HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE?

Christian Living

Number 1

By Garreth L. Clair

This will be the first of several studies on the subject of unity.

We will number each one of the studies as we present them.

Study these well, Col 4:5-6, ”5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.“ KJV

1 Peter 3:14-15, ”14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:“ KJV

One of the great questions from the beginning of God’s dealings with man has been how can mere humans attain to unity and maintain it for long periods of time. The Bible clearly instructs God’s people to be unified under HIS leadership, yet so many instances in history this has been seemingly impossible. We must seek an answer to this seemingly impossible task for mankind [i.e. unity]. I do not know all the causes for disunity among men over religion but many of the problems are with man not with God’s Written Word. To this investigation I dedicate this short dissertation on unity.

Without unity the whole of mankind is cursed to never be wholly acceptable to God for God requires that all humankind pursue unity as a number one priority:

Psalms 133:1-3, ”Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that came down upon the skirt of his garments; 3 Like the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: for there Jehovah commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.“ ASV

Eph 4:3-13, ”3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4(There is) one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. 7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he said, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: 13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:“ ASV

We understand, then; that unity is one status upon which God requires man’s utmost effort. In the previous passages of Scripture we see that unity is pleasant [Psalms 133:1-3], that unity may be attained through compliance with God’s instructions via the Written Word [i.e. the Bible] --- Eph. 4:3-13. Yes, the prescription for unity is reveled to mankind as an acceptance of God’s Word without differentiation by all who volunteer to be disciples [i.e. true Christians].

This proposition in itself is a stumbling block to unity advocates; many disagree about this point because they arrive at conflicting conclusions about many specific passages of Holy Scripture.

ACCEPTANCE THAT JESUS CHRIST REQUIRES UNITY OF ALL DISCIPLES:

John 17:11-23, ”11 And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we (are).

12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one).

16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;

21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one , even as we (are) one ;

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me.“ ASV

Many people do not accept the Bible as an inspired Book and many do not accept Jesus Christ as Savior of mankind; these points are absolutely non-negotiable as points of unity --- they must be accepted for unity to exist.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE BIBLE AS THE ONLY STANDARD OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH PERTAINING TO ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICE:

There can be no dispute among men as to the standard of authority for all God’s people, the Written Word must be accepted as absolutely true in every respect. Predicated upon this belief of all mankind one may agree [i.e. attain to unity].

Eph 4:13, ”till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:“ ASV

Gen 6:9, ”These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, (and) perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.“ ASV

Heb 13:21-22, ”21 make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom (be) the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 But I exhort you, brethren; bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words.“ ASV

Rom 12:2, ”And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.“ ASV

Many different religions in the world today do not accept the Bible [i.e. the 66 books of the Bible]; this point also is a point where men cannot agree. Since this is an important point to unity; unity of all people religiously must begin with this point, for without a standard of religious authority no possibility for religious unity is possible.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 2

First things first:

God back and connect with Number 1 this series of studies.

There will be several Numbers forthcoming dealing with this subject [GLC].

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE [i.e. proper interpretation of the Written Word]

John 8:32, ”and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“ ASV

John 17:17, ”Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.“ ASV

Psalms 119:9-19, ”9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed (thereto) according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the ordinances of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; so will I observe thy word, 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a sojourner in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.“ ASV

Indeed, interpretation is another point where disunity exists among religious people. Many religious people disagree on the meaning and application of the same Scripture; for an example, Acts 2:38 is interpreted by some to teach baptism because they are already saved yet the passage clearly states that baptism is ”for the remission of sins“ --- The passage cannot have two meaning that are both correct. In order for unity to exist among the two disputants of the passage one must give up their interpretation and accept the interpretation of the other.

BECOMING A CHRISTIAN {i.e. submitting to the Biblical plan for man’s salvation from sin}:

God has revealed a plan for man’s salvation from sin [i.e. often called first principles]; that plan includes:

Hearing the gospel [i.e. understanding it]: Romans 10:17
Believing the gospel [i.e. being convinced that Jesus Is Christ, the Son of God and acceptance of the Bible as an absolutely perfect guide in past, present, and future details]: Mark 16:15-17
Repenting of past sins: Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38
Confessing Jesus with the mouth publicly: Romans 10:9-10
Being baptized through immersion --- for the remission of sins: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-5; 1 Peter 3:21
The Lord will ”add“ you to His Body, the church; Acts 2L47

REMAINING FAITHFUL TO GOD“S INSTRUCTIONS THROUGHOUT LIFE [i.e. understanding that man is subject to fall and understanding that God has provided a means for restoration to full disciple status]:

Revelation 2:10, ”Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.“

Psalms 119:30-32, ”30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: thine ordinances have I set (before me). 31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame. 32 I will

run the way of thy commandments, when thou shall enlarge my heart.“ ASV

Gal 5:22-25, ”22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. 25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.“ ASV

IS UNITY POSSIBLE?

