What
Do We Know About Bible Unity?
When the word "church"
is used, many people think of the building in which the church meets. The
Bible never speaks of the church as a physical building. The church in the
Bible is always people. According to Acts
Many view the "church" as
a group made up of all denominations. A denomination is a religious group
separated from others by a particular name or doctrine. Denominationalism is opposed
to the will of God. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind
and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)
In Ephesians 4:4-6 the Bible teaches
that there is one church. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you
were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one
God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
This one church is the body of Christ. "And He put all things under His
feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body,
the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23) In the
Bible there is one body or one church. Today, however, there are hundreds of
"churches" in the world.
What do we know about Bible unity?
We
know what divided original Christianity. Paul wrote to the Galatians to
show that division was caused by men perverting the gospel of Christ. "I
marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace
of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who
trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an
angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached
to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if
anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him
be accursed." (Galatians1:6-9) The Devil is always busy trying to pervert
God's message. He perverted God's statement to Adam and Eve. God told man that
sin would lead to death. The Devil perverted the message. "Then the
serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die." (Genesis 3:4)
The Bible spoke plainly to show that
men would depart from or fall away from the faith. "Now the Spirit
expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving
heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1) This
departure from the faith would come because men would not endure sound
doctrine. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and
shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4) One thing that caused original
Christianity to be divided was a departure from the "one faith" to
other beliefs. (Ephesians 4:5)
We know that denominationalism
does not please God. A denomination is a named division. Paul commanded
that there be no divisions among you. "...That there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Christians in
Jesus prayed for unity. "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." (John 17:20-21) But, denominating divides Christ's spiritual body,
the church. "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:13) Paul thanked God that
he had baptized only two or more of the Corinthians because the names of
preachers were causing divisions. "Lest anyone should say that I had
baptized in my own name." (1 Corinthians 1:15) Division is contrary to the
will of God for His church.
We know that we must work and
pray for unity. The faith was given once for all to Christians. It
must be "contended for" in every generation. "Beloved, while I
was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) Our hope for
unity rests in the original truth being preached; as it was before men turned
away from it. (John 8:31-32) This truth which must be proclaimed with boldness
is the word of God. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is
truth." (John 17:17)
We must restore the original unity
of the church as it was before denominations divided it. This restoration can
be accomplished only when the truth is proclaimed and truth must always be
proclaimed in the correct spirit. "But, speaking the truth in love, may
grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ." (Ephesians
4:15) Traditions of men often blind people to the truth of God. "He
answered and said to them, 'Why do you also transgress the commandment of God
because of your tradition?"' (Matthew 15:3) Restoration of true
Christianity can be accomplished only with God's word and with His help!
We know that the early
Christians were in one church and Christians today should be in one church.
Acts chapter eight gives the account of the conversion of a man from
The church is composed of those who
have been freed from their sins. God's plan of salvation leads both to
salvation and introduction into Christ's church or kingdom. "For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." (1 Corinthians 12:13) Those
who are saved are delivered by God into the kingdom or church. "He has
delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the
Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13) The church into which the Lord
delivers people is His church. He has built only one church; but men have
established many. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it." (Matthew 16:18)
All who comply from the heart with
the conditions set forth in the Bible become Christians, members of the Lord's
church. To become a Christian, you must believe (Mark
By Charles Box,