Living in Unity
Jesus Christ has made unity possible for all. We achieve unity by renewing our
minds to the word of God. Unity is oneness, harmony, agreement (Acts 17:25b-
28) “He gives to all life, and breath, and all things. And has made of one blood all
nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. That they should
seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not
far from every one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring”.
In order to have unity, we have to walk in the love of God. remembering that the
“love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given
to us” (Romans 5:5).
As a result of Christ’s work on the cross, God has made His permanent home in
the heart of each believer. The fellowship that now takes place is nothing less
than the spiritual union of the believer with Christ. In I John 1:3 the Bible says
“that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son
Jesus Christ”. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which
strengthens me”.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:24-32 reveals a great mystery to us; the Bible
says “therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He
that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but
nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church. For we are members of
His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one
flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church”.
After all we are referred to as the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9) “come here, I
will show you the church, the Lamb’s wife”. Paul says in II Corinthians 11:2 “for I
am jealous over you with godly jealousy for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”.
We are united with Christ in two ways: 1. by believing in His death – the sacrifice
of His flesh, and resurrection. 2. by devoting our self to living as He requires,
depending on His teaching for guidance and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.
The church is a unity in diversity, a fellowship of faith, hope and love that binds
believers together (Ephesians 4:1-3), which says “I therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Christian
unity is based on each persons’ connection with Christ.
The completed work of Christ as made us qualified to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12). I Corinthians 1:30 says “but of
Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. This should make us joyful,
because it was not based on what we did, but on the finished work of Christ.
People have been striving to achieve this on their own, but it cannot be done in
the flesh. Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this very thing, that He which
has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
The love commandment unites us to God and each other (Matthew 22:37-40)
“Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like to it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these
two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”.
God is love, and we are told to be followers of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:
1); and I John 4:7-8 says “beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God,
and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God, he that loves not knows
not God, for God is love”. The love commanded by Christ should create deep
unity among Christians, Paul prayed in Philippians 1:9 “I pray that your love for
each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your
knowledge and understanding”. Unity ought to be a distinctive mark, among
Christians.
Jesus showed a great desire for His disciples that they would become one, as He
and the Father are one. Jesus wants His followers to be unified as a powerful
witness to the reality of God’s love. Jesus prayed in John chapter 17 for unity
among the believers based on the believers’ unity with Him and the Father,
verses 20:23 says “neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on Me through their word. That they all may be one as You Father are in
Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that
You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that
they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and You in Me, that they may
be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and
have loved them, as You have loved Me”.
Christians can know unity among themselves, if they are living in unity with God.
Jesus tells us how in John 15:1-14, verse 5 says “I am the vine, you are the
branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing”.
Fellowship involves communion and friendship with God, Amos 3:3 says “can two
walk together except they be agreed”? and in I John 4:13,17 it says “hereby
know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His
Spirit. herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world”. it is God, which as made us
qualified. Remember we have been reconciled with God (II Corinthians 5:17-21),
reconciled back to our original state before Adam’s fall.
Paul had a vision of a church where Jews and Gentiles would be united in their
love of God and in obedience to Christ (Romans 12:4-5) “for as we have many
members in one body, and all members have not the same office. So we, being
many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”. And in I
Corinthians 12:12-13 which says “for as the body is one, and has many members,
and all members of that one body, being many are one body, whether we be Jews
or Gentiles, whether we be bound or free, and have been all made to drink into
one Spirit”.
Paul prayed for the Roman church “that the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded, one toward another according to Christ Jesus. That
you may with one mind, and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ”. We have to remember that “we have the mind of Christ” (I
Corinthians 2:16).
We are told to “be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and
oneness of (and produces by) the Spirit in the binding power of peace”. The
church is a unity, a fellowship of faith, hope, and love that binds the believers
together. Because of the death, burial and resurrection, as well as the virgin
birth, we stand united.
The Bible tells us to be joined with God and believers; Psalms 133:1 says
“behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”.
The covenant brings us into unity with God, Galatians 3:29 says “and if you be
Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”.
Matthew 18:19-20 says “again I say o you, that if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask, I shall be done for them of My Father
which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name,
there am I in the midst of them”.
Unity was apparent in the early church, the believers were in one accord in one
place “these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren” (Acts 1:14). Acts 2:
1 says “and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place”. We are to pray for each other, avoid gossip, built others
up, work together in humility, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked arguing
over divisive matters.
The Bible tells us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16); walking in the Spirit is
walking in the word. When we stand on the word of God, we are in unity with
God, that’s why when you pray the word of God, you get answers. And when we
say, “in the name of Jesus” we unite together with Him (Mark 16:17-18, John 16:
23-24).