The unity for which Christ prayed, the unity that is Biblical in origin; all are based upon acceptance of God’s Written Word and a consistent interpretation submitted to by all who seek true religion. This is a problem today as it has always been with mankind because of ”free moral agency“ --- the ability for each person to choose between a given point of Biblical truth. Many people cannot agree upon the content and application of Holy Scripture --- this is the point at which disunity enters the equation; man is capable of unity but he will not always abide by the interpretation of its contents.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 3

As we finished lesson number 2 of this series it became evident that there is much more to the subject of unity than we had first thought.

Unity is impossible unless religious minded people return to the attitude that prevailed according to Gen 11:1-6, ”1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar. And they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top (may reach) unto heaven, and let us make us a name. Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language. And this is what they begin to do. And now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.“ ASV

CONSIDER THIS:

As we can observe by reading the account of the construction of the tower of

Babel, whenever mankind unites in such a way as to cause all of the people to have

one mind and one desire [i.e. hope], great accomplishments will follow. Indeed, these people united to build a tower to heaven – perhaps thinking that they could go to the place where God exist. Of course this was impossible but God saw a wicked streak in the people He had created. Apparently God understood that the kind of unity that these people possessed was contrary to HIS WILL; consequently he made a decision to stop this kind of unity –-- unauthorized unity for an unauthorized project.

From these facts we may deduct that man cannot attain to unity of religion until a decision is reached by all to work toward unity with one heart. Whenever people unite they could perhaps attain to unity but the history of mankind since the tower of Babel indicates that they will not as a whole people appeal to GOD for instruction pertaining to God approved matters.

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR 21st Century man to agree whole heartily on acceptance of the BIBLE [i.e. the Written Word of God], in all things religious with one accord. I do not know if this is possible! Man has proven himself in past history to be stubborn and hard-headed when dealing with God’s Word [i.e. instructions]. Since God does not speak from a smoking mountain and does not communicate directly with man [example, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc] but communicates with mankind today through His Written Word it require all men of all nations to accept this BOOK [i.e. the BIBLE] as a standard in all religious questions. Until all of those seeking religion’s unity come to the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice there can never be a return to the Tower of Babel type of unity [i.e. where the people are of one mind].

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 4

The nature of man is such that free-moral-agency has a tendency to cause many to submit to the fleshly desires more often that to the spiritual impulses that enter our heart. This problem has always plagued mankind as the recorded history of man so indicates.

NOTE:

The only reliable historical account of humanity is the 66 books of the Hebrew and Greek Bible. Since this is the Book that God has given to mankind to help him know and follow God it behooves man to pursue the instructions within the Bible so that he will be able to make and maintain a good spiritual relationship with God. This is surely taught first in Jeremiah 10:23, ”O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.“ ASV

Having an indication from God that man is frail and subject to err surely suggests that man cannot attain to unity on religious matters unless he/she is prepared to submit their will to that of God. The will of God, of course is found in the Bible. The great passages of Holy Scripture that teach this concept are many, a few will suffice:

Psalms 119:29-33, ”29 Remove from me the way of falsehood; and grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set (before me). 31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shall enlarge my heart. 33 Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.“ ASV

The materialist and the modernist must abandon their humanistic philosophies in order to understand and appreciate the Bible and its history of man from creation to the present. To fail in this process the materialist will be unable to bring them to accept the Bible and therefore begin a process of learning that could eventually lead to unity with others who are true Christians.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 5

Hebrews 4:2, ”For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.“ ASV

The above passage of Scripture suggest that hearing the truth is essential to salvation and unity but that there is more to the subject than hearing the instruction from God. The truth is to be assimilated into our heart [i.e. seat of our intellect – our conscious mind] so that we will know how, what, when, and where of the will of God. If we will proceed with the first knowledge to seek God and his way we will surely be saved from our sins after we have complied with commands from God regarding our salvation from sin [cf. John 8:32; 17:17; Acts 2:38, etc]. You see, the concept of salvation from sin is the basis for future growth and learning of God’s greatness and desire for our good [cf. Paul’s instruction to the philosophers in Athens --- Acts 17:16-34, ”16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.

18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious.

23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.

24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined (their) appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:

28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.

