Unity
1. UNITY OR DISUNITY?
A. The Lord wants us to have unity:
Psa.133:1 – How good & how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
1Cor.1:10 – I beseech you…that there be no divisions among you, but…be perfectly joined together in the same mind
2Cor.13:11 – Be ye of one mind, live in peace; & the God of love & peace shall be with you
Phi.1:27 – Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together
B. What He thinks of dis unity:
Pro.6:16,19 – These…doth the Lord hate: (they) are an abomination unto Him: he that soweth discord among brethren
Jam.3:14,15 – But if ye have…strife in your hearts, glory not….This descendeth not from above, but is devilish
2. HOW TO WORK AT KEEPING UNITED:
Eph.4:3 – Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
A. Have the Word as a unifying standard:
1Cor.14:37 – Let him acknowledge that the things I write are the commandments of the Lord
Phi.3:16 – Let us walk by the same rule…mind the same thing
1Thes.2:13,14 – Ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye…became followers
B. Be agreeable & likeminded:
Rom.15:5,6 – God…grant you to be likeminded one toward another… that ye may with one mind & one mouth glorify God
Rom.12:16 – Be of the same mind one toward another…condescend to men of low estate
1Cor.1:10 – I beseech you…that ye all speak the same thing
Phi.2:2 – Be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind
(See also Acts 2:46; Phi.4:2.)
C. Be at peace with fellow-workers:
Rom.14:19 – Let us follow after the things which make for peace, & things wherewith one may edify another
Col.3:15 – Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body
1Thes.5:13 – Be at peace among yourselves
D. Have love & concern for one another:
Pro.10:12 – Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins
Rom.12:10 – Be kindly affectioned with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (See also 1Thes.2:7,8)
1Cor.12:25,26 – There should be no schism in the body; but the members should have the same care one for another
Eph.4:16 – The whole body fitly joined together…maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love
E. Be kind, gentle & courteous to one another:
Eph.4:32 – Be ye kind…tenderhearted, forgiving one another
2Tim.2:24 – Not strive…be gentle unto all men, patient
1Pet.3:8 – Be ye all of one mind, having compassion…love as brethren, be pitiful (sympathetic), be courteous
1Cor.11:33 – When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another
(See also Pro.18:24)
F. Take people where they’re at:
Rom.14:1 – Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations (See also Rom.14:2-21)
G. Avoid offending people:
1Cor.10:32,33 – Give none offence, neither…to the church of God…. I please all men in all things
Pro.18:19 – Brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city
H. Be careful what you say:
Pro.17:9b – He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends
2Tim.2:23 – Foolish questions avoid…they do gender strifes
Tit.3:2 – Speak evil of no man…gentle…meekness unto all men
(See also Jam.3:16,17; Eccl.5:2.)
I. Control your temper; be slow to speak:
Pro.14:29 – He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding
Pro.15:1 – A soft answer turneth away wrath
Pro.15:18 – He that is slow to anger appeaseth strife
Pro.25:8 – Go not forth hastily to strive [with thy neighbour]
Phi.2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory
Jam.1:19 – Let every man be…slow to speak, slow to wrath
(See also Pro.3:30; 26:17.)
J. Humbly discuss disagreements with elders:
1Tim.5:1 – Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father
K. Sort out “oughts” before doing anything else:
Mat.5:23,24 – First be reconciled to thy brother, then…offer gift
Mk.11:25 – When…praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any
Jam.5:9 – Grudge not one against another, lest ye be condemned
L. Avoid being partial or playing favourites:
1Tim.5:21 – (Not) preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality (See also Jam.3:17)
Jam.2:1 – Have not the faith of Jesus…with respect of persons
M. Value peace above selfish interests:
Rom.14:19-21 – Let us follow after the things which make for peace
Rom.12:18 – As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men
(See also 1Cor.6:7; Phi.2:4.)
N. Share unselfishly with others:
Acts 4:32 – And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart & of one soul…they had all things common
(See also 1Cor.10:33; 2Cor.8:9.)
O. Return good for evil:
Mat.5:44 – Love your enemies, bless them that curse you
Rom.12:21 – Overcome evil with good
1Thes.5:15 – See that none render evil for evil…among yourselves
P. Retaliation forbidden:
(See Lev.19:18; Pro.20:22; 24:29; Rom.12:17,19; 1Pet.3:9.)
