April 23, 2023
“Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10.
“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians-you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.
One of the most notable passages of Scripture about Unity is found in Psalm 133:1, which says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Eugene Peterson in the Message Translation says it this way: Psalms 133:1, “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!” (MSG) This verse emphasizes the importance of unity among God’s people and the blessings that come when they live in harmony with one another.
In the Word of God, the concept of ‘Unity’ is emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word for unity, “yachad,” is used throughout the Old Testament, often in reference to the unity of God’s people. In the New Testament, the Ancient Greek word for unity, is henosis (ἕνωσις)” is the classical Greek word for mystical “oneness“, “union” or “unity” is used to describe the unity of believers in Christ. Why do we not see more unity in the Body of Christ?
Have you ever wondered why there is so much disunity among those who professed to be Believers in Christ? As a young Christian, I wondered why there were so many different beliefs, denominations, or world religions. Growing up in my Christian faith, understanding more about the Word of God, and working in the medical field, I came to understand how much the concept of ‘Unity’ is a fundamental human need that can contribute to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Unity is not the same as uniformity. God has designed each of us differently, with unique gifts and personalities. However, in our differences, we can celebrate and appreciate each other in our differences to reach the common goal of serving our Lord – that is True Unity! I love the Word of God because it provides clear instructions and examples about how we should live and behave.
WHAT IS TRUE OR CHRISTIAN UNITY? True unity is based on each person’s CONNECTION WITH CHRIST AND THE LEVEL OF THEIR CHRISTIAN MATURITY.
How can Jesus give us His flesh as bread to eat? To eat living bread means to accept Christ into your life and become united with Him. We are united with Christ in two ways: (1) by believing in His death burial and resurrection and (2) by devoting ourselves to living as He requires, depending on His teaching for guidance, and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.
In the New Testament, Jesus prayed for the unity of His followers in John 17:21-23, saying, “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.” Jesus understood that the unity of His followers would be a powerful witness to the world and that their love for one another would demonstrate the reality of His message.
Also, notice how the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10, refers to “the Lord Jesus Christ” He says, “Now I appeal to you, brothers, and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. (NRSV)
Paul emphasizes the lordship of Christ. How many Christians have truly made Christ the LORD of their lives? This is one of the reasons the church and individual Christians have serious problems. We hear a great deal about His Lordship, but we often see very little of it today.
Have you made Him your Lord and your Master over your life? It is not enough to talk about the Lordship of Christ. Is He your Lord? When we make Christ LORD and MASTER there are no divisions in the church – the Body of Christ. The word for “divisions” is schisma. It means there should be no open break, no fracturing of the church, which is done by fighting, gossip, criticism, hatred, or bitterness. These things cannot be in your life if Jesus Christ is your partner, your Lord, and your Master. True Unity is having the same mind – the mind of Christ! It means believers shouldn’t be clawing one another to death, fighting with each other, and hating each other. THAT IS NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST!
The Apostle Paul also wrote extensively in Ephesians 4:1-6 about the importance of unity in the church. He urged believers to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 & Romans 12:4-5, reference – Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of His one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. John 10:16 says”I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
The Bible teaches that unity among God’s people is essential and that it is achieved through love, humility, and a common purpose. When believers live in unity with one another, they demonstrate the reality of God’s love and power to the world, and they are able to fulfill their mission to bring the good news of salvation to all people.
Let’s Look at Some Reasons Why Christians Do Not Operate in Unity!
While unity is a central theme in the Bible and an essential component of the Christian faith, Christians, unfortunately, do not always operate in unity.
Here are some of the reasons why this can happen:
- Differences in Theology and Doctrine: Christians can have differences in theological beliefs, which can lead to disagreements and division. While it is healthy to have different perspectives and interpretations of scripture, it can become a problem when people are not willing to listen to one another and learn from each other.
- Lack of Love and Forgiveness: Love and forgiveness are essential components of the Christian faith, and without them, unity is impossible. When people hold grudges and refuse to forgive, it creates division and hinders unity.
- Personal Preferences and Traditions: People can become attached to their own traditions and preferences, and may resist change or do things differently. This can lead to conflicts and division, as people prioritize their own preferences over the unity of the church.
- Lack of Communication: Communication is essential for unity. When people do not communicate effectively, misunderstandings can arise, leading to conflicts and division.
- Sin and selfishness: Sin can cause people to act selfishly, prioritize their own interests over the interests of others, and behave in ways that are not in line with biblical teachings. This can lead to division and discord within the church.
The Centrality Of Christ Crucified Corrects Divisions!
As noted – we as Christians cannot operate in unity when we put forth our own interests and favorites or desires over the unity of the church, fail to communicate effectively, lack love and forgiveness, and allow sin and selfishness to reign. However, with a commitment to biblical principles and a willingness to listen and learn from one another, Christians can work towards greater unity in the church.
A UNIFIED 
HEART We are all a work in progress! Christian unity comes with Christian maturity, and it is always something that we strive to attain. Paul instructs us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” in Ephesians 4:3. Helping us toward that unity are the gifts of the Spirit. God has given each Christian different gifts, and their exercise in the edification of the church leads to more and more unity. One purpose of the gifts is that “we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” noted in Ephesians 4:13.
FATHER GOD: Thank You for providing us with Your Word which gives us clear instructions on how to live and behave as Your children. Help us as Believers in Christ to grow into maturity and make You LORD and Master of our lives, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!