30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:

31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.

33 Thus Paul went out from among them.

34 But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the

Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.“ ASV

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 6

God’s will is the standard for religious unity as we have previously examined [i.e. Number 4]. This proposition is one of the difficult mountains that must be dealt with for the unity seeker. Let me illustrate the point as follows;

TEXT OF 2 Peter 1:1-7 --- ”1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and (the) Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue ;

4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in (your) virtue knowledge;

6 and in (your) knowledge self-control; and in (your) self-control patience; and in (your) patience godliness;

7 and in (your) godliness brotherly kindness; and in (your) brotherly kindness love.“

Here in 2 Peter 1:1-7 we find that there are seven points that are put forth as grounds for acceptable growth by the newly converted Christian. Since this is revealed to man via revelation from God we must incorporate these seven qualities into our life as a Christian or we have failed to grow as required by God. If we fail to grow we find in the same context cf. 2 Peter 1:9, ”9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.“ ASV

CONSIDER THIS:

If these seven qualities are added to the Christian’s life he/she will be acceptable to God in this specific area – NOTE: 2 Peter 1:10-11, ”10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.“ ASV

Further in this specific area of study we find that to possess these qualities makes us unified with all other Christians who are doing the same --- they will be in fellowship with all other Christians who are doing the same and are possessed of these qualities. This is but one point in our ongoing study of ”HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE?

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 7

For religious unity to exist there must be sameness of understanding and sameness of application of Holy Scripture. An illustration speaks more than anything else, let us examine Ephesians 4:3-7 to further simplify the problems to religious unity of all people.

TEXT OF Ephesians 4:3-7, ”3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4(There is) one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.“ ASV

CONSIDER THIS:

In order for religious unity to exist there must be sameness of acceptance and practice of this ”SEVEN POINTS OF UNITY“. Without mutual acceptance by all religious people of these points there can be no unity [i.e. extending of fellowship] with them.

There is a great deal of doctrine established whenever one examines these seven points:

VERSE 4:

There is One Body – The church Jesus Built – Mat 16:18; Acts 2:1-47
And One Spirit – The Holy Spirit; revealer and upholder of all things – 2Peter 1:21; John 14:26
One Hope – Heaven as an eternal Home for the righteous - 1 Peter 1:3-5

VERSE 5:

One Lord – Jesus Christ - Rom 1:1-4
One Faith – Jude 3
One Baptism – Acts 2:38 [i.e. for remission of sin] – Romans 6:3-4, a burial in water. VERSE 6:
One God and Father – The father of all mankind – Genesis 1; [i.e. the father of Jesus Christ as man] - 2 John 3-9

CONSIDER THESE FACTS:

As we examine the seven points here in this passage we immediately reflect on the disagreement among religions in the world about these points. There are more than 15,000 different religions, sects, and religious fragments in existence in our world. Many of these religions do not believe or accept these seven points of Biblical teaching. As a matter of record I know not but a few that accept any of these facts when they are extended and defined.

As we look at these few points in study number 7 it is becoming more and more apparent that there cannot really be religious unity [i.e. in the absolute sense of the word in the English Language].

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 8

Unity of faith and practice as it effects ”fellowship“ is the study for this occasion. As we search for unity we need to understand the relationship of Biblical Fellowship and unity of faith and practice. Actually, there can be no fellowship between men if there is not unity of faith and practice as a basic foundation. This will be our work in this study; to show the significance of the oneness of faith and practice as they relate to true Biblical Fellowship.

DEFINITION OF THE GREEK WORDS FROM WHICH OUR ENGLISH WORDS FELLOWSHIP HAS ITS ORIGIN.

A. Nouns.

1. koinonia NT:2842, (a) "communion, fellowship, sharing in common" (from koinos, "common"), is translated "communion" in 1 Cor 10:16; Philem 6, RV, "fellowship," for KJV, "communication"; it is most frequently translated "fellowship"; (b) "that which is the outcome of fellowship, a contribution," e. g., Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 8:4. See COMMUNION, CONTRIBUTION, etc.

Note: In Eph 3:9, some mss. have koinonia, instead of oikonomia, "dispensation," RV.

2. metoche NT:3352, "partnership" (akin to No. 3, under FELLOW), is translated "fellowship" in 2 Cor 6:14. In the Sept., Ps 122:3, "Jerusalem is built as a city whose fellowship is complete." The word seems to have a more restricted sense than koinonia. Cf. the verb form in Heb 2:14.

