Harmony and oneness (Unity) in Messiah

An exhortation for oneness/Unity among believers.

Paul writing in Ephesians 4:1-6 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. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

This echos Christ’s prayer in John 17: 22 (.....that they may be one, even as we are one)

Paul’s exhortation to us all Coupled with Christ’s prayer for all of us

That we be ONE. This shows us the basis of being our unity. We share many things. If we could see that the father is in every one of us then we truly our brothers and sisters very highly!

Why is an exhortation on oneness vital?

There are many threats to oneness. One need only look around..

In the church communities all over the world (splits, factions etc)

In the wider world eg Kenya - tribalism, US/ N. America , Asia- race divisions failure to recognize that we are all the work og God who has made us of one blood. Acts

To build on what was discussed in previous sabbaths, such as:

No one should feel/made to feel inferior or superior to the other in the church,

Love of neighbor following the example of the Good samaritan, avoid tribalism

Last sabbath-phil 1:27 Dhumisha ushirikiano (co-operate), Kushikamana (be united), tuinuane (lift one another)

And from my Family study discussion on - Acts 15.

Though we are going to discuss unity in the church, the issue is the same in the world. If we do not see others as fellow human beings, with whom we share same blood, then what follows is the breakdown of society. In the world we must see the image of God in people and in the church not just the image of God but God living in them

Why Acts 15 : Lessons from the early church on oneness.

The church faced two divisions;

One stemmed from disagreement on doctrine. It nearly wrecked the church,

The second was minor. It was about personal preferences and methods and it did no harm to the church.

The Holy Spirit enabled the church to overcome these issues by reminding them of the recent events, relevant scriptures, and their meaning. See: John 14:26- HS will teach you all things, remind you what I-Christ- have said

Acts 15 is recorded for our learning and admonition. 1 Corinthians 10:11

The holy Spirit will always be with us as Christ said, and we also have the scripture to guide us.

Acts 15: Doctrinal issue: What must one do to be saved?

Acts 15:1-3 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension (Conflict) and disputation (debate)with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Key issues:

Misunderstanding of salvation in the new covenant. Is Salvation by grace only, or is it by grace and circumcision. “Except ye be circumcised..., ye cannot be saved.” Acts 15.1

Imposing of the law of Moses on Gentiles. Certain believing Jews insisted “that it was needful to command the Gentiles to keep the law of Moses”. Acts 15.5

Wrong interpretation of the scriptures. Being out of step with the will of God. Genesis 17:4-5, Abraham was to be a father of many nations - not just one. These things are not new, they were made known by God from ancient times , only we do not sometime are not aware. Isaiah 45:21

Dissension: DISCORD, conflict, contention, difference, disaccord, dissent, dissidence, disunity, strife, variance

Disputation: debate

Misunderstanding: Liberal christianity vs. orthodox christians. etc.

Cultural barriers. There are many depending on your culture (dress, food, music...etc)

Wrong interpretation: Prosperity gospel

Acts 15. How did the church resolve the major division

They endeavoured to dialog with one another (Paul and Barnabas made a long journey to Jerusalem) Acts 15:2 - 4. The Holy Spirit wants us to pursue peace with one another 1 Peter 3:11

They recognized what God had begun to do and was continuing to do in fellow believers. This led to the acceptance of the new believers.

Peter's vision ahead of cornelius house. Acts 15:7. God had purified (or cleansed) Cornelius’ household by faith. Only God can declare clean or unclean because he is the only law giver. Re-Leviticus

The same sentiment was echoed by Paul and Barnabas as they recounted the wonderful works of God in the Gentile community. Acts 15:12.

Peter emphasized that fairness demands that you treat others like you would like to be treated. According to Peter, the Law of Moses had been a “yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear.” This was Israel’s collective experience. Why impose on the gentiles what Israel could not bear? Acts 15:10.

Only God can declare clean or unclean because he is the only law giver. James 4:12 If he says I have cleansed Cornelius we cannot argue against that

We do not eat a porcupine because it has spikes but because God said do not eat a porcupine. That is the authority

Acts 15. How did the church resolve the major division (Continued)

4. Even with the testimony of Peter, Paul and Barnabas, it was James who gave the decisive proof from scripture as he endorsed the testimony they already presented. Acts 15:13.

