What Is The Unity Of The Faith?
Questions Of Eternal Consequence • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Today, we continue our series of lessons on “Questions Of Eternal Consequences.”
In this series we have asked and answered many of the spiritual questions people in the world of Christendom simply do not want to have.
We have asked and answered questions on the “one church”, the “requirement of baptism for salvation”, “is there a hell”, and many others.
I have planned out many others as well, such as next week’s, “Can We Know We Are Saved”, “Do miracles happen today” and “Can I judge my fellow man?”
Today, however, we are going to be asking and answering the question “What Is The Unity Of The Faith” mentioned in Ephesians 4:13?
Let’s read Ephesians 4:11-16 now.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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,
14 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. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 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.
Unfortunately, far too many people in the world have a definition of unity that is no where to be found in the scriptures.
Stephen Cukpatrick defined Christian unity as…
“Christian denominations and movements coming together in various forums to affirm their shared Christian faith and witness…”
However, unity in the bible is clearly defined and described by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10 as something different.
Notice what God wrote to the church in 1 Corinthians 1:10 through the apostle Paul.
10 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.
How can anyone believe contradictory doctrines such as it is sinful for women to be leaders in the church and yet everyone be united in fellowship still?
This isn’t speaking the same things and having “no divisions” or being “perfectly joined together in the same mind.”
This is because…
Biblical Unity Isn’t…
Biblical Unity Isn’t…
Everyone Is Saved
Everyone Is Saved
There is this strange thing that happens in Christendom wherein it is constantly and pervasively stated that it doesn’t matter what anyone teaches or believes doctrinally concerning God’s word, as long as they believe in Jesus as their Savior.
This is evident by the vast amount of contradictory doctrines that are in Christendom.
Some believe that once you are saved you cannot loose your salvation while others believe you can loose your salvation.
And yet in most cases both sides will say other will go to heaven believing such vastly contradictory doctrines.
Some believe that women can be preachers, deacons, or any number of leadership roles while others believe the bible says this is sinful.
And yet again, in most cases, both sides will agree that the other will go to heaven believe, teaching, and accepting what they each call of the other “false teachings.”
Some believe you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and receive the “gift of the Spirit” which is the miraculous gifts such as found in 1 Corinthians 12-14, and yet others believe this false doctrine.
And yet both sides will say their “false teaching brethren” will each end up in heaven even though they believe the other is leading others away from the truth.
Unity is not saying that everyone that believes in Jesus will be saved.
Yes, God wants everyone to be saved, without a doubt.
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
No, God will not save everyone just because they call themselves a Christian and say everyone else who does the same will be saved.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ”
Biblical unity isn’t…
The Majority Rules
The Majority Rules
There is no “voting system” wherein humanity has a vote on what is right or wrong.
However, this is exactly what we find in the Christendom religion.
We see group after group voting by majority on changing their creeds, confessions, or group messages of faith.
These man made documents do not determine truth.
The bible, God’s word is truth, not whatever man says about the bible.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
The bible, God’s word is sufficient for living righteous and thus godly lives based on the truth.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence
God has never based any of his word on the majority rule.
Lastly here, biblical unity isn’t…
Accepting Division
Accepting Division
If the other two points we just discussed didn’t demonstrate this let us break it down even further.
The reason we have discussed what we have up to this point is because this is what we find in denominationalism.
In fact the word “denomination” literally means… “divided from the whole.”
If you have a denomination of $1.00 in coins you have a division of a dollar which could be four quarters, or ten dimes, or even one hundred pennies.
Any way you look at it the $1.00 bill has been divided into different coins.
The reason denominations call themselves denominations is because they know they are divided on many doctrinal issues but all seeking the same goal, heaven.
And because they all want to go to heaven, but all want to go the way they see fit, they have accepted division as unity and called it good.
The bible couldn’t be any further from this.
Jesus didn’t pray from unity in division, he prayed for complete unity.
20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 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.
Paul never taught unity in division either.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel
Summary
Summary
Biblical unity isn’t saying everyone is going to be saved and going to heaven no matter what they believe they bible teaches, or that the majority rules on matters of doctrine, or that division itself is ok.
So what is the “unity of the faith then?
Biblical Unity Is…
Biblical Unity Is…
Founded In Love
Founded In Love
Unity is based on loving God above all else.
27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Unity therefore is must be based on loving his children.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
However, both loving God and his children cannot be actually understood in their proper context without recognizing that biblical unity is…
Structured By God’s Word
Structured By God’s Word
No one can love God or love his beloved children without loving his word.
This is exactly what the psalmist was getting at in the MEM section of Psalm 119 which begins with..
97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
It ends with…
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
A love for God’s word, which keeps us faithful, is what allows us to understand “how to love God.”
This is why Jesus tells us, his disciples, how to love God and be God’s friend when he said…
23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
This is why God tells us how to love his children, and it is the exact same way as we just read.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
This means we cannot love God or love his children without keeping his word.
If this is the case then we should be able to find passages that support unity being based living according to God’s word, and we most certainly do.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
10 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.
Summary
Summary
Unity or fellowship isn’t a catchall phrase but a powerful word that communicates our harmony with God and all others that striving to walk in that same light of God’s word as us.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What is the unity of the faith, it is the fellowship of likeminded children of God striving together to get to heaven based on God’s word not personal opinions.
It is the most beautiful of things when every person, in perfect harmony, join together to fight the good fight of faith within the blessed bonds of peace.
Invitation
Today, like in the last several weeks, we have covered something that not many want to discuss or cared to listen to.
I beg everyone here not only to take what I have said and go back and verify it, but if it is to be found true, take and if necessary make the proper corrections needed in your walk with God.
Maybe the correction you need to make in your life is based on you having not obeyed the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The journey to an eternity of love begins by obedience to this gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Don’t spend and another minute in this life, getting closer to the next life, without making certain you are saved according to God’s plan of salvation.
Maybe the correction you need to make in your life is based on you not actually loving God’s word.
By that I mean you do not hunger and thirst to know God’s word, and meditate on it day and night.
If you would like for your church family to help you in that journey and grow to back to loving God’s word again let us know so that we can help you gain or regain that love.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