3. THE FRUITS OF UNITY:
A. Working together for a common goal:
2Ki.10:15 – Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thine heart? If it be, give me thine hand
Amos 3:3 – Can two walk [or work] together, except they be agreed?
Mat.18:19,20 – Where two or three are gathered in My name (Jesus), there am I in the midst of them
Acts 2:14 – Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
Phi.1:27 – With one mind, striving together for…the gospel
B. There is strength in unity:
Eccl.4:9,10 – Two are better than one…for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow
Eccl.4:12 – If one [a foe] prevail against him, two shall withstand [the foe], & a three-fold cord is not…broken
Judg.20:11 – The men [army] were gathered against the city, knit together as one man
1Sam.14:6,7 – Jonathan said, Let us go over. His armourbearer said, Behold, I am with thee according to thy heart
(See also Neh.4:16,17)
C. Good fruit of united outreach:
Acts 2:1,2,41 – [Believers] all with one accord in one place [were filled with the Spirit, witnessed, & 3,000 souls were saved]
4. UNITY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS:
A. Jesus’ prayer that we be united as one:
Jn.17:11,21 – That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, & I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us
Jn.17:22,23 – That they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, & Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one
B. We should be one body, working together unitedly:
Rom.12:5 – We, being many, are one body in Christ, & every one members one of another
1Cor.12:12,13 – All the members of one body, being many, are one body (See also 1Cor.10:17)
1Cor.12:27 – Ye are the body of Christ, & members in particular
Eph.2:22 – Ye are builded together…through the Spirit
(See also Eph.1:10; 2:19-21; 4:11,12; 1Cor.12:4-16.)
Col.1:17,18 – (Jesus) is head of our body (See also Eph.4:15,16)
(See also 1Cor.3:9; 2Cor.6:1.)
C. Jesus’ Spirit gives us peace with one another:
1Cor.14:33 – God is the author…of peace, as in all the churches
2Cor.13:11 – Brethren…live in peace; God of peace shall be with you
Gal.5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is…peace
Eph.2:14 – He is our peace…hath broken down the wall between
Col.2:2 – Your hearts comforted, being knit together in love
D. There should be no divisions because of race or sex:
1Cor.12:13 – Whether Jews or Gentiles…(we) have been all made to drink into one Spirit
Gal.3:26,28 – Neither Jew nor Greek…male or female: for ye are all one in Jesus
E. Or social or financial status:
1Cor.12:13 – Whether…bond or free, (we) all have been made…one
Gal.3:28 – Neither bond nor free…for ye are all one in Jesus
5. CAUSES OF DIS UNITY:
A. Pride & lust:
Pro.13:10 – Only by pride cometh contention
Pro.28:25 – He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife
Jam.4:1-3 – Whence come fightings among you? From your lusts
B. Not walking in the Spirit:
1Cor.3:3 – Ye are carnal: there is among you strife & divisions
Gal.5:19-21 – Works of the flesh: Hatred, wrath, strifes
C. Ill feelings & hatred:
Pro.10:12 – Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins
Pro.16:28 – A froward man soweth strife, & a whisperer separateth
Pro.26:24 – He that hateth dissembleth with his lips
D. Envy & jealousy:
Rom.13:13 – Let us walk honestly…not in…strife & envying
1Cor.13:4 – Love…envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself
Gal.5:26 – Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another
Jam.3:14,16 – If ye have bitter envying…in your hearts, glory not. For where envying…is, there is…every evil work
(See also Pro.14:30; 27:4; Gal.5:19-21; Tit.3:3.)
