UNITY IN THE CHURCH
U'NITY, n. [L. unitas.] 1. The state of being one; oneness. Unity
may consist of a simple substance or existing being, as the soul; but usually
it consists in a close junction of particles or parts, constituting a body
detached from other bodies. Unity is a thing undivided itself, but separate
from ever other thing.
2. Concord; conjunction; as a unity of proofs.
3. Agreement; uniformity; as unity of doctrine; unity of worship in a church.
4. In christian theology, oneness of sentiment, affection or behavior.
How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Ps. 133. 8.
In law, the properties of a joint estate are derived from its unity, which
is fourfold; unity of interest, unity of title, unity of time, and unity
of possession; in other words, joint-tenants have one and the same interest,
accruing by one and the same conveyance, commencing at the same time, and
held by one and the same undivided possession.
Unity of faith, is an equal belief of the same truths of God, and possession of the grace of faith in like form and degree. Unity of spirit, is the oneness which subsists between Christ and his saints, by which the same spirit dwells in both, and both have the same disposition and aims; and it is the oneness of christians among themselves, united under the same head, having the same spirit dwelling in them, and possessing the same graces, faith, love, hope, &c.
Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran
down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of
his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended
upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded
the blessing, even life for evermore.
Le 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing
oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of
unleavened bread;
3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation.
4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was
gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which
the LORD commanded to be done.
6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle,
and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded
him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate
the Urim and the Thummim.
9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even
upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the
LORD commanded Moses.
10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle
and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed
the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify
them.
12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head,
and anointed him, to sanctify him
SANC'TIFY, v.t. [Low L. sanctifico; from sanctus, holy, and facio,
to make.] 1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.
2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Gen. 2. So under the Jewish
dispensation, to sanctify the altar, the temple, the priests, &c.
3. To purify; to prepare for divine service, and for partaking of holy
things. Ex. 19.
HAVING THE SAME MIND & JUDGEMENT
1Co 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.
Ro 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Ro 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
WE ARE TO DO "THE WORK OF GOD" IN UNITY
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Ro 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Ga 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness
of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath
called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to
patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that
ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar
off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into
the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance
of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present
truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to
stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even
as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease
to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made
known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there
came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were
with him in the holy mount.
OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH GOD FIRST THEN WITH EACH OTHER
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
FELLOWSHIP & UNITY OF THE BRETHREN
Ro 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have
not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members
one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given
to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of
faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth,
on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him
do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth
mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave
to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant
in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Ro 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Ro 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities
of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Ro 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that
ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that
ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given
himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:
and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this
unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to
the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing
words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the
spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith
in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye
in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye
have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary
humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he
hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and
bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with
the increase of God.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond
of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also
ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another,
even as also ye do.
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner
of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.
Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory
not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every
evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that
make peace.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one
of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit
a blessing.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
WE ARE COMMANDED:TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another,
as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
1Th 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any
matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have
forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath
also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1Jo 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure
our hearts before him.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe
on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us
commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he
in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he
hath given us.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God
dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he
hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son
to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth
in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God
love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born
of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love
God, and keep his commandments.
2Jo 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking
in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment
unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.