Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
There's an "i" in Unity but don't let that go to your head.
I'm sure you've heard that saying "there's no "i" in team", right? Well, there is one in unity but let's try and get past that.
Psalm 133:1 reads: "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" The exclamation point is included in the translation so when brothers (and sisters) in Christ live together in unity, it must be good and pleasant. Is it good and pleasant in your church?
Nelson's Bible Dictionary states that unity is oneness, harmony, or agreement and that "unity was apparent on the day of Pentecost when the believers 'were all with one accord in one place' Acts 2:1." Is unity apparent on the Lord's Day at your church?
In his admonition to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:1-14, the Apostle Paul urges them to "live a life worthy of the calling" (Ephesians 4:1) that they had received from Christ when they "were included" in Him when they "heard the word of truth, the gospel" of their "salvation" (Ephesians 1:13). He urges them to be "completely humble and gentle" and "patient, bearing with one another in love" Ephesians 4:2. Next, comes his first mention of unity in Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." These words equally apply to our churches today.
Are you making every effort? We must be on guard every second of each day against threats to unity in our churches.... ESPECIALLY THREATS THAT COME FROM OURSELVES.
In Ephesians 4:4 - 6, Paul continues his theme of unity: "one body and one Spirit"..."one hope" to which all believers are called...."one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all". As believers in Christ, we should be united around these gospel points.
God does not, however, program us like robots. Instead, Christ graciously apportions to each of His believers unique spiritual gifts to serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, as well as in other capacities, (Ephesians 4:7-11) (See also 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and Romans 12:3-8 for other lists of spiritual gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues (Nelson's Bible Dictionary, Spiritual Gifts, a topic for a plethora of other posts)).
Why unique spiritual gifts? "To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" according to Ephesians 4:12. How long will this time of preparation and building continue? "(U)ntil 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." Ephesians 4:13. What is the end result of this preparation and building? "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." Ephesians 4:14.
This post is about unity and we can therefore recap with regards to verses 4:3 and 4:13 which I will repeat here: "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit" "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". Will we reach this unity, this level of maturity, in our lifetime? Not wholly, until Christ returns, but if we only allow the Spirit of God and the power of His Word to guide our lives, "we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ" Ephesians 4:15
As you wonder how you will do this, consider a few additional scripture passages from the Apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" and 2 Timothy 2:15, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." Follow these admonitions, live together in unity, all with one accord in one place, and keep on making every effort. You'll be glad you did!
NOTE: All scripture is from the NIV unless otherwise indicated.
Psalm 133:1 reads: "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" The exclamation point is included in the translation so when brothers (and sisters) in Christ live together in unity, it must be good and pleasant. Is it good and pleasant in your church?
Nelson's Bible Dictionary states that unity is oneness, harmony, or agreement and that "unity was apparent on the day of Pentecost when the believers 'were all with one accord in one place' Acts 2:1." Is unity apparent on the Lord's Day at your church?
In his admonition to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:1-14, the Apostle Paul urges them to "live a life worthy of the calling" (Ephesians 4:1) that they had received from Christ when they "were included" in Him when they "heard the word of truth, the gospel" of their "salvation" (Ephesians 1:13). He urges them to be "completely humble and gentle" and "patient, bearing with one another in love" Ephesians 4:2. Next, comes his first mention of unity in Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." These words equally apply to our churches today.
Are you making every effort? We must be on guard every second of each day against threats to unity in our churches.... ESPECIALLY THREATS THAT COME FROM OURSELVES.
In Ephesians 4:4 - 6, Paul continues his theme of unity: "one body and one Spirit"..."one hope" to which all believers are called...."one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all". As believers in Christ, we should be united around these gospel points.
God does not, however, program us like robots. Instead, Christ graciously apportions to each of His believers unique spiritual gifts to serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, as well as in other capacities, (Ephesians 4:7-11) (See also 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and Romans 12:3-8 for other lists of spiritual gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues (Nelson's Bible Dictionary, Spiritual Gifts, a topic for a plethora of other posts)).
Why unique spiritual gifts? "To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" according to Ephesians 4:12. How long will this time of preparation and building continue? "(U)ntil 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." Ephesians 4:13. What is the end result of this preparation and building? "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." Ephesians 4:14.
This post is about unity and we can therefore recap with regards to verses 4:3 and 4:13 which I will repeat here: "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit" "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". Will we reach this unity, this level of maturity, in our lifetime? Not wholly, until Christ returns, but if we only allow the Spirit of God and the power of His Word to guide our lives, "we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ" Ephesians 4:15
As you wonder how you will do this, consider a few additional scripture passages from the Apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" and 2 Timothy 2:15, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." Follow these admonitions, live together in unity, all with one accord in one place, and keep on making every effort. You'll be glad you did!
NOTE: All scripture is from the NIV unless otherwise indicated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)