“How to Possess Unity”
Introduction:
A. The need for Unity.
1. The great religious division in America—between 2,500 and 3,000 denominational sects.
2. Great division in our small town—10-12 denominations among 1000 people when half don’t even go to church!!
3. Great Division in the church of the Lord today:
a. No Bible Class
b. One Cuppers
c. Mutual Edification
d. Black or White
B. God Desires Unity!
1. Psalm 133:1—Eph. 4:3
2. Jesus prayed for Unity John 17:20-21
3. Jesus died for Unity Eph. 2:16, Acts 20:28
4. God’s nature demands Unity Deut. 6:5
C. What is true Unity?
1. Oneness (Opposite of I Cor. 1:10-13).
2. Same Mind (Rom 12:16, Phil 3:16).
3. One Heart (Acts 4:32).
*THEME: God gives us the pattern for Christian Unity in His Word.
Here are five scriptural keys to unlock the door to Christian Unity.
I.
Unity in the Word of God.
A. The Bible tells us that the only way to possess the unity of the spirit is in the gospel (Eph. 4:3, Prov. 3:5-7, Jer. 10:23, Ps. 119:105).
B. Here are several things we must believe about the word of God to have Unity:
1. Inspiration—2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:20-21, Jn. 17:17, 2 Pet. 1:3, Ps. 119:160, 2 Sam. 23:2, I Cor. 2:13.
2. Authority—Matt. 28:18, Col 3:17, Jer. 37:17, 2 Chron. 18:13.
3. Word
Saves—
4. It alone is Powerful—Heb. 4:12-13, James 1:25, I Pet. 1:22-25, Acts 20:32, Jn. 12:48.
C. There can only be unity when we all accept and obey the word of God!!!!!!!
II.
Unity in Doctrine.
A. Question: Is doctrine Important? Yes (2 Jn. 9—can’t have God, Amos 3:3—can’t walk with God)!
B. To have unity in doctrine we must possess the seven ones of Eph 4:4-7.
1. One Body—Unity of Organization (Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23, Matt. 16:18, I Cor. 12:13).
2. One Spirit—Unity in Revelation (Jn. 14:16, 15:16, 16:13, 2 Pet. 1:3, 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
3. One Hope—Unity of Purpose (Phil. 1:21, Eccl. 12:13, Isa. 43:7).
4. One Lord—Unity in Authority (Col. 3:17, Matt. 28:18, Col. 1:18).
5. One Faith—Unity of Doctrine (Jude 3, Acts 6:7, 2 Jn. 9).
6. One Baptism—Unity of Practice (Mk. 16:16, Acts 22:16, Jn. 3:5).
7. One Father—The Source of Unity (Ps. 14:1, Ps. 19:1, Deut 6:4ff).
C. Have you begun to see why Paul would say factions must exist in I Cor. 11:19?
III.
Unity in Love (Jn.
13:34-35).
A. Is it possible to have union w/out having Unity? Illustration of tying dog and cats’ tail together and throwing over clothesline. You have union but not unity! Are we like this sometimes?
B. What are some thins that keep Christians from having true love for one another?
1. Backbiting and gossiping (Rom. 1:30, Prov. 25:23, Prov. 20:19).
2. Complaining and murmuring (Phil. 2:14, never can be happy).
3. Apathy (Just don’t care about anything).
4. Unfaithfulness (Rev. 2:10, Matt. 6:33).
5. Old Squabbles (Phil 4:2, Ruth).
C. What are some ways to gain true love for one another?
1. Put others first (Mk. 9:35, Phil. 2:3-4).
2. Be a servant (Mk. 10:44-45, serve others and forget about self).
IV.
Unity in Conviction (2 Tim
1:13).
A. Are we really convicted about the fundamentals of the faith, or would some of us be just as happy going off and fellowshipping the denominations? Are we raising a generation that has no real conviction?
B. Here are several things that we must have a deep residing conviction about:
1. God exists and the world was created (Gen. 1:1, Ps. 95:6-7).
2. The Bible is perfect and complete (Jn. 17:17, Ps. 119:160, James 1:25).
3. Jesus is God (Col. 2:9, Jn. 1:1-3, 14).
4. Hell is a real place of eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46, Mk. 9:44).
5. The Devil is a real adversary (I Pet. 5:8, Eph. 6:11, I Tim 3:7).
C. Are you really convicted about these things? The questions may be ‘are you really converted to the truth?’.
V.
No Unity in Diversity (Amos
3:3).
A. Liberal today are trying to push for unity with the denominations (promisekeepers, all faith revivals, Rubel Shelly helping with Billy Graham’s Last Revival, etc,.).
B. But the Bible still says we cannot have unity in scriptural differences (Rev. 22:18, I Cor. 4:6, 2 Jn. 9, Prov. 30:6, “Let God be true and every man a liar”—Rom 3:4).
C. We are not to accept these people but to stand up and oppose their error (Jude 3, Eph. 5:11, Mk. 12:24).
Conclusion: Will we have Unity with the world? Only if they accept the word of God as truth. Can we have Unity with one another? Yes, but only when we put others first. Do you have unity with God this morning? If not, you can through obedience to Him.