"One in Christ"

Galatians 3:28- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Here it says that Christians, "... are all one in Christ Jesus." While each of us are different there is a spiritual connection between true believers that should override the differences we may have. The fact that we are all one in Christ also speaks to the fact that we are all on level ground spiritually. Someone who is a new Christian can be used by God just as someone who has been a believer for years can be used by Him. God looks for those who will say "yes" to Him when He wants to use them to advance His kingdom.

In this article I would like to share some things the word of God says about unity. Unity is a theme that runs throughout the New Testament, and in John 17 Jesus even prayed that we would be one. Unity is important, but what does it look like? To answer this question it may be helpful to first see what unity is not:

Unity is not compromise:
Matthew 10:34-36 (words of Jesus)- "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to, 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' "

1Corinthians 11:18-19- "For first of all, when you come together as a church, I here that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you that those who are approved may be recognized among you."

We must remember that unity is not compromise. While we should avoid being critical or judgmental over the doctrinal differences we have, we must never compromise truth, not even for the sake of unity. As we see in these two passages, the truth naturally brings division between those who believe it and those who do not.

Unity is not conformity:
Romans 12:4-5- "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."

When discussing unity it is important to remember that being in unity does mean everyone being exactly the same. God made each of us unique and we each have different roles in the body of Christ. Many people are miserable because they are trying to fit into a mold that God never intended for them to fit into. We are to all reflect the nature of Jesus to those around us, but as we do we will each do it in a way that is unique to us. We must remember this and seek God's direction to find our specific place in the body.

Now that we have seen what unity is NOT we will look at two characteristics of true, godly unity:

Unity is cooperation:
Romans 15:5-6- "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

As I said before, each of us have a unique role in the kingdom, and when we are in unity we are each working toward a common goal, which as we see here is to glorify God. Ephesians 4: 16 speaks of every member of the body doing their share to build up the body. This cooperation in which each of us are in our place doing our part to advance the kingdom is the unity that I believe God wants to bring to His church.

Unity enables the Church to be an effective witness:
John 17:20-21- "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us that the world may believe that You sent Me."

The fact that Jesus said in His prayer for the Church that when we are one the world will know that He came from the Father tells me that one of the ways we can show the world who God is is by being in unity.

In Genesis chapter 11 we read of a time in which the world was united and decided to build a tower with a top reaching to the heavens and make a name for themselves rather than obey His command for them to fill the earth. In Genesis 11:6 it says, "And the Lord said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.' " Think about what God said here: because the people were in unity they would be able to accomplish anything. If that were true when they were united in an act of rebellion, how much more can we accomplish as the body of Christ if we are working together in unity to do what God does want us to do?

In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." One thing that helps the Church to be an effective witness when we are in unity is the fact there is a spiritual power to be found in unity.

So what can each of us do to promote this unity? I believe that it will come through us loving one another and serving one another in love. May the Lord help us to walk in unity and make us more effective as we work to advance the kingdom!