Finding Unity in the Church Belonging to Jesus Christ

ONE FAITH
“there is one body and one Spirit ...
one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God ...”
(Ephesians 4:4-6)

Why are there so many religious divisions in the world today? This question is frequently asked by sincere, honest people seeking the truth in religious matters.

It may be observed that most religious differences are due to the acceptance of teachings and practices NOT found in the Bible. Man-made creeds, names, and doctrines perpetuate these divisions. Unity is possible by accepting the Bible as the only source of doctrine and practice.

JESUS PRAYED FOR UNITY
On behalf of His followers Jesus prayed, “... that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.” (John 17:21) Please note, Jesus wanted His followers to be one in order that the world might believe! Religious division fosters doubt!!!

Jesus gave the formula for unity. “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) Jesus intended His followers to be set apart, or sanctified by the truth. Following the truth results in unity.

THE ONE BODY
The “one body” described in the Scriptures is the spiritual body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6). Those who are baptized into Christ are members of that body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Romans 6:3-5).

THE ONE FAITH
There is one faith, or body of knowledge, given by God. The inspired author, Jude, wrote “... contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

APOSTASY FORETOLD
The apostle Paul wrote, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1). He said to the Ephesian elders, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30).

It is a fact, both from the Bible and from history, that Catholicism was developed several centuries after the time of the apostles. Protestantism resulted from attempts to reform Catholicism. Consequently, the major religious beliefs stem from this traditional background and tend to perpetuate the traditions of men.

UNITY A REALITY NOW
Unity occurs when the bible is accepted as the ONLY source of doctrine and practice. To accept the Bible ONLY is to lay aside human names and traditions of human origin (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
Jesus should be confessed as the Christ, the Son of God (Romans 10:10). The believer is united with Christ at the point of baptism (Romans 6:3-7; Galatians 3:27), and it is at this point the believer has their sins forgiven and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Baptism into the one body results in unity with all members of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12-18).

DIFFERENCES IN VIEWPOINT
Frequently those who want to follow Christ have different viewpoints. When this occurs it is necessary to study matters of differences objectively, and with mutual love, remembering that in all things each member has a responsibility to, “... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with 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.” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.