The Bible tells us not to be joined with the wicked (Proverbs 1:10) “My son, if
sinners entice you, consent you not”. Proverbs 4:14-15 says “enter not into the
path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn
from it and pass away”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 21, 2009
Jesus Christ has made unity possible for all. We achieve unity by renewing our
minds to the word of God. Unity is oneness, harmony, agreement (Acts 17:25b-
28) “He gives to all life, and breath, and all things. And has made of one blood all
nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. That they should
seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not
far from every one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring”.
In order to have unity, we have to walk in the love of God. remembering that the
“love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given
to us” (Romans 5:5).
As a result of Christ’s work on the cross, God has made His permanent home in
the heart of each believer. The fellowship that now takes place is nothing less
than the spiritual union of the believer with Christ. In I John 1:3 the Bible says
“that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son
Jesus Christ”. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which
strengthens me”.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:24-32 reveals a great mystery to us; the Bible
says “therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He
that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but
nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church. For we are members of
His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one
flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church”.
After all we are referred to as the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9) “come here, I
will show you the church, the Lamb’s wife”. Paul says in II Corinthians 11:2 “for I
am jealous over you with godly jealousy for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”.
We are united with Christ in two ways: 1. by believing in His death – the sacrifice
of His flesh, and resurrection. 2. by devoting our self to living as He requires,
depending on His teaching for guidance and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.
The church is a unity in diversity, a fellowship of faith, hope and love that binds
believers together (Ephesians 4:1-3), which says “I therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Christian
unity is based on each persons’ connection with Christ.
The completed work of Christ as made us qualified to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12). I Corinthians 1:30 says “but of
Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. This should make us joyful,
because it was not based on what we did, but on the finished work of Christ.
People have been striving to achieve this on their own, but it cannot be done in
the flesh. Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this very thing, that He which
has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.
The love commandment unites us to God and each other (Matthew 22:37-40)
“Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like to it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these
two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”.
God is love, and we are told to be followers of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:
1); and I John 4:7-8 says “beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God,
and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God, he that loves not knows
not God, for God is love”. The love commanded by Christ should create deep
unity among Christians, Paul prayed in Philippians 1:9 “I pray that your love for
each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your
knowledge and understanding”. Unity ought to be a distinctive mark, among
Christians.
Jesus showed a great desire for His disciples that they would become one, as He
and the Father are one. Jesus wants His followers to be unified as a powerful
witness to the reality of God’s love. Jesus prayed in John chapter 17 for unity
among the believers based on the believers’ unity with Him and the Father,
verses 20:23 says “neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on Me through their word. That they all may be one as You Father are in
Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that
You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that
they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and You in Me, that they may
be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and
have loved them, as You have loved Me”.
Christians can know unity among themselves, if they are living in unity with God.
Jesus tells us how in John 15:1-14, verse 5 says “I am the vine, you are the
branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing”.
Fellowship involves communion and friendship with God, Amos 3:3 says “can two
walk together except they be agreed”? and in I John 4:13,17 it says “hereby
know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His
Spirit. herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world”. it is God, which as made us
qualified. Remember we have been reconciled with God (II Corinthians 5:17-21),
reconciled back to our original state before Adam’s fall.
Paul had a vision of a church where Jews and Gentiles would be united in their
love of God and in obedience to Christ (Romans 12:4-5) “for as we have many
members in one body, and all members have not the same office. So we, being
many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”. And in I
Corinthians 12:12-13 which says “for as the body is one, and has many members,
and all members of that one body, being many are one body, whether we be Jews
or Gentiles, whether we be bound or free, and have been all made to drink into
one Spirit”.
Paul prayed for the Roman church “that the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded, one toward another according to Christ Jesus. That
you may with one mind, and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ”. We have to remember that “we have the mind of Christ” (I
Corinthians 2:16).
We are told to “be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and
oneness of (and produces by) the Spirit in the binding power of peace”. The
church is a unity, a fellowship of faith, hope, and love that binds the believers
together. Because of the death, burial and resurrection, as well as the virgin
birth, we stand united.
The Bible tells us to be joined with God and believers; Psalms 133:1 says
“behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”.
The covenant brings us into unity with God, Galatians 3:29 says “and if you be
Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”.
Matthew 18:19-20 says “again I say o you, that if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask, I shall be done for them of My Father
which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name,
there am I in the midst of them”.
Unity was apparent in the early church, the believers were in one accord in one
place “these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren” (Acts 1:14). Acts 2:
1 says “and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place”. We are to pray for each other, avoid gossip, built others
up, work together in humility, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked arguing
over divisive matters.
The Bible tells us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16); walking in the Spirit is
walking in the word. When we stand on the word of God, we are in unity with
God, that’s why when you pray the word of God, you get answers. And when we
say, “in the name of Jesus” we unite together with Him (Mark 16:17-18, John 16:
23-24).
The Bible tells us not to be joined with the wicked (Proverbs 1:10) “My son, if
sinners entice you, consent you not”. Proverbs 4:14-15 says “enter not into the
path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn
from it and pass away”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 21, 2009
