UNITY IN JESUS: a theological reality 9-25-22

UNITY IN JESUS: a theological reality 9-25-22

 

Unity

 

Jesus example for us

 

“Union has an affiliation with others but no common bond that makes them one in heart.  Uniformity has everyone looking and thinking alike.  Unanimity is complete agreement across the board.  Unity, however, refers to a oneness of heart, a similarity of purpose, and an agreement on major points of doctrine.”

                              Chuck Swindoll

 

 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

                              Galatians 3:26-29 NIV

 

I.  IN CHRIST, WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD

 

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

                             Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

 

"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."

                              Tozer, A.W.

 

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

                              John 1:9-13 NIV

 

               A.  We are children of God through faith.

 

               B.  We are clothed with Christ in baptism.

 

II.  IN CHRIST, WE ARE ALL ONE

 

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

                             Ephesians 2:11-13 NIV

 

               A.  There are no more distinctions.

 

               B.  We are one in Christ Jesus.

 

"Christian unity is not found in uniformity, organization or a particular church, but rather in Jesus and our commitment to His teachings and living them out in our lives.  It is only as we join together with others who look different than we do but share a common love and commitment to the Truth that is Jesus, that we can know the completeness of the body of Christ."

                     ANONYMOUS

 

III.  IN CHRIST, WE ARE HEIRS

 

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

                              Galatians 4:4-7 NIV

 

A.  We are Abraham’s seed.

 

               B.  We are heirs according to the promise.

 

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

                              Genesis 12:1-3 NIV

 

‘Union with Christ constitutes the true spiritual descent from Abraham, and secures the inheritance of all the Messianic blessings by promise, as against inheritance by law’. 

                              Philip Schaff, author of History of the Christian Church

 

CONCLUSION

 

The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. However, the redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots. So how do they get so big and stand so long? Although it’s a shallow root system; they all intertwine; they are locked to each other. So, when the storms come and the winds blow, the redwoods stand. And it’s because they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other.

 

The same is true for the church. How will we stay strong and be able to withstand the storms? By working together. If we do not stand together then we will surely fall apart.

 

In Christ, we are all children of God.  In Christ, we are all one.  In Christ, we are heirs according to the promise.

 

IN CHRIST!

 

CHALLENGE

 

What will you do with what you have just heard?  How will you respond to the Holy Spirit working within you?  The Challenge is intended to give us an opportunity to contemplate what God is calling us to do in our lives.  Consider these questions and write down your answers.  

 

               1.  Who are the children of God?

               2.  How do you demonstrate oneness with other Christians?

               3.  How can Kenwood show unity with other believers?

               4.  What is the promise?

               5.  What is our inheritance?

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.