OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO HEAR ABOUT…

Unity

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     T- F      The church of Christ preaches unity.

 

B.      T – F    The restoration movement was built partially upon the principle of unity.

 

C.     T – F    The Bible teaches that God wants His people to be united.

 

D.     T – F    The church of the 21st Century is united. 

(NOTE:  I am speaking of the true church, not what some refer to as Christendom).

If you answered this question false, please explain what you mean.

 

1.       There are divisions over doctrine.

2.       There are divisions over matters of liberty.

3.       There are divisions over power and authority.

4.       There are divisions involving cultures.

5.       There are divisions centered in personality.

6.       There are divisions due to arguments among members.

 

E.      If what we have just mentioned is true, then it is imperative for the church to hear something about unity.

 

I.                    THE CHURCH NEEDS TO HEAR THAT UNITY IS COMMANDED

 

A.     Ephesians 4:3

 

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

1.       This is not an option that Paul is throwing out to the church.  It is a command.

2.       Endeavoring

a.       Definitions:

1)      Strong (4074):  to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt, be earnest  (NOTE:  It is translated elsewhere as “diligent”).

2)      Thayer:  to hasten, to exert one’s self, give diligence

3)      Vine:  to make haste, to be zealous, “to be diligent”

b.      Ants are a good example of what it means to endeavor. 

1)      They are constantly working on their ant hill.

 

A picture containing ground, outdoor, nature, hole

Description automatically generated

2)      If something attacks it, they immediately go on the offensive against it.

3)      If the ant hill is destroy, it is not gone for long,  They soon have another in its place.

 

B.      1 Corinthians 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.

 

1.       The church at Corinth was divided over a host of issues. 

2.       In the immediate context, they were divided over who had baptized them (1 Cor. 1:11-15).

 

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  Now this I say that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  Is Christ divided?  was Paul crucified for you?  or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

 

C.     Philippians 1:27b

 

…that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

 

D.     Philippians 2:2

 

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

 

II.                 THE CHURCH NEEDS TO HEAR THE PROPER DEFINITION OF UNITY

 

A.     Oneness

1.       The prayer of Jesus (John 17:20-23; see also Rom. 15:5-6; Phil. 1:27)

 

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 love them, as thou hast loved me.

 

a.   Five times Jesus uses the word “one.” 

b.   Jesus makes the oneness of the Godhead the divine standard.

      1)  “…as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee…”

      2)  “…that they may be one, even as we are one…”

                               c.   He also says that He prays that they will “be made perfect in one…”

2.       An example of oneness:  the human body

3.       The fulfillment in the first century (Acts 4:32)

 

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul…

 

B.      Sameness

1.       Mind (Rom. 12:16; 1 Cor. 1:10

2.       Judgment (1 Cor. 1:10)

3.       Spirit (Phil. 1:27)

4.       Love (Phil. 2:2)

5.       Care (1 Cor. 12:25)

6.       Rule (Phil. 3:16)

 

C.     Accord (Phil. 2:2)

 

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

 

1.       Definition

a.       Strong (4861):  co-spirited, that is, similar in sentiment

b.      Thayer:  of one mind

c.       Vine:  lit. fellow-soul or minded

 

D.     No divisions (1 Cor. 1:10)

 

E.      Perfectly joined (1 Cor. 1:10)

1.       Definitions

a.       To render fit, sound, complete

b.      To mend what is broken or in need of repair

2.       Examples:

a.       When I think of being “perfectly joined together,” I think of a completed puzzle.

 

May be art of indoor

 

b.      I also think of a driveway that has been poured of concrete.  Over time, the concrete often breaks into large slaps.  There are individuals who can fill the large crack and put a coating over the driveway and it becomes one solid whole again.

 

Concrete Repair | Epoxy Floors North

 

 

III.              THE CHURCH NEEDS TO HEAR THE BENEFITS OF UNITY

 

A.     Power, that is, strength (Eccl. 4:12b)

 

…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 

B.      Production (Ex., The example of Babel (Gen. 11:6)

 

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do:  and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

 

C.     Proclamation to the world:  “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).

 

D.     Peace

a.       Same mind, same judgement, same love, etc.

b.      No fighting, bickering, or arguing.

c.       “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

 

E.      Pleasing to God (Col. 1:10)

 

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing…

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Unity seems to be one of those things that we talk about, but we

1.       Excuse ourselves from obtaining it

2.       Comfort ourselves in the concept of “unity-in-diversity”

3.       Proclaim that we have it when we really do not

 

B.      God knows the kind of unity He wants His people to possess. 

 

C.     The church of our Lord needs to get just as serious as possible when it comes to obtaining the unity God desires.