3. koinonos NT:2844 denotes "a partaker" or "partner" (akin to No. 1); in 1 Cor 10:20 it is used with ginomai, "to become," "that ye should have communion with," RV (KJV, fellowship with). See COMPANION, PARTAKER, PARTNER.

B. Verbs.

1. koinoneo NT:2841, "to have fellowship," is so translated in Phil 4:15, RV, for KJV, "did communicate." See COMMUNICATE.

2. sunkoinoneo NT:4790, "to have fellowship with or in" (sun, "with," and No. 1), is used in Eph 5:11; Phil 4:14, RV, "ye had fellowship," for KJV, "ye did communicate"; Rev 18:4, RV, "have (no) fellowship with," for KJV, "be (not) partakers of" See COMMUNICATE, PARTAKER.

CONSIDER THIS:

The definition of ”Biblical Fellowship is simply” a sharing with others of like faith and practice in the service and glorification [i.e. worship, etc.] of the One True God – cf. John 4:24, ”God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.“ ASV Indeed, fellowship is a union between two or more people in their service to Almighty God. One cannot be in fellowship with anyone who is not themselves in fellowship with God for this would create a type of ”unity in diversity“ which the Holy Scriptures do not sanction.

As one can determine from the use of the Greek Lexicons the concept of unity is seen in the word fellowship. Fellowship without unity of faith and practice is not unity in any true Biblical sense, therefore two or more differing religious people may claim to have fellowship with one another but their fellowship is true only in a worldly sense of the word. Biblical Fellowship then, is never approved by God based upon less than unity in faith and practice. For this reason sound brethren will not join a city wide or county wide fellowship because the very idea is a contradiction of terms; there can be no true fellowship with unbelievers as the Holy Scriptures clearly indicate in such passages as the following:

Ephesians 4:3-16, ”3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4(There is) one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.

9(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, (even) Christ;

16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in (due) measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.“ ASV

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 9

The concept of unity among most denominational clergymen and so called pastors is to disagree about many things but not about the trinity [i.e. the Godhead], Lordship of Jesus, and about the need to live good, moral lives. Based on this formula several so-called church of Christ preachers and elders have encouraged unity of all who accept these very basic tenants of Biblical doctrine [examples: Karl Ketchercide, Leroy Garrett, and others]. The current attempt by Christian churches and other restoration partners are pursuing the same philosophy [i.e. partial or unity in diversity?]

--- NOTE ---

Dated: Number 54 – October 2007 - From ChristiaNet

[Newsletter for world convention, a unity seeking forum]

Pact for Peace Signed at Restoration Forum

Early in September more than 1100 people attended the final Restoration Forum,

held in Joplin, Missouri. Of that number more than 500 signed a ”Pact for Peace“ based upon Jesus prayer for unity in John 17 that included confession, repentance, and a resolve to abandon division, love peace and live as peacemakers (see the pact at http://w ww.poeministries.org). Restoration Forum began in 1984 as a unity meeting between Christian Churches and Churches of Christ in the United States.

This approach to unity is not really useful because it tends to cause some religious people to accept the philosophy and thereby condemn themselves and others that follow their false concepts. The following verses of Scripture indicate clearly these

facts about ”partial unit“ --- cf. Matt 23:24-28,

”24 Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.“ ASV

Luke 6:39,

”39 And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?“ ASV

Romans 2:19-20,

”19 and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,

20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;“ ASV

Romans 10:1-3,

”1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.

2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.“ ASV

CONSIDER THIS:

The concepts discussed in this study [i.e. number 9], encompasses much of the world’s religious efforts to unify. A partial list of such partial efforts at religious unity follows:

1. ”Christian ecumenism is distinguished from interfaith pluralism.

A. Ecumenism in this broad sense is called religious pluralism, as distinguished from ecumenism within a faith movement.

B. The interfaith movement strives for greater mutual respect, toleration, and co-operation among the world religions.

C. Ecumenism as interfaith dialogue between representatives of diverse faiths, does not necessarily intend reconciling their adherents into full, organic unity with one another but simply to promote better relations. It promotes toleration, mutual respect and cooperation, whether among Christian denominations, or between Christianity and other faiths. {From Wikipedia on line}.

