Scripture: “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity”

C.I.: “Lets All Work Together on This One!”

We’ve been studying… - Today we will conclude our series.
Our country is being torn apart from the inside – the 1 thing which should unite us – is complicit in this division
So while all God does is important - we will note the 1 thing - in which all 3 members of the trinity are involved

I. The One Thing in which God is Completely Involved

A. The Unity of All Believers

1. The basis of Unity…

a. On the night of His betrayal – Jesus prayed for His apostles – and the words He had given them.
1) (Jn. 17:14, 17), “I have given them Your word … Sanctify them in truth, Your word….”
2) It is on the basis of these words – that we come to faith in Jesus.
3) (Jn. 17:20), “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe on Me through their word…”
4) The unity which exists between the Father & Son – can be ours with them – by these words.
5) (Jn. 17:21), “…that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You….”

b. Not only are the Father & Son involved in this unifying word – but the Holy Spirit as well.
1) (Jn. 14:26), “The Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My [Jesus] name, He will teach you all things, - and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
2) (Jn. 15:26), “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me.”

2. There must be a desire for this by all believers…
a. Believers are reproved by God - when unity is not happening,
1) (Gal. 5:19-21), “Now the deeds of the flesh … disputes, dissensions, factions … shall not….”
2) (I Cor. 1:10), “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same…”

3. Why there so much religious division today…
a. Different preachers say different things – (I Cor. 1:11-12), “For I have been informed…”
b. Differing “interpretations” of scripture – (II Pt. 1:20-21), “Know this first of all, no prophecy….”
c. Traditions which they hold to that conflict with what the scriptures say - (Matt. 15:2-3), “”
d. Teachings that originate with men and not with God - (Matt. 15:8-9), “”
e. The 1 thing each of these has in common – is that they all stray beyond the word of God.
1) (I Cor. 4:6), “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written in order that no one…”

B. God has created a singular framework – within which all of His people can be unified.

1. Yet we must want this unity – as much as God wants it for us…
a. (Eph. 4:1-3), “I entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, - with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, - being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
1) “Diligence” = Perseverance, stick-to-itiveness,” and it requires hard work.
2) “Preserve” = Maintain, keep it as you find it, don’t allow it to change from the original.
3) “Unity of the Spirit” = When all of God’s people are in agreement with Spirit-inspired word.
4) “Bond of peace” = Everyone who is united to God through His word – will be at peace with God – and at peace with everyone else – who is united to God through His word!

2. This sort of unity is possible to achieve – when we are united in the 7 areas God mentions…
a. (Eph. 4:4-6), “There is one body [Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18; Matt. 16:18],
b. and one Spirit, (I Jn. 4:1), “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see….”
c. just as also you were called in one hope of your calling [I Jn. 5:13; Jn. 14:2-3];
d. one Lord: Physical – jobs, recreation, etc. - [Spirit. = Jesus, Rom. 10:9; I Tim. 6:15; I Cor. 8:5]
e. one faith [objective vs. subjective - Acts 6:7; Jude 3; Heb. 5:9],
f. one baptism [One Mode: John 3:23; Acts 8:38; Rom. 6:3-4] = baptizw = Immersion.
[One Purpose & several consequence: Acts 22:16 & Acts 2:38; I Pt. 3:21] = Remove Sin!
g. one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”
1) Unified on the basis of the one God: - “One Spirit, One Lord, One God”
2) Unified by what the one God gives: - “One body, one hope, one faith, one baptism”!!!
h. Thus, we have the one God (Father, Son/Lord, Spirit) – who has provided us with the one framework for unity (the body/church, the hope/heaven, the faith/means, baptism).
i. As we can see, UNITY is so important to God – that all 3 persons of the trinity are involved!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Everything that God does is important. – But when it is something in which the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit are all involved – then this is something we should take very seriously!!!

2. Today we have seen how vitally important God views; the unity of all believers.

3. In order for us to have this unity based on God’s word – there may be some things we need to get rid of
(traditions, teachings of men, etc.), - and there may be some things we need to adopt.

4. God desires unity amongst believers – but He even more desires our unity with Him – based upon the
words He has given to us. – Today if there is anything you need to do to unite yourself to God (faith,
hope, baptism) – then…!