Pt. 35, Beliefs of a Biblical Christian, Part 10
![Beliefs of the Biblical Christian, Part 10
Pt. 35, The Biblical Story
“The Spiritual Unity of Believers”
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© May 24, 2015
www.pastorkennedy.com
What is Unity?
There are many forms that “unity” can take.
• Terrorists “feign” unity.
• Crime families “enforce” unity.
• Those who participate in various forms of sin against God promote “self-centered and carnal” unity.
• Pubs want “Cheers” unity.
• Sports Franchises “fan” unity.
• Fishermen “catch” unity.
• School alumni “booster” unity.
• Charities “fund raise” and “give” within unity.
• Etc., etc.
• God wants His Churches to have unity.
Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
There seem to be lots of opportunities to have fellowship and unity, but still we can be lonely people in our 21st Century. Real Unity can still avoid us even if we are in a room filled with “like-minded” people.
Let’s take a moment to look at expected “unity” in an organization quite apart from the church.
Waco Biker Wars – enforced unity.
Several media accounts last week reported the police saying that the deadly weekend shootout in Waco, Texas involving a brawl between five rival motorcycle gangs ended with nine bikers killed, 19 injured and some 170 gang members arrested on potential murder charges. The details of this deadly fight most likely will not be known for weeks.
One report detailed a biker-insider who gave this general report of the supposed “unity” among biker gang members.
“…A lot of the violent gang members were formerly in the military, and the gangs themselves have strict military-like features.
"A biker gang is highly structured - military style structure - with a ton of rules, regulations, and built as a war machine"….
“While many seek the comfort and security that gang affiliation might purport to provide, inductees often find that gang membership brings on a new set of insecurities.
Vigilance is constantly required…. Members keep tabs on rival gangs and on potential moles within their own ranks. Betrayal and backstabbing run rife, as members compete for power both within the gang and against other gangs.
‘They're jockeying for power, one minute you have power, once you lose it everyone leaves you," the biker said.
‘Some of the guys are very likable, some of them have generosity towards each other, and you think 'oh that's really nice', the biker said. ‘In reality that's all for themselves, so that they have that power, so that they have that belonging’.”
Read the full article of “An informant's life inside US biker gangs”: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32786239
Gang “unity” may not be that different from other “unities” found in this world. If you work in an office, or other business structures, some of the same statements applied to gangs could apply to those vying for power in “gentler” work settings.
Unfortunately, the same, from time to time, can be associated with Christian organizations…and the church. This is not what God has intended, but it can be what our carnal flesh promotes.
Look at the stark contrast that the Scripture teaches Biblical Christians to act differently from the world.
Matthew 5:40–41
40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Luke 6:27–29
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
1 Corinthians 6:7–8
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.
There seem to be three fundamental basics for unity in any organization:
1. Purpose: Quite often the primary basis for unity in most clubs and organizations has to do with “the cause” or “the purpose” that motivates the participants to join together.
2. Personalities: The factors that may keep a club or organization unified can be the people who are involved in the cause. Some people seem to fit better in the internal politics of one organization over another. If personalities clash, an alternative organization may rise to meet the needs of a competing leader or group of people.
3. Policies: Another critical piece of unity are the “rules” or expectations of any particular organization. Sometimes this is in the form of “by-laws”, “creeds”, “policies”, or “doctrine”. No organization can survive without structures on which the organization is established, or what becomes the expected norm. Sometimes these are codified in written statements, and sometimes they are verbally taught to newcomers as expected behaviors.
The Problem of not having any Policies or Doctrinal Statements:
If there are no written or expected structures, then one has most likely joined a personality cult, or dictatorship where the key leader makes all the rules and can vary from them at his or her own whim, and is not subject him or herself to any previously determined Biblical imperatives.
If organizations are not following a cultic leader, the domineering laity may install a leader of their own making, to suit their own wishes and teach the doctrine they prefer hearing:
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Unity, in the world, is most often formed around purpose, personalities, and policies.