It is apparent that there is little hope for real unity from these international efforts at uniting religious movements into partial unity --- which is really no unity at all. The efforts of man in the last 1900 + years to attain absolute unity of all religious people have failed miserably. The only legacy that religious efforts at unity have established is that the kind of unity for which Jesus prayed prior to His death and resurrection has yet to be realized within the established church that Christ instituted and started on Pentecost Day according to facts revealed by Luke in the 2nd chapter of Acts.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 10

FEMINISM AND RELIGIOUS UNITY

{The concept of the female liberal and/or modern woman as

they relate to religious unity}

At least four kinds of feminism are discernible on the American scene [2007 CE]. Secular feminism refers to those who completely reject religion and the Bible. Any attention to the Bible would be for the purpose of attacking it as a primary cause of the "oppression" of women in American culture. A second brand of feminism is goddess feminism which parallels secular feminism closely but varies in its attempt to center itself in a religious and / or spiritual context. The religion of the Bible is rejected in exchange for pagan goddess worship.

A third type of feminism is associated with liberal theology. The attempt is made to retain commitment to the Bible and the Christian framework while sharing essentially the same goals of secular and goddess feminism. This brand of feminism shares in common with liberal theology a devalued view of the inspiration and authority of the Bible. The bulk of the Bible is considered to be "andocentric" (i.e., male-centered), "patriarchal" (i.e., representing society as properly ruled by men), and "hierarchical" (i.e., supportive of role distinctions and relationships which imply authority and submission).

The liberal feminist believes that despite these distortions, the Bible still contains some indication of egalitarianism (i.e., total equality between the sexes with no role distinctions based on gender). The feminist considers her task to be to rescue Scripture from being a male-oriented tool of female oppression. She must instigate a new paradigm--a feminist hermeneutic--that sidesteps the sexist nature of the Bible and allows God to speak to women.

The liberal feminist's treatment of the Bible is predicated upon three trends currently operative within the modern approach to hermeneutics. First, greater emphasis is placed upon the plenary sense of Scripture, i.e., what a passage means to the reader, rather than the primary sense of what the inspired author intended to convey. Second, textual meaning is perceived to be relative in that both the original writer as well as the interpreter are limited by their own peculiar perspective. Third, interpretation is inevitably biased by the interpreter's own presuppositions and experience.

These three directions in the field of hermeneutics which under-gird liberal theology also give liberal feminism the platform from which to launch its uniquely feminist hermeneutic. This platform enables feminist interpreters to treat the Bible as a flexible recipient of the feminist's own experience. "Exegesis" is approached in terms of the feminist's individual view of reality. As victims of male domination, the feminist interpreter is uniquely qualified to extract insights from the biblical texts that are seen to be supportive of this worldview. In other words, Scripture is shaped, "creatively and imaginatively reinterpreted," to conform to the feminist experience. In this way, Scripture is believed to be rescued from the misinterpretations of patriarchy.

SOURCE --- ”FEMINIST ATTITUDES TOWARD THE BIBLE - by Dave Miller“

This four-part delineation is taken from Jack Cottrell, Feminism and the Bible (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Co., 1992). One might also wish to compare David J. Ayers' "The Inevitability of Failure: The Assumptions and Implementations of Modern Feminism" in John Piper and Wayne Grudem, eds., Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991), pp. 312-331.

See the charge leveled against biblical feminists to the effect that they actually abandon the authority of Scripture and opt for the final authority of human reason in Susan T. Foh, Women and the Word of God: A Response to Biblical Feminism, (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1980), pp. 6-7. Within churches of Christ, the liberal element pushing for change---including change regarding female leadership in worship--has been vehemently critical of the "traditional" emphasis of churches of Christ upon logic and correct reasoning. Ironically, in reality, it is these liberals who, in their rejection of Bible authority, are relying upon their own human reasoning for their views, though they mask their intricate, convoluted meanderings in a sophisticated aura of "scholarship" and "rigorous exegesis."

See Cottrell's discussion, pp.24 These terms are used by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart in How To Read the Bible For All It's Worth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982), p. 65. Notice their application to women's ministries on pp. 65-69. Fee and Stuart's views on women appear to have exerted a considerable influence on key voices among churches of Christ.

Note - Thomas C. Geer's "Admonitions to Women in 1 Tim. 2:8-15" in Carroll D. Osburn, ed., Essays On Women in Earliest Christianity (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Co., 1993), p. 296. Also, Osburn's own treatment of I Timothy 2 in his Women in the Church (Abilene, TX: Restoration Perspectives, 1994), p. 115, in which he insists, "it is not necessary or advisable to take it as a general directive to all women everywhere. The letter was directed to a specific group of troublesome women in a particular place in the early church." Such reconstructions of imaginary circumstances certainly merit the description given by Osburn on p. 55--"The reality of false objectivity emerges here."

Notice Geer's shocking conclusion to his analysis of 1 Timothy 2 in Essays, p. 301--"While Paul certainly recognized freedom for women in Christ, he was as much a child of his own time as we all are..."

Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1987), pp. 97ff.

Bloom, p. -The Spiritual Sword, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 3-6, Memphis

CONSIDER THIS:

There can be no possibility of unity between men and women on a religious unity platform when these [i.e. current article] ingrained philosophies regarding the roles of men and women and their place in God’s scheme of human redemption is considered. Division is the result of efforts by liberal and modernist minded women in recent years [i.e. beginning in the 20th Century and continuing into the 21st Century]. The woman’s role in God’s scheme of human redemption is revealed clearly by God in His Book [i.e. the Bible]; See References at appendix 1. Whenever anyone seeks unity of religious faith and practice these matters that separate men and women must be addressed --- How Is Unity Possible under such circumstance?

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number - 11

APPENDIX 1 to previous study {Glc}

A major problem to unity of religious faith and practice today exist because many unhappy and modern thinking women have decided that they want to have the same places in the church that men have occupied. Indeed, God set men in the church to exercise leadership; He did not place women in the church to have leadership roles. This arrangement that God has set for men and women in the church leadership does no damage to the male or to the female; both are acceptable to God and equal partners in salvation and rewards if they maintain their faith and good works throughout life;

EXAMPLE 1 - BOTH MALE AND FEMALE ARE EQUAL IN CHRIST --- Both are saved from sin and will receive heaven at the end of a faithful life cf. Rev 2:10. Galatians 3:27-28, ”27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. 28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one (man) in Christ Jesus.“

EXAMPLE 2 - BOTH MEN AND WOMEN RECEIVE SALVATION FROM SIN WHENEVER THEY COMPLY WITH THE LORD’S CONDITIONS ---Hebrews 5:8-9, ”8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;“ ASV

NOTE:

Even though God has assigned men and women different roles in life [Husband-wife; father-mother]; God has also assigned them differing roles in the church. Both roles for the man and the woman are honorable and acceptable to God. There need be no division over gender roles in the church; the problem is with people who are dissatisfied with God’s way and have a desire to change God’s standards. This concept will never lead to unity of faith and practice; it will lead only to more division and schism for honorable religious adherents.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 12

Division and apostasy in the early church:

1. THE FIRST Congregation:

Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, fall dead at Peter's rebuke of their hypocrisy.

Acts 5:1-11 (KJV)

The apostles, determined to neglect neither physical needs nor ministry of the word Acts 6:1-6 [verse 1] ”And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.“

2. PAUL AND BARNABUS FORCED TO LEAVE ICONIUM:

Acts 14:1-6 --- Apparently some of the hostile Jews influences some of the believers to doubt Paul and Barnabus.

3. Great problems created in the Gentile churches by Jews from the Jerusalem congregation - Acts 15:1-5 - The problem about circumcision is resolved – Acts 15:6-35

4. The problems at Ephesus

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev 2:1-7 (KJV)

5. The problems at Corinth:

Division over men – 1 Corinthians 1:10-31
The membership generally was carnal [i.e. worldly] 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
An incestuous person among them:

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as

is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed

might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in

spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done

this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my

spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for

the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

- 1 Cor 5:1 (KJV)

Christians must not go to the secular courts to settle problems:

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. - 1 Cor 6:1-8 (KJV)

Christians and the problems associated with mixed marriages [i.e. between Christians and non-Christians] –1 Corinthians 7:1-40
Problems relating to conscious and eating meats offered to Idols - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Problems relating to the Biblical order of Headship - 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
Problems relating to the Lord’s Supper – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Problems and misunderstanding relation to the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12-13-14.
Questions about the resurrection, about the change from mortal to immortal, etc. - 1 Corinthians 15:12-58

6. The problems at Pergamum

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev 2:12-17 (KJV)

7. The problems at Thyatira

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Rev 2:18-23 (KJV)

8. The problems at Sardis

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev 3:1-6 (KJV)

9. The problems at Laodicea

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:14-20 (KJV)

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 13

Yes, there have been continuous difficulties in each generation of God’s people that has prevented complete unity of thought and practice of the religion of Jesus Christ.

UNITY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION must be considered whenever one sets out to find unity in religion. Indeed even in the church you belong to and in the congregation I belong to there are differences in thought about many things worldly and spiritual.

1. There are differences of opinion about how to raise our children

2. There is differences of opinions about politics and our relation as Christians to the political situation [i.e. are you republican, democrat, or something else?}

3. There are differences about the problems of Christians in War and of Christians being policemen.

4. There are differences of philosophy and religious signification with regard to the length of a man’s hair and the woman’s hair [i.e. whether hair is enough or if a woman need wear an additional cloth].

