1 Cor.6:17
2. 1 Cor.6:17 - “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”
a. Unite: GK: Kollao, from root Kolla (glue).
i. To glue, cement or fasten together.
3. There are 2 different aspects to this verse.
a. 1 The initial and 2 the progressive.
b. Example: marriage.
i. Initially united in marriage through covenant made at our wedding.
ii. Progressively united in a continuing relationship.
c. Those 2 aspects are involved in your walk with God also.
4. The initial aspect in your walk with God - Salvation:
a. At salvation your were fastened firmly to Him.
i. Rev.3:20 - “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
ii. Jn.1:12 - “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
b. At that point you received His Spirit and were made one with Him in Spirit.
i. 2 Cor.1:21-22 - “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
ii. Eph.1:13-14 - “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”
c. Now you have security in that relationship, you are glued together.
i. Heb.13:5 - "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
ii. Phil.1:6 - “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
iii. Jn.10:28 - “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
1. You’re super-glued firmly in His hand.
iv. Rom.8:38-39 - “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1. This super-glue never comes undone.
5. The progressive aspect in your walk with God - your day to day fellowship with God:
c. Jesus desires unity with us
i. Jn.17:21 - “Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
b. That is where the progressive part comes in: daily uniting myself with Him.
i. So what does this verse and the word unite (Kollao) mean?
1. We learned Kollao means to glue, cement or fasten.
2. How do we do that with God?
a. Always interpret scripture with scripture!
ii. Kollao is used to describe 7 types of uniting in the New Testament.
2. Acts 8:29 describes uniting in location.
a. Practically: unite yourself with him by being committed to fellowship with other believers.
i. Mt.18:20 - “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
ii. Heb.10:24-25 - “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
2. Acts 5:13 and 17:34 describe uniting in belief.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by trusting Him in every area of your life.
i. Pr.3:5-6 - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
3. Rom.12:9 (“hate what is evil, cling to what is good”) describes uniting in decision and action.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by developing convictions about living a life that glorifies Christ, through His power.
i. Phil.1:27 - conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
4. Acts 9:26 describes uniting in purpose.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by following His plan for your life.
i. Jer.29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
5. Lk.15:15 describes uniting in commitment and covenant.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by putting Him in charge in every area of your life; surrendering to Him.
i. Rom.12:1 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.”
6. Acts 10:28 describes uniting in fellowship.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by continually drawing near to Him.
i. James 4:8 - “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
7. 1 Cor.6:16 describes uniting in intimacy.
a. Practically: unite yourself with Him by living in intimacy with Him.
i. Jer.30:21 - “Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?”
c. Uniting myself with God is the purpose of my existence.
ii. Nothing else matters.
7. Phil.3:7 - “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
8. Ps.34:8 - “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”
d. The challenge:
ii. 1 Cor.6:17 - “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”
7. Unite yourself with Him by:
a. Being committed to fellowship with other believers.
b. Trusting Him in every area of your life.
c. Developing convictions about living a life that glorifies Christ, through His power.
d. Following His plan for your life.
e. Putting Him in charge in every area of your life; surrendering to Him.
f. Continually drawing near to Him.
g. Living in intimacy with Him.
