1 / 20

Unity Among Christians

Ephesians 4:1-16. Unity Among Christians. Ephesians 4:1-3.

carriee
Download Presentation

Unity Among Christians

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ephesians 4:1-16 Unity Among Christians

  2. Ephesians 4:1-3 • “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

  3. How have we done? • “Unity” in the dark ages • Uninspired church leaders defined “acceptable” but unscriptural doctrine • Used civil government to penalize, torture, kill dissenters • Brazen lack of unity in the reformation • “I am of Paul, Apollos, Cephas…” rampant in Europe • Call to restore New Testament Christianity • Human Institutions / Instrumental Music • Social Gospel / Institutionalism / Sponsoring Churches • Local Church Splits • Often non-doctrinal issues drive these divides

  4. What is the unity of the Spirit? • United Christians share common beliefs. • “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) • United Christians love and support each other. • Notice characteristics associated with unity in Ephesians 4:1-3: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, the bond of peace. • The “rubber meets the road” in the local church.

  5. How important is it? • “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-23)

  6. Three important lessons from John 17: • If we are disciples of Jesus, we should be one with one another just as He is one with the Father. • As we work together to take the gospel to a lost world, the message must be true and consistent. • We must be united for the world to know that the Father sent the Son. • Our human pettiness will stand in the way of the message.

  7. Criteria for Unity: • Common respect for divine authority. • Jesus Christ has ALL AUTHORITY. • “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18) • Christ is head over all things to the church. • “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23) • Apostles guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit. • “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:13-15)

  8. Criteria for Unity: • Common respect for divine authority. • Teachings and writings of the apostles are the words of Christ. • “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) • So, how can we know what the apostles knew? • “By revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:3-4)

  9. Criteria for Unity: • Common respect for divine authority. • Is the will of Christ continually changing? • “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) • “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8-9) • Only way to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered is to reject any doctrine that contradicts the teaching of inspired scripture.

  10. Criteria for Unity: • Proper attitude toward one another. • “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) • Think about how these four characteristics contribute to unity among brethren…

  11. Criteria for Unity: • Proper attitude toward one another. • Humility: • “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4) • Humility to study scriptures with an open mind. (I am not necessarily always right) • Humility to defer to others’ wishes in matters of judgment. • Foster love among brethren by looking out for their personal interests, not just my own.

  12. Criteria for Unity: • Proper attitude toward one another. • Gentleness: • “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2) • “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:6) • Being doctrinally correct is meaningless if I am harsh and hateful to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

  13. Criteria for Unity: • Proper attitude toward one another. • Patience: • “forbearance, longsuffering, patience” (Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) • “One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat…” (Romans 14:2-3)

  14. Criteria for Unity: • Proper attitude toward one another. • Tolerance: • “forbearance, longsuffering, patience” (Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) • “One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only… the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.” (Romans 14:2-3) • I am not at liberty to bind my personal preferences on others. Stand for truth? YES. Insist on acceptance of my personal opinions and feelings? NO.

  15. Enemies of Unity: • Lack of respect for divine authority. • Did God state what He wanted? Simply comply. • Are there examples of first century Christians pleasing God? We can please Him in the same ways. • Are there conclusions that are unavoidable in what is taught? Accept conclusions that are truly unavoidable. • Doctrines / Opinions of men? Destroyer of unity • Cavalier attitude toward scriptures? Destroyer of unity

  16. Enemies of Unity: • Sectarian attitudes. • “I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:11-13) • Hyphenated-Christian concept is condemned in this passage. • Us against them mentality. • Institutionalized commitment to criteria other than scriptural doctrine. • What does it take to be “one of you”? Where is the authority for that unique requirement?

  17. Enemies of Unity: • “Doubtful Disputations” (Romans 14:1, KJV) • “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women.” (1 Timothy 4:6-7) • “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) • If God chose to reveal it, it is important. If God chose not to reveal it, it is not important and should not be disputed.

  18. Enemies of Unity: • Strife Among Brethren. • “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to do evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19) • “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9-10)

  19. Is unity among Christians possible? • Yes. • Speak the same thing. • Same standard of authority – Inspired scriptures • Doctrines of Men are out (Matthew 15:9) • My opinions don’t matter. What did God say about it? • Throw out artificial distinctions and divisive designations. • Obedience to the gospel of Christ will make one thing: A Christian (not a hyphenated Christian) • Treat each other right. • It’s all about service. (Matthew 20:26) • It’s about regarding others better than ourselves.

  20. In Closing… • “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forever.” (Psalm 133)

More Related