5. There are differences of opinion about prayer posture

6. There are differences of opinions about Biblical fellowship

7. There are differences of opinion about Biblical issues that relate to marriage, divorce, and marrying the second or third time.

8. I know of a church where the elders used to require that every person who had an active part in the worship should wear a suit and tie.

9. There is differences in every church and its membership about such things as dancing the prom for their children, spring break, sleep-over’s at the home of non-Christians, mixed swimming, etc.

10. There are differences among brethren over the Sunday night serving of the Lord’s Supper to those who were hindered during the AM service.

11. I recently read an article by a brother who takes the position that missing any of the services of the local congregation is a personal matter – He takes the position that the only service that Christians are required to be in worship for is the Sunday Morning service where the Lord’s Supper is offered and the collection is taken.

12. There are some who think social drinking is ok and that such things belong in matters of judgment

13. Differences in application of the contents of Romans 14 – some suggest that such things a MDR differences belong in this category, some don’t.

14. Theistic evolution believed by some church members

15. Using only one cup for communion or a cup for each person

NOTE: I know that many of these factors are present in nearly ever church in the land.

HOW CAN SUCH A CONDITION SERIOUSLY BE CALLED A ”UNIFIED EFFORT“

Such conditions as those we have listed and others are prevalent all over our brotherhood today. Many major divisions have separated large segments into new religious movements:

EXAMPLES:

Christian Churches

Disciples of Christ

Mechanical instruments of music Churches

One cup Churches

No located, paid, preacher Churches

No women teachers no Bible class Churches

Liberal Churches {Human institutional churches, kitchens in the building, baseball teams, etc.]

CONSIDER THIS POSSIBILITY:

There have been only a few churches that have not gone over into open apostasy, these churches are serious about the injunctions of Scripture that encourage ”unity of the spirit in the bond of peace“ Yet, these churches too have different opinions about many subjects within their ranks. Yet in spite of this diverse group of people in each congregation there is a willingness to pursue unity on a continued basis. Perhaps this is what the Lord was praying for in John 17:9-22, ”9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 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.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:“ KJV

Is it possible that the unity for which Christ prayed on this occasion cannot be realized by Christians who hold views that are unacceptable to the majority in a congregation? Even such problems as previously listed and perhaps many more unknown to this author. Where is the answer to be found? We will address this question in greater detail as we continue to develop this study.

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - Number 14

Explaining the nature of fellowship [i.e. condition acceptable to God on which each member of the congregation is united with all faithful ones].

From the teaching of the Bible it is clear that violations of God’s Instruction are considered sin; note the following Scriptural references that identify sin for us. John 8:34, ”34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. ”ASV

Rom 3:9-10, ”9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;“ ASV

Rom 6:16-18, ”16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves (as) servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience

unto righteousness?

17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;

18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.“ ASV

Heb 3:13, ”but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called Today; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin :“ ASV

Heb 10:26, ”For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,“ ASV

Heb 12:1, ”1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,“ ASV

Whenever a sin has been committed that sin must be forgiven by God or that sinner is no longer in fellowship with the congregation.

That sinner has cut himself off from Jesus Christ and consequently he/she is no longer in fellowship with the congregation. That person has shattered the unity of the congregation because he/she has sinned, note the Scripture reference;

1 John 1:3-10, ”3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. [Unity]

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [no fellowship- no unity]

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [Unity]

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unity}.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.“

CONSIDER THIS:

Fellowship of all members of the congregation must be intact in order for perfect

unity to exist in a congregation. Please refer to Number 13 this study series, How Is

Unity Possible under this circumstance? Tell me where the congregation exists that is in perfect unity

... WHERE TRUE UNITY EXIST - Number 15 ...

FINAL STUDY - Number 1

Mankind today must accept the fact that Jesus Christ knew that HIS RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT would not bring unification to all people for all time. Jesus knew at the time he came to earth that complete world-wide unity would not be accomplished. Unity of all people will not occur but the cause of disunity does not rest with the Godhead; the cause of disunity is found in the created beings [i.e. man and woman]:

Luke 12:51-53,

”51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.“ ASV

John 7:41-43,

”41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?

43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.“ ASV

John 9:16,

”16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was division among them.“ ASV

John 10:6-19,

”6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have (it) abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.

12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth (them):

13(he fleeth) because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,

15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

18 No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.

19 There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.“ ASV

There has never been complete unity of all the members of the church it seems. That does not in mean that man is excused from striving, seeking, praying, and encouraging total unity of all Christians in faith and doctrine.

