Maintaining Unity pt. 2

1. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 By one Spirit we are united into one body. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. I Corin. 12:12

2. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • 12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.… I Corin. 12:12

3. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • As it is, there are many parts, but one body. I Corin. 12:20 • Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. I Corin. 12:27 • Unity must be maintained. We must "keep the unity of the Spirit." Christian unity is not man's invention. It is not created by the formation of central authorities or by the publication of human creeds. These are actually departures from unity in Christ.

4. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • There are times, however, when conflict is divisive and destructive. Conflict is at times a part of serving Christ, particularly when truth or doctrine is at stake; • however, it is one thing to contend for truth, quite another to be contentious when truth is not at stake.

5. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • Christian unity is a gift from God that must be preserved, kept, maintained. We must be careful that we do not lose the unity of the Spirit.

6. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • What might you do to strengthen the bond of peace in your group, in your local church or with people of other faith communities?

7. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • We are told that the glue that holds this unity together is “peace.” When there is no peace there is enmity, there are partitions between people, there is alienation, we become strangers, etc. • The correct bond assures that we will be fellows with other believers and that we will be like a magnificent temple with each member a perfect fit.

8. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • walk worthy of our calling. We are called to peace in the one body of Christ: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, (Colossians 3:12-15). • Our walk, our way of life, must be worthy of this call to peace in Christ.

9. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • The unity of the Spirit can exist only in the church of Christ because only He can make all people one. He joins Jews and Gentiles together as one body: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances,

10. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • Don’t impugn on the integrity of my brother or sister. • The Lord is not asking us to create anything, but merely to endeavor to keep what He has already created. • As always, He does not ask us to accomplish a task without first informing us of His provisions and expectations.

11. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:14-18).

12. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 • A perfect fit which means everyone has a purpose and Godly function, there are no useless members and all work selflessly and with singleness of purpose toward His ends (Eph. 2:14-22).

13. Maintaining Unity pt. 2 Resources • The Bond of Peace-Dr. John Hay