“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

1. Renewing Your Mind Romans 12:1-2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

2. Renewed View Biblical Unity • Unity Of The Spirit: Eph. 4:1-6 • Created By The Spirit • Maintained By Brethren • Takes Characteristics From Godhead • Formed By Truth Of Gospel

3. Uniform Teaching Of Scripture 1 Cor. 1:10 Jude 3 Jn. 17:20-21 2 Tim. 1:13 2 Tim. 4:1-5 1 Pt. 4:11 1 Cor. 4:17

4. Unity: An Impossible Dream? • Division Is Fact Today • Among Denominations • Among Churches of Christ • Compare: Acts 2:42; 4:32-33 • Early Problems Existed • Acts 5; Epistles • Doctrinal, Immorality, Etc • Epistles Written To Correct

5. Early Efforts In America In Matters Of Faith: Unity In Matters of Opinion: Liberty In All Things: Charity

6. Result Of Those Efforts • Common Savior • Common Faith, Plan of Salvation • Common Worship • Common Work • Common View Of Scriptures • When Divisions Arose, Appeals To Scripture Was Final Appeal

7. A New Approach Suggested:“Unity In Diversity” “If unity is a matter of seeing the Bible eye to eye, then believers will never be united, for they never have and never will see the Bible alike. And if believers ever have been united, such as in the early centuries (and other times as well) when they died together for their faith…...

8. “….it was not because of doctrinal agreement upon the Bible but because of their common devotion to Jesus Christ.” (Leroy Garrett, Restoration Review, Dec. 1987) • Doctrinal Unity Not Possible • Unity Only Possible Toward Jesus • A New Unity Movement Based On A “Gospel - Doctrine” Distinction • Gospel: Facts About Jesus’ Deity • Doctrine: Accept All Beliefs

9. “Like it or not, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. That brothers differ on the millennium, work of the Holy Spirit, church organization, instrumental music, having a glass of wine, the role of women in church leadership, and a dozen, dozen other issues does not change the fact that they are all children of God.” Rubel Shelly, “A Call To Action,” p. 5)

10. Grace Covers Sin “The present frontier is the frontier of a grace-based fellowship with all our brothers and sisters in Christ. A truth began to dawn on us in the 1960’s and 70’s and increasingly through the 1980’s. That truth is that God’s grace extends not only to our moral imperfections but also to our doctrinal short-comings.” (Gary Pearson, “Image Magazine” Sept/Oct, 1993 p. 32)

11. Right About Christ ---- Wrong About Doctrine “What is the basis of one’s hope before God? Is it not that we sustain a right relationship with God through Christ? …In other words - if one is right about Christ, then that one can be wrong about some doctrinal instruction without being lost, can he not?” Arnold Hardin, “The Persuader”

12. “On what basis do we establish the bounds of Christian unity? That is the crucial question that lies before us. Are individual fellowship and congregational unity based on total agreement? Historical reality denies that unanimity existed in New Testament congregations or that it exists today. Is there, then, a scriptural basis for maintaining unity when brethren disagree?...

13. “…If so, what are the limits of the concept of unity in diversity?” (Ed Harrell, The Bound of Christian Unity (2), Christianity Magazine, March 1989, p. 6 • Doctrinal Unity Did Not Exist In NT Times • Doctrinal Unity Does Not Exist Today • Only Unity In Diversity Is Possible • Provides Toleration For Error Recall Acts 2:42; 4:32; 1 Cor 1

14. “There should be room in the Christian fellowship for those who believe that Christ is the son of God, but who differ on eschatological theories such as premillennialism, ecclesiological matters such as congregational organization, on soteriological matters such as whether baptism is ‘for’ or ‘because’ remission of sins.” Carrol Osburn, “The Peaceable Kingdom, 1993, pp 90-91)

15. Misuse Of Romans 14Focal Point Of Error “It is obvious that Christians sometimes disagree about spiritual instruction even in matters of considerable moral and doctrinal import. That behavior uniformly practiced throughout the history of Christianity is, I believe, the issue addressed in Romans 14.” Ed Harrell, “The Bounds of Christian Unity,” CM)

16. Toleration Of Error? “Romans 14 tolerates contradictory teachings and practices on important moral and doctrinal questions.” Ed Harrell, “The Bounds of Christian Unity,” CM) • Tolerate Contradictory Teachings and Practices • Cover Differences By Romans 14

17. Why Has Romans 14 Been Perverted? • Teaching of Error on MDR • Attempt to Justify Continued Fellowship with Those Teaching Error vs. 2 Jn. 9-11 • James 2:1-9 - Sin of Partiality • Issue Has Spread to Other Areas • Social Drinking • Immodesty, Gambling, Doctrines

18. Is Unity Possible In Our Time? • Remember Teaching Of Bible • Apply To Every Bible Subject • Use Patience, Longsuffering • 1 Thess. 5:14 • Jude 20-23 • Eph. 4:1-3

19. Is Unity Possible On: • Plan Of Salvation? (Fellowship?) • Identity Of Church? (Fellowship?) • Work and Worship Of Church? (“) • Moral Living? (Fellowship?) • All Will Not Believe 1 Jn. 2:19 • Remember 1 Cor. 1:11-13 • Christ Is Not Divided. Let Us Be One!

20. Uniform Teaching Of Scripture 1 Cor. 1:10 Jude 3 Jn. 17:20-21 2 Tim. 1:13 2 Tim. 4:1-5 1 Pt. 4:11 1 Cor. 4:17