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I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church. 1. Jesus prayed for it Jn. 17:20-22 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;. Jn. 17:20-22.

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I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

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  1. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 1. Jesus prayed for it • Jn. 17:20-22 • “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

  2. Jn. 17:20-22 • [21] 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.[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one”

  3. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 2. The Apostles Pleaded for it • 1 Cor. 1:10 • “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”

  4. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 3. The early church practiced it • Acts 4:32 • “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul”

  5. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 4. The unity of the church was not: • A union of conflicting forces • A federation of denominations (There were no denominations then)

  6. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 4. The unity of the church was not: • An alliance of religions

  7. I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church • 5. The unity of the N.T. church was: Jews & Gentiles - bond & free - males & female becoming one in Christ! • Gal. 3:28

  8. Gal. 3:28 • There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

  9. II. They Were All One In Christ • 1. They believed the same gospel • 1 Corinth 15: 1-4 • Mk. 16:15 • Gal. 1:6-9

  10. 1 Corinth 15: 1-4 • 1 Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; • 1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. • 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; • 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  11. Mk. 16:15 • And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

  12. Gal. 1:6-9 • I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:[7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

  13. Gal. 1:6-9 • [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.[9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

  14. II. They Were All One In Christ • 2. They had obeyed the same gospel • Acts 2:38, 41

  15. Acts 2:38 • Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  16. Acts 2:41 • Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

  17. II. They Were All One In Christ • 3. They were added to the same church • Acts 2:47

  18. Acts 2:47 • Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

  19. II. They Were All One In Christ • 4. They kept the same law • Mt. 28:20 • Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

  20. II. They Were All One In Christ • 5. They continued in the same doctrine • Acts 2:42 • 2 Jn. 9

  21. Acts 2:42 • And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

  22. 2 Jn. 9 • Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

  23. II. They Were All One In Christ • 6. They wore the same name • Acts 11:26 • 1 Pet. 4:16

  24. Acts 11:26 • And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  25. 1 Pet. 4:16 • Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

  26. II. They Were All One In Christ • 7. They heeded 1 Cor. 1:10 • Spoke same thing • No divisions • Perfectly joined together: • Same mind • Same judgment

  27. II. They Were All One In Christ • 7. They heeded 1 Cor. 1:10 • Brethren can be united if they desire to be and if the Lord’s will is allowed to control their lives • We can be united if we let his will reign supreme in our lives

  28. II. They Were All One In Christ • 8. They had the same love one for another • Phil. 2:2 • Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

  29. I Corinthians 1:10-17 • According to verse 10, what is the formula for Christian unity? • This section is called “divisions in the church.” What was dividing the church? (cf ch 3:1-4) • What could be wrong with saying “I follow Christ?” • Was Paul slighting baptism? (vs 14) • What is often the cause of divisions in the church? (cf. 3:1-4)

  30. I Corinthians 1:18-25 • The Corinthians’ undue esteem of human wisdom was largely responsible for the factionalism in their midst. • It was therefore necessary for Paul to put the wisdom of the world into the true perspective that can be gained only when it is compared with the wisdom of God revealed in the cross of Christ. • Because their regard for human wisdom was so much a part of their Greek heritage and tradition, he develops at length the contrast between the two types of wisdom.

  31. I Corinthians 1:18-25 • Romans 11:33 – “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” • 2 Ti 3:15 – “from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” • Why can’t created man match God’s wisdom? • How does the contest between human wisdom (philosophy) and divine wisdom (Scripture) affect many church bodies?

  32. I Corinthians 1:18-25 • Job 28:28 - And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’ ” • Romans 11:33 – “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” • 2 Ti 3:15 – “from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

  33. Studying the Scriptures • Why can’t created man match God’s wisdom? • What are the blessings of divine wisdom? • With what attitude should we approach God’s wisdom? • How is the conflict between human wisdom (philosophy) and divine wisdom (revelation) affecting many churches today?

  34. I Corinthians 1:26-31 • 2. 2 Samuel 7:8 =“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. • What does each passage teach us about honor and/or greatness in God’s kingdom? • How does God nullify the wisdom, power, and prestige of the world’s leading people today?

  35. I Corinthians 1:26-31 • 3. Isaiah 66:2 = Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. • What does each passage teach us about honor and/or greatness in God’s kingdom? • How does God nullify the wisdom, power, and prestige of the world’s leading people today?

  36. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church What is the Opposites of Unity? Disorganize Warfare Antagonism Difference controversy contention CONFUSION Variance Battle Separation Contest disproportion conflict incongruity Opposition disagreement dissension hostility disunion discord inconsistency

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