Divine Mandate: The Call to Unity Among Believers

 

Summary

Unity among believers is not just a suggestion; it is a divine mandate. Jesus Christ himself prayed for our oneness, desiring that we be united just as He and the Father are one. This unity is not merely for our benefit but serves as a testament to the world of Christ's divine mission. Yet, the reality is starkly different. The followers of Jesus are currently the most divided faith group, with countless denominations and factions, each claiming to hold the truth. This division contradicts the very essence of Christ's prayer and undermines our witness to the world.

The call to unity is sacred. It is not about superficial harmony but about a profound spiritual oneness that reflects the unity within the Godhead. Ephesians 4 urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and love, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. This oneness is not optional; it is essential to our identity as the body of Christ.

Being part of the body of Christ is a sacred honor. It means that God dwells within us, and we must treat each other with the reverence due to those who carry the divine presence. Just as we would honor the Virgin Mary for bearing the Savior, we must honor each other, recognizing the indwelling of God in our fellow believers. This reverence should compel us to pursue unity with urgency and dedication.

Our duty is clear: to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of the faith. This is not just the responsibility of church leaders but of every believer. We must devote ourselves to this sacred task, understanding that our unity is a powerful witness to the world of the truth of the Gospel.

Key Takeaways

- Unity among believers is a divine mandate, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. Our divisions undermine our witness to the world, contradicting Christ's prayer for our oneness. We must strive for a profound spiritual unity that testifies to the truth of Christ's mission. [00:35]

- Ephesians 4 calls us to live in a manner worthy of our calling, marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and love. This lifestyle is essential for maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, reflecting the oneness of the body of Christ. [02:08]

- Being part of the body of Christ is a sacred honor, as God dwells within us. We must treat each other with reverence, recognizing the divine presence in our fellow believers, and pursue unity with urgency and dedication. [03:09]

- Our unity is not optional but essential to our identity as the body of Christ. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. This oneness is central to our faith and witness. [02:38]

- Equipping the saints for ministry and building up the body of Christ is a collective responsibility. We must devote ourselves to this task, understanding that our unity is a powerful testament to the world of the truth of the Gospel. [04:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - The Division Among Believers
[00:35] - Jesus' Prayer for Unity
[01:01] - The Importance of Unity
[01:22] - The Sacredness of Oneness
[01:41] - Fighting for Unity
[02:08] - Ephesians 4: A Call to Unity
[02:38] - The Oneness of the Body
[03:09] - The Honor of Being in Christ's Body
[03:36] - Reverence for Fellow Believers
[04:09] - Our Duty to Pursue Unity
[04:30] - Equipping the Saints for Unity

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Unity Among Believers

#### Bible Reading
1. John 17:20-23 - Jesus' prayer for unity among believers.
2. Ephesians 4:1-6 - A call to live in unity, reflecting the oneness of the body of Christ.
3. Ephesians 4:11-13 - The role of church leaders in equipping the saints for unity.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus pray for in John 17:20-23 regarding the unity of believers, and why is it significant?
2. According to Ephesians 4:1-6, what characteristics should believers exhibit to maintain unity? [02:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the current state of division among believers, and what impact does this have on our witness to the world? [00:35]
4. What is the role of church leaders in fostering unity according to Ephesians 4:11-13? [04:30]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the unity of believers serve as a testament to the world of Christ's divine mission, as mentioned in the sermon? [00:35]
2. In what ways does Ephesians 4:1-6 suggest that unity is essential to our identity as the body of Christ?
3. How does the sermon illustrate the sacredness of being part of the body of Christ, and what implications does this have for how we treat fellow believers? [03:09]
4. What does it mean to equip the saints for the work of ministry, and how does this relate to achieving unity in the faith? [04:30]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you witnessed division within a church or faith community. How did it affect your perception of the church's witness to the world? [00:35]
2. Ephesians 4:1-6 calls for humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Which of these qualities do you find most challenging to practice, and how can you work on it this week? [02:08]
3. The sermon emphasizes the sacred honor of being part of the body of Christ. How can you show reverence to fellow believers in your daily interactions? [03:09]
4. Consider the role of church leaders in equipping the saints. How can you support your church leaders in their efforts to foster unity? [04:30]
5. Jesus prayed for our unity as a testament to the world. What practical steps can you take to promote unity within your own faith community?
6. Think about a relationship within your church that may be strained. What actions can you take to mend and strengthen that relationship in light of the call to unity?
7. How can you personally contribute to building up the body of Christ and attaining the unity of the faith in your local church context? [04:30]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity as a Divine Mandate
Unity among believers is not merely a suggestion but a divine mandate, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. Jesus Christ prayed for this unity, desiring that His followers be united just as He and the Father are one. This unity serves as a testament to the world of Christ's divine mission. However, the reality is that the followers of Jesus are currently the most divided faith group, with countless denominations and factions. These divisions contradict the essence of Christ's prayer and undermine the witness to the world. The call to unity is sacred and requires a profound spiritual oneness that testifies to the truth of Christ's mission. [00:35]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Think of a relationship within your church community that has been strained. How can you take a step towards reconciliation and unity today?


