A Unified Church

I. Introduction

Would you take your Bibles and turn to Ephesians chapter 4. Now, if you have Ephesians chapter 4, look up here. I want to tell you a story I heard about a man who was shipwrecked. He was on a desert island, and he was there by himself: single, all alone. He had to forage for himself. Finally, after years, someone came to rescue him. And there he had taken care of things pretty well. He had a nice house that he’d built, almost like a mansion. Next to the house he had constructed a church, and he even put a steeple on top of it. But next to that was another fine, magnificent building. Those who came to rescue him said, “What is that big place there?” He said, “Well, that’s my house. That’s where I live.” “What is that next door? It looks like a church.” He said, “It is a church. I built myself a church.” They said, “Well, what is that other building?” “Oh,” he said, “that’s another church.” He said, “I had an argument in the old one and moved my membership.”

So many times the problem is on the inside, is it not? I want to talk to you about unity in the church—unity in the church. My prayer for Morningside is that she will continue to be, and evermore be, a unified church. And so, the topic of this message is, “Unity in the Church.”

a. Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6 (focus verse: 3)

And as always, I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.

<Pray>

Thank you, and you may be seated.

II. Contextualization

a. Now, I want you to look at a particular part of the Scripture here this morning, Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 3. Paul says we are to be “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Is that not beautiful—the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? What a beautiful concept. I truly believe that this is the desire of God for Morningside Baptist Church, that we have the unity of the Spirit, that we have the bond of peace. Psalm 133, verse 1, says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” And the Bible also says that God hates him who sows discord among the brethren. - so this unity is VERY important to God.

Now, this unity is a wonderful unity. We do not produce it. It is called the unity of the Spirit. But while we do not produce it, we are to preserve it. And that is my prayer for this dear church in the years to come.

Now, this unity is based on three basic concepts, and I want us to learn these concepts today because they’re very, very important:

III. Major Points

1. The Ground of Our Unity

2. The Glory of Our Diversity

3. The Goal of Our Maturity

IV. Point #1: The Ground of Our Unity

Explanation

Now, the ground of our unity is very simple....it’s truth. TRUTH. What brings us together as the Body of Christ is truth… This idea is both doctrinal and spiritual.

Now, look again in Ephesians chapter 4 this time, 3 through 6: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Now, again, I want to say that the basis of our unity, the ground of our unity, is doctrinal and spiritual. Now, don’t let anybody tell you that doctrine doesn’t matter. If our church ceases to hold these great truths, she will lose her unity.

Now, what do I mean by unity?

Well, I don’t mean unison. Now, unison may be all right if you’re in the choir, but everybody doesn’t have to sing the same note. That would be boring. We can sing in harmony without singing in unison....it makes what we do fuller and more meaningful, just like in the great choirs of the world...

And I’m not talking, secondly, about uniformity. We don’t have to be a congregation of clones. We don’t all have to look alike and dress alike. I remember a year or so ago somebody asked me, “Vic, do you have a dress code at Morningside?” My response is yes: “It’s wear some clothes!” Do we have to wear coats and ties? Absolutely not! I may on occassion…but nobody else does. Come wearing what you’re comfortable in…and we mean that! Look. It is not that we come along here in uniforms. Uniformity comes from without; unity comes from within.

We’re not even talking about union. Union and unity are not necessarily the same. You can be in the same church and not be in unity. Somebody has said you can take two tomcats, tie their tails together, and hang them over a clothesline—you have union, but you don’t have unity....amen?

So whatever our unity is in Christ is based on truth....

Illustration

Most people don’t like the truth, isn’t that true? Many people would prefer to be lied to, for some reason. They say that they want truth, but they really don’t! If a preacher preaches on sin that makes them feel bad though, they get their little feelings hurt and start complaining....

One of the most popular places for tourists to visit in New York City is Chinatown. The food is great and guests always enjoyed the unique gift shops you kind find there....very interesting place.

Without a doubt, I’m told that the most popular gift item that one could find in Chinatown is always the ten-dollar fake Rolex watch....can you believe that? There was a group of 20 or so that went up on a church trip a few years back and when they went down there, virtually all of our guests went home with at least one of those fake Rolexes....asked for them specifically! They looked real, so long as you didn’t look too closely. But you couldn’t rely on one to keep accurate time…that’s for sure. Not even close. As far as watches go, they weren’t even worth the ten dollars. But it was the novelty of the thing....they preferred the fake thing.

