By: REV. DR. ISAIAH ROBINSON, JR.
Scriptural text: MARK 4:26-32; EPHESIANS 4:4-6, 11-16
KEY VERSE: “Speaking the truth in love, we grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ( Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV).
INTRODUCTION: The significance of Christian unity is rooted in Jesus’ teachings, particularly His prayer in John 17. Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified just as He and the Father are one so that the world would believe the Father sent Him and that He, Christ, loves His Church (John 17: 21-23). Apostle Paul shares another reason for Christian unity in Romans 15:5-6 – to glorify God with one voice. When Christians are unified, sharing beliefs, values, and a common purpose, they manifest the divine unity characterizing the Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Challenges to achieving and maintaining unity among believers for several reasons. Some of those challenges include disagreement concerning theological differences, cultural and ethnic diversity, personal preferences over worship styles and cherished traditions, sin, fear of losing distinctive beliefs, and failure to understand, and prioritize the mission Christ gave His Church (Matthew 28: 19-20). Despite these and other challenges, Christian unity is achievable to assist the church toward experiencing unity with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These “manifestations of the Spirit” were given by God to every genuine believer to equip them for service and to work together harmoniously to build up the church, demonstrating the unity of believers as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7). Paul reminded the Ephesian believers that unity does not happen automatically. It requires intentional effort- a commitment to grow spiritually and to strive daily to achieve and maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3).
UNITY’S FOUNDATION(KINGDOM MYSTERY)..MARK4:26-29; EPHESIANS 4:46
Jesus’ kingdom parables explain how God’s kingdom embodied by the church today, grows and what it represents. God’s kingdom develops and continues through God ‘sovereignty ensures its inclusivity and potential for growth. Jesus highlights that the growth of the kingdom is entirely God’s work, and so is the church today. God provides the means for the growth, the visible expression of His kingdom, to mature and stay unified- through spiritual leaders and gifts as described in Ephesians 4. Paul shifts from teaching deep spiritual truths to giving practical advice on how to live out the Christian faith. He starts by calling believers to lie in a way that reflects their calling in Christ, beginning with unity. This unity is shown in a way series of “ones” that highlight how believers are meant in harmony. In Ephesians 4:4 he mentions one body, one spirit, and one hope, explaining that the Holy Spirit is the source of this unity, bringing all believers together no matter which church they attend. He reminds us that all believers share the same hope – eternal life with Christ. In Ephesians 4;5, He lists three more “ones”: One Lord-Jesus Christ, One faith –the shared message of salvation, One baptism – both our public commitment to Christ and the Spirit’s work in placing us into the family of God. He ends in Ephesians 4:6 by declaring that there is one God and Father of all. We all belong to the same spiritual family with the same Heavenly Father. Is not the same principle Paul taught in 1 Corinthian 3:5-7. Someone may plant. Another may water. But God gives the increase.
Unity’s Provision – The Kingdom Magnitude and Manifesto (Mark 4:30-32, Ephesians 4:11-13).
Paul established the foundation for unity among all believers. In verses 11-13. God provided believers to assist in maintaining and sustaining the unity the Holy Spirit produces – a variety of spiritual leaders. It is significant to note that God appointed and empowered these leaders, meaning that they did not appoint themselves and were not self-directed. These gifted leaders included apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (verse 11). The kingdom concept is the realm where Jesus will rule physically in the future but now rules spiritually in the heart of saints (the church) in the present age. The church is unique in its oneness of God and the church. In its oneness of hope, faith, and lordship. It is up to the church to model this unity in the world with the goal of drawing new converts in the realm of kingdom living. Paul