E. Favouritism & partiality:
Acts 6:1 – There arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected
F. Self-exaltation & desire for leadership:
Num.12:1-15 – [Miriam & Aaron rebel against Moses, desiring power]
Num.16:1-35 – [Korah rebels against Moses, desiring leadership]
Lk.22:24 – There was a strife among them, (who) should be greatest
Acts 20:30 – Of your own selves shall men arise…to draw away dis ciples after them
Gal.5:26 – Let us not desire vain glory, provoking…one another
3Jn.9-11 – Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them receiveth us not
G. Arguing over minor doctrines & theorising:
1Tim.6:3-5a – Knowing nothing, doting about questions & strifes of words, whereof cometh…strife
H. Bitterness:
Heb.12:15 – Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, & thereby many be defiled
I. Anger & a quick temper:
Pro.15:18 – A wrathful man stirreth up strife
Pro.29:22 – An angry man stirreth up strife, & a furious man
J. Repeating things we know we shouldn’t:
Pro.17:9 – He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends
Pro.26:20 – Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth (See also Jam.1:26)
K. Inability to stop arguing:
Pro.20:3 – It is an honour to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling
Pro.17:14 – The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water…leave off contention
6. WHAT DISUNITY RESULTS IN:
A. Not being able to work together:
Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Acts 15:36-40 – Contention so sharp [between Paul & Barnabus] that they departed asunder [& went separate ways]
B. It destroys God’s work:
Mat.12:25 – Every house divided against itself…shall not stand
Mk.3:24 – If kingdom be divided against itself…cannot stand
(See also Num.32:1-7)
C. Longstanding divisions:
Pro.18:19 – A brother offended harder to be won than strong city
D. Creates sectarian divisions & man-worship:
1Cor.3:3,4 – There (are) divisions…For one saith, I am of Paul; & another, I am of Apollos
(See also 1Cor.11:18; 3:21-23.)
E. Backbiting & rumours:
Pro.16:28 – A whisperer separateth chief friends
2Cor.12:20 – I fear…lest there be backbitings, whisperings
F. Opens the door to every kind of evil:
Jam.3:16 – For where…strife (is), there is confusion & every evil work
7. HOW TO DEAL WITH DISUNITY:
1Thes.5:14 – Warn them that are unruly
A. When it’s just between us & a fellow worker:
Pro.25:9 – Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; & discover not a secret to another
Mat.18:15 – Tell him his fault between thee & him alone
Lk.17:4 – If he trespass 7 times in a day, & 7 times a day turn again, saying, I repent…forgive
1Pet.4:8 – Charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins
(See Mat.18:21,22)
B. When there is a division in the work, let pastors & elders settle the disputes:
Acts 15:2 – When (they) had no small dissension, they determined (to) go to the elders about this question
Acts 15:7,12 – When there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, & (spoke). Then all the multitude kept silence
Gal.6:1 – If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one
C. Let it pass if it’s not an important disagreement:
Rom.14:2,3 – One believeth that he may eat all things: another… eateth [only] herbs
Rom.14:4-6 – One esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike
8. EXCOMMUNICATION:
A. Excommunication of those who cause division:
Pro.22:10 – Cast out the scorner, &…strife shall cease
Mat.18:15-17 – If he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen
Rom.16:17 – Mark them which cause divisions & offences…& avoid
1Cor.5:11-13 – With such an one no, not to eat…put away wicked
2Thes.3:6 – We command you…that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly
1Tim.6:3,5b – If any man teach otherwise, & consent not to…the doctrine…from such withdraw thyself
Tit.3:10 – An heretick after first & second admonition, reject
2Jn.10,11 – If any…bring not this doctrine, receive him not
(See also 1Tim.6:3-5; Jude 12a.)
B. Partial excommunication:
2Thes.3:14,15 – If any obey not…have no company with him…yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother
9. RESTORATION TO FELLOWSHIP:
Gal.6:1 – If a man be overtaken in a fault…restore [him]
2Tim.2:25,26 – In meekness instructing those…that they may recover
Jam.5:19,20 – If any of you err from the truth, & one convert him
(See also Lk.15:11-24 – re: return of the prodigal son)
10. WHEN CONTENTIONS & DISPUTES ARE NECESSARY:
To refute false doctrine or serious wrong behaviour:
Jude 3 – Ye should earnestly contend for the faith
Jn.7:43 – There was a division among people because of (Jesus)
Acts 15:1,2 – “Except ye be circumcised, ye cannot be saved.” Paul…had no small dissension & disputation with them
Gal.2:11-14 – When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face…I (rebuked) Peter before them all
1Tim.5:20. Them that sin, rebuke before all that others may fear
Important chapters on unity: Psa.133; Jn.17; 1Cor.12; Eph.4; Rom.12.
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