Application

Listen: what unites Christians is TRUTH. And there are 3 thruths I want to mention that ought to unite us:

1. The Gospel: The good news of salvation of Jesus Christ. Verse 5: “one Lord, one FAITH, and one baptistm.” What is this faith? It is the faith we share in Jesus Christ…so the first thing that brings us together is our mutual faith in Christ Jesus to save sinners from their sins.

That’s right....if you’re saved, you are drawn into the Body of Christ and included by virtue of your faith....one of the biggest things that draws us together is the fact that we believe in Jesus and are set to spend eternity with Him....that ought to be something we find Unity of spirit in....we serve the same Lord....and we will be spending eternity together with Him in heaven.

If you don’t like people who aren’t like you: well friend, you aren’t going to like Heaven very much, I can promise you that.

2. The Fact of One Body: Those who are in Christ Jesus are members of the Body of Christ. Verse 4: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one bhope of your calling;” - The church is not a corporation with Jesus as the president; the church is a body with Jesus as the head. That’s all of the difference in the world. Now, again, I want to say, not one denomination. Somebody said, “Are you one of those narrow-minded Baptists who think only Baptists are going to heaven?” I’m more narrow-minded than that. I think a lot of Baptists are not going to make it. But whether you’re a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, if you have given your heart to Jesus Christ, if you have been twice-born, you are a part of the mystical body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Those of us in Christ are members of the Body of Christ....we each have our own part to play....and just like in a physical human body, if one part stops working, even something small, it can affect the way the rest of the body functions....

- Are you gifted to work with kids or youth? If you aren’t doing that, then you aren’t performing your function in the Body and the rest of the Body is negatively affected....Are you supposed to teach? If you fail to, the rest of the Body is affected....If you’re not doing what you have been gifted to do, the rest of the Body of Christ is affected.

3. The Fact of One Spirit: Verse 4: “There is one body and one Spirit...”....The same Holy Spirit that indwells YOU if you are in Christ is the same Holy Spirit that indwells me....and through that, number one, if we are submitting to His guidance, we should be willing to put our own preferences aside in order to submit to HIS Will in OUR church. The other piece is supernatural....that if we are all submitting to the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit, we will supernaturally be brought together and in unity in one accord. Many people have trouble with this....so let me ask you something: do Christians each have different Holy Spirits indwelling them? Answer: NO....they are one and the same....so if you are being led by the Spirit and you want something, then my wants (if I’m also being led by the Spirit) shouldn’t be in constrast with yours....we should be on the same page…and if we’re not, we shouldn’t fight over it....but instead PRAY over it and seek reconciliation and compromise.

They don’t WANT to be united, they want things THEIR way or the highway and that’s when they bring about gossip, discord and we have trouble doing the work of the Lord at the church....people begin putting preferences before God’s Will....that’s where fights come from....I know of a lot of church splits in my life....but I can’t think of a single one that was over an important matter of doctrine....in every case, as far as I know, it came down to a matter of pettiness and control....

Other people don’t think being part of a local church is important....they say “oh well the church is the people...” yeah, universally it is, but we are also called to worship and serve in a local assembly. “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together,” the writer of Hebrews tells us.

So folks: remember....as a matter of Truth, we are united together through the Gospel, being members of the Body of Christ, and through the indwelling of the same Holy Spirit....these three should all bring unity to us in God’s House.

V. Point #2: The Glory of Our Diversity

Explanation

Here’s the second thing I want you to notice: not only the ground of our unity, but the glory of our diversity. Did you know that God made us one and God made us different all at the same time? Look now in verse 7—Ephesians 4, verse 7: “But …”—do you see the word but? He’s changing direction. He’s been talking about our sameness, doctrinally, but then He, in contradistinction, uses the word but—“But unto every one of us is given grace …”—the Greek word for grace is charis. It’s the word we get charismatic from: “Unto every one of us is given charisma, according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Now, God gave Hannah gifts that He didn’t give me. God gave my mama gifts that He didn’t give to Hannah. God gave you gifts that He didn’t give to your husband or your wife. These are spiritual gifts. God made us different in this church. And so, not only do we have our unity; we have our diversity. I told you ahead of time that this is not to be a congregation of clones. What we have is unity in diversity.