Irrespective of our many and varied experiences, we must evaluate these experiences against the truth of scriptures. 2 Peter 1:18 “a more sure word of prophecy”

2 Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Acts 15: James resolved a doctrinal misunderstanding, restoring oneness in the church.

Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Note as Israel carried the name of God, so were the gentiles the Lord was calling having his name. Chosen by God.

Putting burdens on the gentiles would be equal to “tempting God” - a major sin, as Peter warned in Acts 15:10, Deut 6:16

Tabernacle of David is the house the Lord promised to build for him 2 Sam 7:27. That is the Kingdom of David included Jews and Gentiles View 2 Sam 8: , served David and his son willingly 1 Kings 4:21 under David’s rule was destroyed by sin as Israel went into exile in Amos’s time. Becoming a ruin. But the Kingdom was promised to last forever. James was saying that The raising of the Kingdom was happening before their very eyes. A kingdom very much like the original David’s kingdom as it was going to have Jews and Gentiles. All serving the Lord’s anointed King. In this case Yeshua.

The key message from James was that as the Tent of David was being built up, both Jews and Gentiles would be included in this kingdom. The gentiles would not be compelled to become Jews in this Kingdom much like in the earlier times. Both Jew and Gentile would be united in serving the risen King Son of David.

Acts 15: Dangers of doctrinal errors

This first disagreement would lead to the sin of “Tempting God” as Peter warned.

“Tempting God” see Acts 15:10 and is strictly forbidden in see Deut 6:16,Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. 1Cor 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

We should therefore accept our brethren irrespective of colour,culture, gender etc

Temp God. God had purified the gentiles by faith and gave them the Holy spirit without requiring circumcision. To imply that that work by God was incomplete and needed to be supplemented by circumcision was highly insulting to God. It is akin to overruling God’s decision.

Acts 15: Second disagreement: Paul and Barnabas

Although we have all been called by Christ, we have different ways of serving the Lord.

We have not been called to be identical but are each like different members of the same body. Minor differences of opinions/preferences are to be expected.

This freedom was illustrated by the second minor disagreement as recorded Acts 15:36-42.

Issue : Whether John mark who had abandoned them on the first Journey at Perga should join them in the second one. Paul said No! Barnabas said Yes! We are told that the contention was very sharp - none of them yielding.

Both men were fully dedicated to Christ. They had no personal agendas.

Acts 15: Second disagreement: Paul and Barnabas continued

They preached the same gospel but differed on the methods of executing the work in this particular case.

They did not start individual churches, Pauline or Barnabian. Their converts were the disciples of one person - Christ! 1 Corinthians 1:1-15

When they could not agree God provide a substitute for Paul a prophet named Silas. Each got his desired companion. In Chapter 16 God even added another helper called Timothy

We have two teams winning souls for Christ.

Note that although Paul did not want mark to accompany them in this journey, Paul still regarded Mark as a profitable brother in the work of the when he wrote to timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11 -(Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry)

Conclusion: A clear vision of the gospel is essential for continued unity in Messiah.

Who called you? --- This speaks to ownership, who do we belong to. We are all brothers and sisters. We have one father. Like a flock of sheep, some are grey, brown, white some brown some black , but all belong to ONE shepherd. Matthew 23:8-12,

How were you called? -- We were all called while in sin. None was better than the other. Romans 3:10-12 (As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.) By grace you were saved.

Why were you called? To become a temple of the Lord, each of us is a living stone in this temple despite our backgrounds. Called to show praises of our saviour not our to glorify- 1 Peter 2:9-10, to Preach Christ not preaching ourselves 2 Cor 4:5 , to serve and have fellowship one with another, for good works.

We are not the center of the show. Christ is. We are to trumpet the goodness and superiority of Christ not our goodness or superiority.

Question: Will you endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit. Ephesians 4:1–6

Ephesians 4:1 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. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

AMEN