Unity: Why is it Important?

What is one way you have seen or experienced UNITY…?

• What about inside the church?

Why would UNITY be important? 

THE ORIGIN OF UNITY

• What is the ORIGIN of UNITY?
  • The Trinity

Consider first, the distinct roles of the Godhead, yet their oneness…

• John 17:22-23 “…that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity…”

Furthermore, we see it exemplified through Christ:

• Beginning of His public ministry – Matthew 3 & 4 – The Holy Spirit, the Son, and the Father are together testifying to Christ’s move toward the Triune God’s mission of redemption.

HOW UNITY IS MAINTAINED

• How is UNITY is maintained?
  • Humility, Gentleness, Patience, and Love

Ephesians 4:1-3 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

HUMILITY

• Spiritually bankrupt…the opposite of pride…
• Christ’s Life is our example:
  • Philippians 2:1-8 “…Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

GENTLENESS

• Bridled strength…riding a horse…opposite of self exertion
• Christ’s Life is our example: 
  • Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

PATIENCE

• Patience in greek is hupomeno (hupo: under – meno: to abide) an abiding under…
• You stay the course, despite circumstances…
• Christ’s Life is our example: 
  • We remain steadfast…just like Christ waiting for recompense…
    • Hebrews 10:13 “…waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.”

LOVE

• Looking beyond the action, the motive, and the expression, and seeing an image-bearer of God that He sent His Son to die for.
• Christ’s Commandment is our standard:
  • John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

THE PURPOSE FOR UNITY

• What is the PURPOSE for UNITY?
  • Maturity & Evangelism

MATURITY

Ephesians 4:11-16 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result:

• we are no longer to be children, 
• tossed here and there by waves
• carried about by every wind of doctrine, 
• by the trickery of men, 
• by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

EVANGELISM

Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer –

• John 17:22-23 “…The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me…”

CONCLUSION

• POINT 1: THE ORIGIN OF UNITY
  • The Trinity…

• POINT 2: HOW UNITY IS MAINTAINED
  • Humility…
  • Gentleness…
  • Patience….
  • Love…

• POINT 3: THE PURPOSE FOR UNITY
  • Maturity…
  • Evangelism…

How does the Gospel speak to UNITY today?

• It bears us up to accomplish UNITY…
• It brings us low if we think we are accomplishing UNITY in our own strength…

No GUILT…NO PRIDE…

1. Can we accomplish this on our own?
2. If we think we are doing “good” at unity, on whose strength are we relying?

We need the power of the Gospel, that is the Holy Spirit sent by Christ to invade every cavern of our soul….we can’t keep unity in the mind…we are lying to ourselves, it must be in the hands, feet, and mouth…

God help us!