Now, I’m not talking about diversity about doctrine. Romans chapter 16, verse 17, says, “Now, I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” No, there’s not room for every kind of belief…somebody in these millions of belief systems out there is wrong, despite what the world tells you....so we don’t invite in every pagan doctrine, BUT there is room for people who have different gifts.

Illustration

You see, sameness is not unity. As a matter of fact, unity comes from diversity. For example, I’ll give you a perfect illustration of that. Hannah is a girl and I’m a boy. We have unity because she’s different, not in spite of that fact. It’s the differences that draw us together. You see. I’m glad Hannah is not like me. Her being different is a good thing. And it is not by accident.... it is God that makes us different. God gifts you a gift, and you a gift your dift in His service....

Application

Friends, isn’t it a truly wonderful thing that we don’t all have the same spiritual gifts? Isn’t it wonderful that God has a full tool box here? Intsead of having a box full of hammers....he has screwdrivers....he has sanders.....he has wrenches....He has what is needed to get the job done: but the truth is that you have to make yourself available for God’s purposes. There is GLORY in our diversity if we use it to glorify the Lord with our gifts....

VI. Point #3: The Goal of Our Maturity

Explanation

Now, here’s the third and final thing. I want you to see, friend, the ground of our unity, the glory of our diversity, but also the goal of our maturity. Now, why do we have this unity and this diversity? Well, look ahead just a little bit in verse 13…it tells us. What’s the goal? “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man—the word perfect means mature—unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The definition of maturity is: the state of being fully developed.

Peace comes with unity, diversity, and maturity. Little children squabble and fuss; mature adults learn how to get along with one another. Bickering comes from immaturity, and may God preserve this church ever from bickering. We’re to be mature. We’re to be mature in stature. Look back at verse 13: “unto the stature of the fullness of Christ.” - THAT is the standard: Jesus Christ....the epitome of holiness. People want to be measured according to how bad their neighbor is, but that’s not how God measures us....He measures us according to Jesus....now that’s a pretty high bar, wouldn’t you say?

You want to know whether you’re growing up or not? Don’t measure yourself by some other member of this church. Measure yourself by Jesus Christ. I’ve frequently told you, the measure of my ministry is this: not the size of these buildings, or our budget, or our Bible study attendance. Are you becoming more like Jesus Christ? We’re to be mature in stature....

Illustration

But some people don’t EVER grow up or WANT to grow up....they want it THEUR way no matter what!

In one instance in the story of Peter Pan, Wendy, who's fallen in love with, confronts him about his feelings:

"Peter, what are your real feelings?"

"Feelings?" he asks.

"What do you feel? Happiness? Sadness? Jealousy? Anger? Love?"

"Love? I have never heard of it."

"I think you have, Peter. I daresay you've felt it yourself…for something, or someone."

"Never. Even the sound of it offends me."

Wendy reaches for Peter in a loving gesture, and suddenly he runs away, shouting, "Why do you spoil everything? We have fun, don't we? I taught you to fight and to fly. What more could there be?"

"There is so much more," she answers.

"What? What else is there?"

"I don't know. I think it becomes clearer when you grow up."

"Well, I will not grow up! You cannot make me! Go home and grow up. And take your feelings with you!”

Application

Friends: part of being a Christian is to constantly grow in our faith and our convictions....it’s to grow in our service and our obedience....For us to work together and be in unity and grow, friends we have to be mature....

That means putting our own wants and desires BEHIND that of the church....

That means listening to and trusting our leaders....

That means being committed to our own personal growth in prayer time and Bible study....

And that also means to pick up the slack where I can and serve the Lord at church....

That all takes maturity....

VII. Conclusion

a. Let me ask you this morning, do you have that kind of commitment? Do you realize that we are united here through the Gospel and its power??? Do you realize that we are united here BECAUSE of the diversity of our gifts and personalities....not despite them??? And do you realize that we are united here through our maturity? That our unitedness and success for the Kingdom will NEVER move beyond our maturity? Make a commitment this year to be committed, friends. …and to seek Unity by getting ourselves in order first.

b. Let’s Pray