Unity

“Like a mighty army moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading, where the saints have trod; We are not divided, all one body we; One in hope and doctrine; one in charity” says part of the lyrics of a song my son was impressed with when singing it for the first time a few weeks ago in a Church service in Cincinnati, Ohio.


The theme of unity is a very important one in the Bible. Jesus Christ teaches us about the importance of being united by giving us the following warning: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. (Luke 11; 17) God through Paul gives us a similar warning in Galatians 5:15 “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

God is a God of unity. He wishes His people will always remained united. That is one of His most fervent desires. It was expressed by Jesus Christ a few hours before being crucified. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23)

God knows that the only way we have to be a strong people walking steadily toward salvation is by staying glued to Him and to each other. Three scriptures to consider are:

John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

And the other two dealing with unity amongst us we find them in Psalms 133:1, 3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … For there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore”

And in Hebrews 10:24-25 “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching"

The world also understands the benefit of unity and keeps seeking it. The world puts its hope for unity in temporary things such as peace treaties which keep changing when circumstances or people change.

The unity of God’s people is everlasting because it is based on eternal realities. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians4:3-6)

Just thinking out loud…