Confidence in the brethren – Unity

There is a very strong need in the church today to be unified. I mean really unified. I mean really, really unified! I do not mean in word, in sermon, or in theory. I mean unified in the way that Jesus demands and Scripture examples.

Let’s start by focusing on what unity offers. There are two main concepts I would like to consider here. The first is strength and the second is power. We gain both of these if we have Biblical unity. We lose them both if we do not.

Here I am using the term strength in reference to the internal workings of the church and its members. Whenever it is that we are in total and full agreement then we are more likely to set goals for the kingdom of Christ and set about realistic and practical methods to obtain the fulfillment of those goals. We will eliminate self-will and work for the group and the cause of Christ rather than for personal goals and self-satisfaction. We will avoid the strife and division that often prevents a congregation from doing that which the Lord expects of them. In short, our strength will reach its full potential so that we can go to work for the Lord and fight Satan rather than fighting each other.

The second concept mentioned is power. I am using this term in the external sense. I mean the power that the strength of the church can hurl against the forces of evil. Strength is potential power is application. We need to use the strength developed by pulling together against evil so that the power of God’s children can change the lives of those around them.

But enough for now about strength and power. Lets talk a little while about what Biblical unity really is. I am beginning to think that many of my brethren are unsure as to what this really means. I base that on the fact that I hear a lot of talk about “unity in diversity” and that statement is absurd. I realize we talk about hot chili and jumbo shrimp and lots of other conflicting terms. But unity in diversity? Lets try and get real for a minute. What does the Bible say about unity?

Concerning “unity in diversity” it says “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) “No man can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21) We could go on but I believe we can see what the Bible thinks about unity in diversity. There just ain’t no such critter! What then is Biblical unity?

Let us begin with the unity prayer offered by our Lord Himself. At just this point here I would like you to lay aside my book and pick up God’s book. Open it to the gospel of John and read the 17th chapter to prepare for our study together.

Trusting that you have now read the suggested Scriptures, let us focus on several specific verses.

John 17:11 – And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:20-23 – 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 thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, That they also may be one in us: That the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

This is. I must confess, one of my favorite and most comforting passages. In this text, Jesus prayed for me and you! Even in His darkest hour Jesus didn’t forget me and my needs.

In this prayer, Jesus prayed for us to be one even as He and the Father are one. Now, let us ask ourselves this question. How many things exist on which the Father and the Son disagree? Of course we know that the answer is nothing. They are in perfect agreement on every subject known in Heaven and on Earth. In that great day of judgment our final outcome will not be based on a debate between God and Christ, but on a joint venture to secure the salvation of God’s children on which they both participated and on which they both agree. There is no division in Heaven, and there cannot be any on Earth.

In our text under consideration we also find that only through oneness among ourselves which is identical to the oneness of the Father and the Son can we find ourselves to be perfect and acceptable. We are also told why such unity is necessary; It is so that the world may believe.

Recently a visitor called and wanted directions to our meeting place. In our conservation this visitor asked me nearly twenty questions relative to what we taught and believed. I was sickened, not because he did this, but that it was necessary in order to ensure that we were really the church and that we were following perfectly the inspired word of our Lord. Brethren, this ought not to be! Along with the unity question comes the

fellowship question. There are some in the body of Christ today that are teaching and suggesting that there is a duel level of fellowship which must be considered. This position would be absolutely funny if it were not so tragic and sinful. They have confused association with fellowship. It is certainly true that we associate with sinners in order that we might teach them. It is also true that to avoid sinners completely would require us leaving this world (Paul said that – 1 Cor. 5:). But association and fellowship are not the same thing.

The fellowship issue is really very simple (I have been called, and probably accurately, simpleton). I can fellowship only the ones that my Lord fellowships. Consider the following passage.

1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Fellowship, then, comes from walking in the light and only from walking in the light.

Where then do we find the guidelines for knowing whether or not we are walking in the light? Several passages address this issue. But nothing is found that is clearer than John 17:17 where Jesus states that the truth sets us apart from the world.

Paul gives us an excellent text which can be used as a test for fellowship which is found in Ephesians 4:1-6. In that text are listed seven ones which are the basis for fellowship. They are as follows:

One God and Father – No one can accept as God anyone but the God of the Bible and remain in fellowship. Early on in the ten commandments we find this to be true.

One Lord This is Jesus Christ. We cannot accept Baal or Buddha, Molech or Muhammad. Only by accepting the Christ can we have this fellowship.

One Spirit – This is the Holy Spirit. In times past many allowed themselves to be led by “spirits” rather than the Holy Spirit. Only by allowing the Spirit to guide us through the word can we have Godly fellowship.

One Body – The body is the church. One body means one church. Paul so wanted to drive this point home to the church as Colosse that he specified in Colossians 1:18 that the body was the church and then, as if to ensure that the point was not missed, he repeated himself in the 24th verse of the same chapter. There was no question in the mind of Paul that there was one and only one church. Not only have those that are trying to fellowship denominationalism violated the concept of fellowship expressed in Ephesians four, they have broken fellowship with all true Christians everywhere. There is simply no justification for there conduct in this matter.

One Hope – Our hope is in Christ and His church and nowhere else. Anyone seeking to enter Heaven without entering the body of Christ will be found outside the fellowship of God.

One Faith – The faith spoken of here is that system of doctrine developed by God, taught by Christ and His inspired teachers, and recorded by the Spirit in the Scriptures. A violation of God’s system and doctrine is a violation of and a breaking of fellowship with Him.

One Baptism – There are several baptisms discussed in the Bible. But the only one remaining in effect by this time (the writing of Ephesians) is the one presented on Pentecost by Peter and the other Apostles. It is the baptism that puts us into Christ (Galatians 3:27) and removes our sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16).

There are some in the church today teaching that, although baptism is essential, it is not necessary to know that. They are teaching that the baptism practiced by our denominational friends is all right even though they are baptized for the wrong reasons and with a misunderstanding of the function of baptism. One needs take only a cursory look at Acts chapters 18 and 19 to know that what they are teaching is untrue. They should be marked as false teachers and treated as such. They are outside of the fellowship of Christ and His followers.

This chapter is dealing with confidence in the brethren. In closing it should be recognized that confidence in the brethren can only be accomplished by being unified in the mind of Christ. This is the only means of true and purposeful confidence in the brethren that is available to the church and compromises in the name of “fellowship” or “unity” should never be made.

1 Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.