Pursuing Unity and Purity In the Local Church

Unity is Gods design

God’s Cosmic Reconciliation Plan

Ephesians has revealed to us God’s master plan and it’s been called his Cosmic Reconciliation. God is bringing all things together through and under Christ. If you were asked, what’s God doing in this world, what’s the big picture?” An appropriate response would be, he’s bringing about peace and harmony in this world? This is true peace and harmony, not the kind our world fantasizes about but a peace that is brought about by the rule and reign of Jesus!

Ephesians 1:22 ESV

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

The Church is where this happens. The Church enjoys a measure of this peace now. We don’t have it perfectly yet, but we enjoy a measure of it now. We are united in and under Christ. We are made one body, possessed by the same One Spirit, we have one hope, we are all under the same Lord, we all have the same one faith, one baptism, and are all worshiping the same One God and Father of creation!

The reason we enjoy this peace is because God has done what we could not do in the sacrifice of his Son! Not only did God make peace between us and him, but he has made peace between us and each other.

Ephesians 2:15–16 ESV

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Eph.

So the Church is ground zero for where God’s peace reigns! In addition, the Church is the place that is divinely commissioned to extend God’s peace and reign in this world!

Ephesians 3:8–10 ESV

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

As we preach the Gospel and bring others under the Lordship of Christ to be his obedient followers, we extend God’s reign and therefore his peace. The Church is God’s outpost in enemy territory to extending his rule and reign in this world.

So how high of a priority do we think unity in a local congregation is to our heavenly father? Jesus died to purchase our peace, put us together as his people to enjoy and spread his peace. It’s a high priority to God, and it should be to us also!

read vs. 1

The Goals of Design of Unity

It shows off how good he is!

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Eph. 3:

God put us in the Church for the purpose of showing how great and marvelous he is!

It's meant to make us mature

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

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,

It’s not uniformity, but a unity Different people different gifts, one in Christ. It shows off how good he is! It's meant to make us mature

The Church exists to make individual Christians more mature. Mature in their knowledge of Christ and their lifestyle patterns. This means that even the difficult persons in a Church are intentionally placed in the Church for your spiritual maturity.

Our commitment to a local congregation is vital for your own spiritual growth.

Illustration: In the last month I’ve heard of two Church fights, and been told of multiple people leaving a healthy congregation for issues unrelated to doctrinal differences. (While it’s not always wrong to leave a Church) we live in a culture that disdains commitment and doesn’t value long term relationships. But God has ordained a long stint in a healthy congregation is the means for your and your family spiritual growth.

How We Pursue Unity

How We Pursue Unity

Commit Ourselves to A Local Congregation vs. 11-13 Live a holy and edifying lifestyle vs. 25 Walk in a new lifestyle of self-sacrificing love Walk together as light

1. Commit Ourselves to Minister To A Local Congregation vs. 11-13

-God Gives the Church Pastor’s to equip and guard the congregation for ministry

Submitting yourself to the leadership of a healthy Church and follow their teaching!

-God has gifted you for the purpose of ministry

Seek to use those giftings for the benefit of the body!

Our primary method of doing this is to Speak the truth to each other vs.15 (Even in song)

Application

Have you committed yourself to your small group yet? In your heart have you said, “How can I encourage a brother or sister in this class, this year? Are you purposing to invest time, energy, money so that you can help other Christians mature in Christ?

-Pray for everyone in your class, once a week.

-Read your lesson and be a part of the discussion in the class each week.

-Invite someone new to your home for supper.

-If you see someone down, try to encourage them, press into their life.

-If you notice someone struggling with a sin, lovingly bring it up, offer encouragement, offer to pray for them!

2. Live a holy and edifying lifestyle vs. 25

2. Live a holy and edifying lifestyle vs. 25 Walk in a new lifestyle of self-sacrificing love Walk together as light

It is vital for us as a congregation to be pure in our lives. It affects the impact of our message!

Application

1) We must guard the unity of the spirit by maintaining a pure membership! Sometimes Visible unity is only maintained through corrective discipline.

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV

11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Titus 3:11 ESV

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

We pursue loving accountability and loving Church discipline. Sin and false doctrine are disruptive, and if a person persists in opposition to God and his ways, he is no longer walking in unity with the Lord and his Church. The message of the gospel is weakened and God’s glory is diminished. Sometimes this is only recovered by putting men out of the Church!

If you

So Paul gives exhortations for holy living among its members.

Put Away

Lying, uncontrolled anger, stealing, corrupting speech, bitterness and wrath, and unrestrained sexual desires.

So we are to live a holy lifestyle, one that is equal to the blessings we have recieved in Christ! This promotes the unity of the Church. When I walk in holiness it honors Christ and edifies other believers. When we sin, we hinder the progress of other Christians! On the opposite, Churches with unholy people, profane the gospel! THIS IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!

A. Including Resolving Personal Conflicts vs. 31-32

A Church divided over personal conflicts is not bringing glory to God or honoring his death for them!

Application

If you come to one of the Elders of the Church and say “so and so has sinned or has a problem” and we ask you to go and help make it right and you absolutely refuse, then we will have to discipline you from the Church before

Gossiping, slandering, bitterness, un-forgiveness, and a refusal to pursue real peace among other brothers hinders the unity of the Spirit. Resentment destroys the unity of the Spirit and the cause which God has enlisted us in. We have higher issues than our petty grievances, our selfish interests, our interests are in heaven and in Christs kingdom, our life is to be involved in his work, therefore brothers we must cultivate a forgiving spirit!

Walk in a new lifestyle of self-sacrificing love Walk together as light

3. Walk in a new lifestyle of self-sacrificing love 5:1

We are to imitate the example of our heavenly father in giving ourself for the benefit of his Church. We are to love Christ’s church. This doesn’t save us, but it’s the appropriate response of those whom God has saved!

4. Walk together as light vs. 7-11

We are to seek to confront the world’s sinfulness with our lifestyle and with our words. A church that doesn’t evangelize is not in harmony with it’s Lord who said he came to call sinners to repentance!

A Reminder of Our Church Covenant!

How this Is Possible?

1. We are Gods new creation!

This is only possible for men who are born again. If God hasn’t changed you, this won’t work.

We accomplish this as we are filled with the Spirit/dependent on the Spirit.

2. We are Dependent On the Spirit!