Biblical Unity
First and foremost, Unity in Diversity, for Believers in Jesus Christ, is given only through the power of The Holy Spirit.
Spiritual unity also, seems to be established with a form of the following:
- With Spiritual Purposes (1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 1 Peter 3:8–12),
- Led by Shepherding Pastors and/or Teachers (Eph. 4:11-12),
- On Sound Scriptural Premises (Psalm 119:11; Mark 13:31; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
Today we review the 15th and final point of our original (over 50-year-old) Church doctrinal statement.
15. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:3-4; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13.
How are we to apply the reality of what Jesus Christ wants for unity in the local Body of Believers in Jesus?
• Each of us, most likely, may have our own opinion on what Church Unity should look like. We must be willing to work together toward unity.
• We must go back to the Scripture to Understand and Apply Biblical Unity.
This is why we have a written standard, given by God, to give Stability in His Church throughout the centuries.
• Philosophies, People, Buildings, and Organizations come and go, but the Word of God Stands Forever.
Three Key Verses for Unity taken from the primary Scriptural passages on “Unity”:
Romans 12:3 [Keeping our Pride in Check]
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Ephesians 4:3–6 [Keeping Peace, with Christ in the Forefront]
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. …
1 Corinthians 12:4–6 [Keeping our Perspectives Clear]
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Three passages of Scripture refer to Spiritual unity through the same Spirit.
Paul gives the same example of “one body, many members” in all three passages:
1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4.
Paul also gives listings of various gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
Let’s begin by looking at “Oneness,” with many individual parts,
in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
o Ethnic and Societal Oneness:
- Jews, one in Christ with Greeks,
- slaves (outcasts), one in Christ with non-slaves. (v. 13)
o Oneness with Multiple Diverse Giftings: Oneness in many different members of the body does not make the individual parts any less part of the body. Each contributes to making the body a whole: (vs. 14-26)
The Body Illustration
A foot,
A hand,
An ear,
An eye,
Our ability to smell,
Our head,
The weaker or less honorable parts may have greater honor,
Our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty.
Many parts, yet one body.
God has so composed unity in the amazing diversity of our body giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it; so there may be no division, only care within the body. If one member suffers, the body suffers; if one member is honored, the whole body rejoices.
We should respect the gifts that God has given each of us and release each other to fulfill the exercise of each other’s gifts within the Body.
Obviously, not everyone has the same gift! That would be disaster for any Body!
There are varieties of spiritual gifts but the same spirit. There are varieties of service, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4–6)
These varieties of spiritual gifts are listed in these three passages:
Romans 12:6-8
• Prophesying, in proportion to one’s faith;
• Serving;
• Teaching;
• Exhorting;
• Contributing, in generosity;
• Leading, with zeal;
• Acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
• Wisdom – through the Spirit
• Knowledge according to the same Spirit,
• Faith by the same Spirit,
• Healing by the one Spirit,
• Working of miracles,
• Prophecy,
• Discernment – ability to distinguish between spirits,
• Various kinds of tongues,
• Interpretation of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11–13
And he gave
• Apostles,
• Prophets,
• Evangelists,
• Pastors and
• Teachers,
To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ….
Paul speaks about the importance of genuine love for one another, in 1 Cor. 13 (the famous “Love Chapter” between chapters 12 and 14 dealing with Spiritual Gifts).
Love is also emphasized in other passages on Oneness in Spiritual Gifts.
Love is the Critical “Bonding Agent” allowing Diverse Entities and Giftings to be adhesive together in Christian Unity.
Romans 12:9–10
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Note that genuine love, honorable “brotherly affection”, is not passive and does not bypass or overlook evil and wrongdoing; instead we are to “abhor” evil…holding fast to what is good. Rejecting evil is also part of the ingredients of the “glue” that allows love to unify the body.
Brotherly love breaks down if morality is compromised. Whenever there is scandal, infighting, gossip or struggle for power, “unity” falls apart quickly.