Psalms 133:1, ”1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!“ KJV

Eph 4:3, ”3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.“ KJV

Eph 4:13-16, ”13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.“ KJV

Is it not true that every Christian is debtor to Christ for His saving grace; therefore we are obligated to patiently work for unity as Jesus has requested and as the Holy Scriptures teach? As Paul says of His brethren in the flesh, ”Rom 10:1-3, ”10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.“ KJV

Rom 9:1-6, ”I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:“ KJV

Rom 7:22-25, ”22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.“ KJV

TRUE UNITY HAS EXISTED CONTINUALLY

FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH IN C.E. 33 - Acts 2:1-47

FINAL STUDY – Number 2

INTROCUCTION TO CONCLUSION:

The Lord established the church [i.e. Body of Christ} on the day of Pentecost [cf. ACTS 2:1-47] according to prophecy [cf. Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3; Daniel 2:31-38; etc] and According to Divine planning even before the World was created [cf. 1 Cor 2:6-8]. This plan is consummated in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and occurred according to Divine Planning.

The Church {i.e. Body of Christ – the Universal Church – Rom 7:4; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 4:12; etc.], not different local congregations but the saved of all time. This Body is always in perfect unity although having no earthly head or headquarters [i.e. Jesus Christ is the only head – Matt 28:18; Eph 1:22; Col 1:18; Col 2:19-22; etc.].

Jesus is the head and as such the body functions in perfect unity according to the instruction and wishes of the head. Those added to the Body of Christ are added by the Lord [cf. Acts 2:47; Col 1:22; Col 2:17; Eph 5:23; etc.], consequently Jesus Christ removes any and all that offend the truth in any form. This action by the head assures a perfect unity of the spirit in the bond of peace until the Lord comes at the Last Day [cf. John 12:48].

Yes, the word church as the Body of Christ with one head comprises the Universal Church or the saved of all ages. This use of the word church is consistent with the teaching of the whole Revelation and is simple when we come to the proper understanding of the perfect institution with its perfect head. There is no sin or variables of doctrine or opinions within the Body of Christ, its Head [i.e. Jesus Christ] keeps the body in perfect unity at all times John 10:7-18, ”7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep , and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep .

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.“ KJV.

THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY [i.e. congregation}:

As we examine the local church or the congregation with its elders and deacons we understand that this body is imperfect. The imperfection is not in the founder or in the head but is in those that seek membership in them.

Jesus parable of the good seed and the tares is an illustration of the problems that exist in congregations all over the world in generation after generation, notice the message in the parable --- Matt 13:24-30, ”24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.“ KJV

NOTE:

It is a fact that the parable tells of the Lord’s perfect seed sown in the society or among those that will hear. While the Lord sows good seed that makes good disciples the Devil sows bad seeds in among the good seed [i.e. unconverted, hypocrites, sowers of discord, insincere, and unsaved pretenders] in the church.

There can never be perfect, continuous unity in the congregation because of the Devil’s work and the work of his agents. Yet, the Lord says leave them alone until harvest time [i.e. the end] and He will separate the bad from the good.

Even though there can be no perfect unity in the congregation that does not mean that there are no saved people in them, there are both saved and unsaved who occupy the pews in congregations. We will or we must learn how to keep ourselves in the grace of God by learning and doing those things that will ensure our continued growth and maturity, cf. 1 Peter 2:1-4, ”1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; 3 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: 4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,“ ASV

2 Peter 3:18, ”18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him (be) the glory both now and for ever. Amen.“ ASV

Philippians 2:3-16,

”3 (doing) nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;

4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient (even) unto death, yea, the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;

10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (things) in heaven and (things) on earth and (things) under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings:

15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,

16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.“ ASV

CONSIDER THIS:

Dear friends and brethren, let us work toward that perfect unity while we live and move and have our being here in this world. We must do whatever God instructs us via the Written Word in order to be acceptable and to be a contributor to the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. We also pray that God will continue His grace to us while we endeavor with all our faculties to serve Him acceptable. ”AMEN!“

May God bless us all as we seek to understand and contribute to ”The unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.“

glclair@aol.com

considermagazine.com

WRITING AND RESEARCH

Consider Magazine is an independent work by Garreth L. Clair

Garreth has over 50 years experience as a preacher, and is currently the preacher for the church that meets at 4840 Cemetery Road, in Hilliard OH.

http://www.cemeteryroadchurchofchrist.org/

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Count since April 5, 2008