Our shared
devotion to CHRIST is what identifies us as children of GOD, rather than church
denomination or organization, heritage, nationality, or something other.
CHRIST
JESUS is the head of the Church of the Living GOD and His followers, individually
and collectively, are part of His Church. We are all the Church Body of Christ.
Before
JESUS returned to His Father, He prayed a farewell intercessory prayer (His
High Priestly prayer,) for His disciples during which He appealed to the Father
for a specific favor on behalf of the Church to come (John 17:20-23):
- First JESUS asks that the Father extend the favor of His request to include, not just the disciples of that day, but also “all who will ever believe in me through their message.” Jesus petitioned the Father on behalf of the future children of GOD, we who would become the Church because of our belief in CHRIST;
- Then JESUS asks that the present and future Church be granted the same type of unity as He shared with His Father – “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.” JESUS wants His Church to operate as a single unit, that we have no division among us;
- JESUS then gives a reason why unity among the Church body is vital – “so that the world will believe YOU sent me.” He wants the Father to grant to all of us a special gift of unity to confirm and testify to the world the legitimacy of CHRIST’s ministry as the SON of GOD;
- JESUS then reminds the Father that He will bestow on His Church all the glory that He Himself was given to accomplish His ministry to enable us to accomplish ours – “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me.”
- Every good and perfect gift comes from above, and so JESUS describes the type of unity we will have as the Church – “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” The unity we can experience as a Church has to be perfect as the Father and Son are perfect. Since the source of the gift of unity is our Heavenly Father our ability to comply with all that it entails is unquestionable.
For
good measure, our Father equipped others throughout the New Testament WORD of
GOD with knowledge and wisdom that would further aid us in our understanding of
how we ought to conduct ourselves as the unified Church. Overwhelmingly, we are
told, basically, to have the mind of CHRIST – be united in purpose and
objective, humble, genuinely affectionate, kind, encourage and show compassion
to each other:
- …for you have only one Teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. Matthew 23:8
- Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8-12
- So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Philippians 2: 1-3
- I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1: 10
- Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:9-10
- There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
- Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit,…each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.. Ephesians 4:1-16
- Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. Colossians 3:13-14
- You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Additional scriptures include: John 17:23; 1
Peter 3:8; 1 John 4:12; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
We can see a common theme throughout is “love.”
Pastor and author John
Piper says this about the role of love and affection in Christian unity: “…unifying love in the body of Christ
includes a rugged commitment to do good for the family of God whether you feel
like it or not. But, as difficult as it is for diverse people, the experience
of Christian unity is more than that. It includes affectionate love, not just
sacrifice for those you don’t like. It is a feeling of endearment. We are to
have affection for those who are our family in Christ.”
The body of Christ has
perfect unity – a gift procured for us through ardent supplication to the
Father who could refuse nothing to the SON He loves, nor to those whom He gave
into His SON’s loving care.
Our unity is our CHRIST-stamped identity badge; it is what
separates us, the Church of the Living GOD, from other religions.
Christian unity is evidence to the world of the Father’s
love and CHRIST’s sacrifice.
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and Father, YOUR goodness and mercy
endures forever and to all the generations and YOUR love never fails. We thank
YOU once again for sending YOUR SON to die for us, for it is by His sacrifice that
every child of GOD is united as one. Father, YOUR WORD reminds us no longer Jew or
Gentile, slave or free, male and female but are all one in CHRIST. Thank you for always providing all that we
need in YOUR Word and through the Holy Spirit to help us obey and do your will.
Let us never forget that we exist to fulfill YOUR calling, to show the world by
our unity that JESUS is SAVIOR and LORD and YOU are Sovereign in the Earth and
in the Heavens; teach us to love our brothers and sisters as YOU command us. To
YOU belong all dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and
ever. We pray and ask all things in the matchless Name of JESUS CHRIST our
LORD. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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