The Pleasantness of Christian Unity
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Never has our world been so divided. Polarization has increased among God’s people as well. God wants His children to dwell in unity. Discover the wonders of Christian unity and how to achieve it in this Bible message.
How many of you have played a team sport? There is a wonderful camaraderie when the team works together toward a common goal. However, infighting and pride will defeat the team before they compete.
Each of us are part of a family. Home should be a safe place unified with love and joy. Yet, how many homes are filled with anger, hurt, and strife?
A nation’s citizens should be unified by the flag, the national anthem, and a commitment to the common good. Today, we see strife in our nation over the very things that should unite us against our common foes.
A local church is to be the pillar and ground of truth unconditionally committed to God and His Word. Christians are the ambassadors of Christ who should live for His glory, seek the lost, and display their salvation through holy living and brotherly love. Sadly, many churches experience strife, divisions, cliques, and splits. This should not be!
We need a revival a unity in our country and in our churches.
Psalm 133 is titled as “A Song of Degrees of David.” Fifteen Psalms, Psalm 120 - 134, are named a song of degrees. We believe these were songs sung as pilgrims ascended Mt. Zion for the major feasts. During these feast the nation would come together to worship Jehovah in unity. These songs of degrees unified their hearts as they traveled.
This Psalm was written by David. Probably, when he was made King over all of Israel. During this monumental occasion the 12 tribes were brought together in unity after the turbulent reign of King Saul.
This short but potent Psalms speaks of the beauty of unity.
What is unity?
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Ư´NITY, n. [L. unitas.] The state of being one; oneness. Unity may consist of a simple substance or existing being, as the soul; but usually it consists in a close junction of particles or parts, constituting a body detached from other bodies. Unity is a thing undivided itself, but separate from every other thing. School Philosophy.
2. Concord; conjunction; as a unity of proofs. Shak.
3. Agreement; uniformity; as unity of doctrine; unity of worship in a church. Hooker.
4. In christian theology, oneness of sentiment, affection or behavior.
How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps. 133.
God gives unity.
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
God is always right. If two or more people agree with God they they are unified by that agreement.
Our Lord teaches us what to believe, how to feel, what to love, and how to live. Christians are unified in these areas as they follow God’s Word.
Jesus Christ prayed that His people would be unified as one. There is perfect unity and unbroken harmony among the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Spirit are one. Christ prayed that His followers would be as one. Their unity would be a powerful sign to the lost that Jesus is the Saviour.
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.
Irreparable harm is done to the name and cause of Christ when God’s people don’t get along. What a terrible testimony to the lost who need Christ! How many sinners have been “turned off” by prideful Christians who choose to fight one another instead of Satan. How many lost have gone to Hell because a backslidden believer wanted to spread discord instead of seek souls?
May God help us to never make those mistakes!
God wants unity in the truth.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Unity at all costs is compromise. This “false unity” builds resentment and causes problems in the long run.
There are some things worth fighting for!
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Unity is the goal. Every believer should strive for unity with His Christian brothers and sisters.
Genuine unity is found in God and His truth. Let’s study God’s Word to discover the pleasantness of unity.
1. Unity is expected in a family.
1. Unity is expected in a family.
“For brethren to dwell together in unity”
All Christians are part of God’s family.
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
All Believers are brothers and sisters in Christ.
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Unity is expected in God’s family.
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.
God unifies us. Pride and preferences divide us.
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house 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 ye 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. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Christ is the great unifier!
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Unity is expected in every
family.
organization.
team.
church.
business.
Division and Infighting hinder every organization.
Mark 3:24-26
2. Unity is good.
2. Unity is good.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Verse one begins with “Behold!” Unity can be seen. It is a good sight.
Unity produces peace. God expects us to make an honest effort for unity among the brethren.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. Unity is pleasant.
3. Unity is pleasant.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
The word pleasant means “delightful.”
It is a delight to live in unity. It is pleasant and pleasurable to join with those with whom you agree.
Disunity is unpleasant and uncomfortable. Only foolish and brutish people enjoy conflict.
4. Unity is precious.
4. Unity is precious.
It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:
That went down to the skirts of his garments;
The anointing oil of the sanctuary was an ointment composed of many “precious ingredients, as myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia.
This precious oil diffused a pleasant fragrance.
The oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the divine source of unity.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5. Unity is a blessing.
5. Unity is a blessing.
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
For there the Lord commanded the blessing,
Even life for evermore.
Dew is given by God every morning. It waters the earth and generates the leaves and blooms that beautify the Earth. So unity beautifies our lives with blessings.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Unity is the goal. Every believer should strive for unity with His Christian brothers and sisters. Genuine unity is found in God and His truth.
Unity is:
expected.
good.
pleasant.
precious.
blessing.