the biggest hindrances to unity in the body of Christ. False Teachers will start a sect, or splinter group. then it could eventually turn into a cult.

Another big hindrance is spiritual immaturity. We die on hills not worth dying on

It must be said however that sometimes there has to be division based on truth. Jesus said He didnt come to bring peace but a sword.

Matthew 10:34–36 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.