Let’s look at the following passages promoting the Blessings of Spiritual Unity.
The Blessings of Spiritual Unity
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Live a Life Worthy of Your Calling
With each part doing its work
Ephesians 4:1–16
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
• 2 Be completely humble and gentle [attitude and manner];
• be patient, bearing with one another in love [persevering and long-suffering].
• 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
o 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
o 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 It was he who gave
• some to be apostles,
• some to be prophets,
• some to be evangelists, and
• some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God’s people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until 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.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Live in Harmony with one another: 1 Peter 3:8–12
Music reflects “harmony” – three principle notes are in a chord (the 1, 3 and 5 notes, beginning on any note in a key, other notes sympathetic to the the chord may be added at times, if it sounds appropriate. Often the 7th is added to the 5 chord, in any key, making it a 57, this 57 chord leads strongly back to the 1 chord.
Harmony reflects sympathetic tones – sounds from vibrations that blend together into pleasing instead of clashing harmonic tones.
God’s Children should live together in harmony – with pleasing melodies going out into the community rather than dissonant or harsh sounds.
The Profound Example of Unity and Harmony in Marriage
There is no stronger example on earth of Christ and His Church, than the marriage relationship of a husband and his wife. That is why unity should first be evidenced from our home. Is there beautiful music coming from our home or is there discord? Is there clear communication rising from our family, or are mixed and confusing messages rising from our homes?
1 Peter 3:8–12
8 Finally, all of you,
Empathy
• be sympathetic,
Warmth
• love as brothers,
Understanding
• be compassionate and
Attitude
• humble.
Do not seek revenge, but rather give blessing
• 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
Speech
• must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
Lifestyle
• 11He must turn from evil and do good;
Motivation and Intentions
• he must seek peace and pursue it.
Greater Comprehension: God is Watching
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
A Key Verse on Unity:
1 Corinthians 12:4-5
Regarding spiritual gifts, there are a variety of spiritual gifts but the same spirit.
There are varieties of service, but the same Lord,
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
The Power of Unity, when bound together by God’s Love, gives the clearest revelation of Jesus Christ to the world.
John 13:34–35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Colossians 3:14
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Conclusion
Our Church’s Doctrinal Statement – Our Original Statement of Faith (over 50 years old)
1. We believe the Bible (God’s Holy Word) to be the Inspired, Infallible, and Authoritative Word of God.
a. Inspired: 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Revelation 1:1,2,10,11
b. Infallible: Psalm 119:89; Malachi 3:6
2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:12; John 10:30, Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 1:1-13; John 5:21-26, John 15:26; John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19
3. We believe in the Deity (Divine and Human Nature) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1-13; John 1:1; John 1:14
4. We believe in His Virgin Birth.
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4; Luke 1:26-38
5. We believe in His Sinless Life.
2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
6. We believe in His Substitutionary Sacrifice by the shedding of His own blood on the Cross. 1 Peter 1:18,19; Romans 3:24,25; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Isaiah 53:4-7; 1 Corinthians 15:3-31
7. We believe in His Miracles. John 1:1-4
8. We believe in His Bodily Resurrection. Acts 1:9-11; 1 Peter 1:3; Luke 24:46; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
9. We believe in His Ascension to the right hand of the Father. Acts 2:33, 34
10. We believe in His Personal Imminent Return for His Own. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52
11. We believe in His Personal Return in Power and Glory. Rev. 19:11-16
12. We believe that it is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man to accept Jesus Christ by believing in Him as Savior and Lord. John 3:16; John 1:12; John 16:31; Romans 10:9,10
13. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling does empower the Christian to live a Godly life. Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; John 14:16-23; John 16:12-15
14. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58; John 5:24-29
15. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:3-4; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13.](Pt._35,_Beliefs_of_a_Biblical_Christian,_Part_10_%28Unity%29_files/shapeimage_1.png)
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