Stand in Unity
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And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
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In Christ, All Believers are Unified
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
A. Division ceases with an abundant knowledge of God.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
-In the end, Christ is the answer. He reveals truth and bring unity
B. Maturity is the pathway to unity
i. We are mature, when we are like Christ.
-Unity of faith and knowledge of Christ result in mature manhood.
-Personal maturity leads to corporate maturity
ii. Not our standard, but God’s
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
2. The World Attacks Believers
-Examples. Satan-god of this world, secular society, our own sinfulness
i. Mental, Physical and Spiritual Attacks
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
ii. Our salvation is secured through the blood of Christ
-Satan can stop us from being the church and distract us.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
3. Unity and Maturity protect us
-not a child, but an adult who stands firm
i. Faith and knowledge of Christ allow us to stand
-Jesus in the Wilderness
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-1
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,