INTRODUCTION
1. Unity has become a sort of buzz-word in religious circles today
a. In a post-modern era that claims no right or wrong exists
b. People want everyone to go along just to get along, just tolerate differences
c. It sounds nice but is it biblical, I mean really what God wants
2. In this study we will look at God's idea of unity and see what the Bible expects of us
3. We want to look at it from the following points:
a. Drive for unity
b. Definition of unity
c. Deliver unity
4. There is definitely a call for unity from above but now we are going to see just what that means and how to make it happen
TRANSITION: Let's first talk about the:
I. Drive for unity
A. The drive for unity begins in the heart of God
1. John 17:20-23, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
a. This is rightly understood as a plea for unity
b. That we be united together in Him
2. This is Jesus' last recorded prayer before His arrest and crucifixion
3. And He prays for the unity of all who believe the words of the apostles
B. Paul repeats this plea for unity
1. Ephesians 4:1-3 as was read in our scripture reading
2. The Holy Spirit desires that we STRIVE for unity
a. That means work hard to attain it
b. The Holy Spirit says unity is important
c. He is passing that drive for unity on to us
3. Ephesians 4:13, "Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
a. Our task is to bring everyone to unity
b. Unity in faith to maturity through knowledge (Hold on to this thought)
c. IT is your job to foster and drive toward unity in Christ
C. That is what Paul instructs us to do in 1 Corinthians 1:10
1. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
2. We must strive for this kind of unity
TRANSITION: To strive for something we must first:
II. Define it
A. It if from the Greek word Henotais
1. The word actually only occurs 2 X in the Bible and we read both
a. Ephesians 4:3 and 13
b. It is discussed in other places but only used here by Paul
2. It means harmony in musical discipline
a. It is derived from the Greek word heis which means one
b. It would then mean being as one together, in harmony with one another, singing the same song
B. What unity is not
1. Agreeing to disagree
a. Paul says we are to AGREE and have no divisions
b. Jesus said we are to be ONE as He and the Father are
c. We have ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism
d. Disagreeing means division which violate the oneness Jesus is praying for
2. Denominationalism
a. Matthew 16:18 Jesus said "I will build MY church" not your choice of many options, singular, church
b. 1 Corinthians 1:11-13 Paul reminds us that Christ is not divided
c. You are not to be a disciple of Joseph Menno, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Zwingli, Joseph Smith, or Alexander Campbell
d. None of these men died with ability to save you, none have risen to sit at God's right hand
e. Christ is the only name by which you are saved
3. Tolerance of falsehood
a. 2 John 10 says not to even give a greeting or well-wish to a false teacher
b. Amos 3:3, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"
c. The answer is NO
C. What unity is
1. A harmonious relationship
a. When lives are in harmony with each other
b. We are in agreement with each other
2. Starts with Christ
a. We must be one in Him
b. If we agree with each other and not Him we lack unity
c. 1 John 1:6-7, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"
3. Paul says we must agree
a. Unity is NOT going along to get along, that is laziness
b. Unity is placing yourself in God's light, being in harmony with Him so we are united with all others in His light
D. We find agreement in the Gospel
1. When someone teacher and practices falsehood leading to death they are outside the light and out of harmony with God, that is disunity
2. When he teaches and practices God's truth he is in God's light and at one with Him, that is unity, harmony
TRANSITION: So how do I?:
III. Deliver harmony
A. Remember this key point
1. No one else died to save your soul
2. There is not a human on earth who can save you
a. Do not trust anyone over God
b. Do not take anyone's word over His
B. Remember also that Christ is not divided
1. He does not one teaching here and another down the road
2. The Bible means what it says and does not change based on the name on the door of the building
3. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever
C. Teach His truth
1. The drive for unity tells me first to follow His word
2. It also directs me to seek unity with others
3. I do that by sharing God's word with them to bring them to His light
4. Bring a lost and dieing world into oneness with Him through the one Lord, one faith, and one baptism that makes us His
5. Remove the barrier of false teaching from the path of unity by teaching others God's truth in the Gospel
D. In His and His truth alone can we be united
CONCLUSION
1. Christ does indeed want unity but not through diversity
2. He wants people to unite under His teachings, to draw near together to His throne of grace and mercy
3. That only happens one way by holding on to God's word
4. There is no unity in division, no harmony in discord, no togetherness when we determine to hold on to man's belief over God's word
5. We seek unity by sharing God's truth
6. Bring a lost and dieing soul into unity of the spirit by sharing with him the saving message about Jesus Christ
7. In this harmonious relationship we try to build remember this
a. You can be in harmony with the world and man's foolishness
b. Or in harmony with Christ and His saving wisdom
c. Which do you choose?
