Unity

Romans 12:9–13 KJV 1900

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

The Church Jesus Built

Notice this earliest picture of Christ’s Church. In Acts 2:1 “1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

on the day of Pentecost—the very first day the New Testament Church came into existence—with the disciples reported as gathered in “one accord,” 3,000 converts were baptized. They formed the very beginning of Christ’s building of His Church. The description of them was “and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship”—

Acts 2:42 “42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

—and “all that believed were together”—

Acts 2:44 “44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;”

—as well as “they, continuing daily with one accord...did eat their [food] with gladness and singleness of heart”—

Acts 2:46 “46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”

From these verses, we clearly see that the Church Christ built was unified. It was in agreement over doctrine—and was together.

Acts 2:47 “47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Notice verse 47: “And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.”

In the Church Christ guides and directs, He is the One who adds to it, and builds it!

Now here we are today a group of believers making up the church we are part of the new testamant church

I. We are an individualistic society, but we recognize the need to work together to achieve goals.

A. We form companies to manufacture goods

B. Sports most you have more than 1 individual, multiple players on a team(working together)

C. There are aspects of Christianity that I am responsible for as an individual, but it is also a joint effort

1.Jesus built his church - Matthew 16:18 “18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

2. The church isn’t an individual but a group working together - Ephesians 4:1–3 “1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

3. Notice the phrase “forebearing” or “forgiving” in Ephesians 4:3 and in Colossians 3:13 “13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

a. “The apostle Paul admonished the believers to forgive and love each other and to have a forgiving attitude toward each other. If believers cannot endure the small drawbacks and irritations of everyday life, how shall they endure the great trials (sickness, persecution, death) when they come?” [The Complete Biblical Library].

b. Christianity is about our relationships with each other.

4. We are working together to cause each of us to grow - Ephesians 4:16 “16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

II. The key is love

A. Without love, the things we do are worthless - I Corinthians 13:1-3

B. Jesus commands that we love one another - John 13:34–35 “34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

1. This is our distinguishing mark that we are following Christ

2. Our relationship is critical

C. Through our love, we serve one another - Galatians 5:13–15 “13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

1. Without it, we turn on each other. Looking for and finding faults.

III. We live in harmony

A. Be devoted to one another, give preference to each other - Romans 12:10 “10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

1. look at the last phrase as

2. The verb (preferring)proegeomai means to lead the way

3. This is not a passive attitude

B. We have an equal attitude toward all our brethren - Romans 12:16 “16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

C. We accept each other - Romans 15:7 “7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

D. We greet each other when we meet - Romans 16:16 “16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”

E. No relationship is perfect, because we are not perfect. However, we are kind, sympathetic, and forgiving to each other - Ephesians 4:32 “32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

IV. We worship together

A. We sing together - Ephesians 5:19 “19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

B. We put each other’s preferences before our own - Ephesians 5:21 “21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

C. We pray for each other - James 5:15 “15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

D. We remember together - 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 “16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

V. We encourage each other

A. We strengthen and lift each other up in the face of potential discouragement

B. We need such to grow - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

C. Without it, we might become hardened to sin. We might drift away - Hebrews 3:12–14 “12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

D. We stir each other up - Hebrews 10:23–25 “23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

VI. How can we think that the church is not needed or that coming together is optional?

A. Pride might cause you to think you don’t need help, but that doesn’t make it true

B. God designed Christianity around communities of believers who work together and help each other. God knows what He is doing.

C. If you love God, you must also love your brethren - 1 John 4:21 “21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

VII. Let us take care of one another and don’t neglect the gift God has given us in the church