I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

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I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

1. Jesus prayed for itJn. 17:20-22“Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

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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”

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2. The Apostles Pleaded for it1 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”

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3. The early church practiced itActs 4:32“And the multitude of them that

believed were of one heart and of one soul”

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4. The unity of the church was not:

A union of conflicting forcesA federation of denominations

(There were no denominations then)

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4. The unity of the church was not:

An alliance of religions

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5. The unity of the N.T. church was: Jews & Gentiles - bond & free - males & female becoming one in Christ!

Gal. 3:28

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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.

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II. They Were All One In Christ1. They believed the same

gospel1 Corinth 15: 1-4Mk. 16:15Gal. 1:6-9

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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:

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Mk. 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

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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.

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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.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

2. They had obeyed the same gospel

Acts 2:38, 41

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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.

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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.

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3. They were added to the same church

Acts 2:47

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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.

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4. They kept the same lawMt. 28:20Teaching 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.

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5. They continued in the same doctrine

Acts 2:422 Jn. 9

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Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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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.

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6. They wore the same nameActs 11:261 Pet. 4:16

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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.

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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.

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7. They heeded 1 Cor. 1:10Spoke same thing No divisions Perfectly joined together:Same mind Same judgment

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7. They heeded 1 Cor. 1:10Brethren 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

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8. They had the same love one for another

Phil. 2:2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be

likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

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I Corinthians 1:10-17According 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)

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.

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?

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.”

Studying the ScripturesWhy 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?

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?

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?

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Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

What is the Opposites of Unity?

AntagonismAntagonism

BattleBattle

conflictconflict

contentioncontention

ContestContest

controversycontroversyDifferenceDifference

disagreementdisagreement

discorddiscord

disproportiondisproportion

dissensiondissension

disuniondisunion

hostilityhostility

incongruityincongruity

inconsistencyinconsistency

OppositionOpposition

SeparationSeparation

VarianceVariance

WarfareWarfare DisorganizeDisorganize

I. Unity – An Important Characteristic Of The Church

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