Day 2: Living Worthy of Our Calling
Ephesians 4 calls believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling, marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and love. This lifestyle is essential for maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, reflecting the oneness of the body of Christ. The call to unity is not about superficial harmony but about a profound spiritual oneness that mirrors the unity within the Godhead. Believers are urged to walk in humility and love, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit. This oneness is not optional but essential to the identity of the body of Christ. [02:08]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you struggle with humility or patience. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in these virtues?


Day 3: Honoring the Divine Presence in Others
Being part of the body of Christ is a sacred honor, as God dwells within each believer. This truth calls for treating each other with reverence, recognizing the divine presence in fellow believers. Just as the Virgin Mary is honored for bearing the Savior, believers must honor each other, acknowledging the indwelling of God. This reverence should compel believers to pursue unity with urgency and dedication, understanding that their unity is a powerful witness to the world of the truth of the Gospel. [03:09]

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Reflection: Reflect on how you view and treat fellow believers. How can you show greater honor and reverence to someone in your church community this week?


Day 4: Oneness as Central to Our Faith
Unity is not optional but essential to the identity of the body of Christ. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. This oneness is central to the faith and witness of believers. The divisions among believers contradict the essence of Christ's prayer for oneness and undermine the witness to the world. Believers are called to strive for a profound spiritual unity that testifies to the truth of Christ's mission. [02:38]

John 17:20-23 (ESV): "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Reflection: Consider how your actions and attitudes contribute to the unity or division within your church. What changes can you make to promote oneness?


Day 5: Equipping the Saints for Unity
Equipping the saints for ministry and building up the body of Christ is a collective responsibility. Every believer is called to devote themselves to this sacred task, understanding that their unity is a powerful testament to the world of the truth of the Gospel. This responsibility is not just for church leaders but for every believer. The call to unity is sacred and requires a profound spiritual oneness that reflects the unity within the Godhead. [04:30]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What spiritual gifts or talents do you have that can be used to build up the body of Christ? How can you actively use them to promote unity in your church community this week?

Quotes

The people who call themselves the followers of Jesus Christ are currently the most divided faith group on earth. I mean, think about, can you name another, another religion that, that even has more than two, two or three factions? Meanwhile, we've split ourselves into denominations that don't get along. And those denominations have churches that don't even get along. [00:00:00]

And those churches themselves keep on splitting and dividing. And now we've got individuals creating their own websites and their own followings claiming that they're the only ones who get it. And what's crazy and terrible about this is that Jesus Christ himself prayed that we would become perfectly one, just like the father and son are perfectly one. [00:00:24]

He says, that's the way I want my followers to be so that the world will believe that I was sent from the father. He says our believability is going to be based upon our unity, meanwhile, the world looks on and all they see is chaos. All they see are these arguments in these factions. And it seems like we don't care. [00:00:54]

I mean, how do we not care that God himself, the creator, Holy God in heaven says, I want you to be one. My son died. He shed his blood. So you could be perfectly one. And I could put all things under him. He died so I could be one with God. And one with all of those who say they trust in the blood of Jesus for their salvation. [00:01:18]

You guys, this is not just a good idea. It's not just, Oh, let's all get along. This is sacred. And as we fight for truth and we fight for holiness, we also fight for the unity of the faith. It says in Ephesians 4, he goes, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you've been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love. [00:01:41]

Eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There's one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call. One Lord, one, faith, one baptism, one God, and father of all who is over all and through all and in all. God wants oneness. And he wants us to be eager to maintain that oneness. [00:02:15]

Do you understand that if we say that we are a part of the body of Christ, do you understand how sacred it is that God him so that Jesus would say you are a member of my body. That is such a sacred honor to think that I am a part of the body of Christ. And there are some of you who, who have the spirit in you. [00:02:50]

I mean, God dwelling in you. So how would I dare treat you with disrespect? How would I dare divide myself from you? But instead if God dwells in you, I treat you like I would have treated the Virgin Mary, who, who had the savior, the Lord in her womb. Can you imagine the honor you would give to her. Then do we believe Jesus' words that God himself dwells in us now? [00:03:19]

And if that is true, shouldn't we be so blown away by this honor. And shouldn't, we show so much reverence toward anyone else who has God dwelling in them. This is our duty. This is our job. This is what we devote ourselves to. In fact, he tells the leaders in Ephesians 4:11-13, that he says that their job is to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith. [00:03:59]

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Transcript
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