Attitudes of the Heart - Unity
Unity is not technically an “attitude” but the desire for, and pursuit of unity can certainly be classified as an attitude of the heart. God’s desire for the church is perfect unity. Jesus prayed that the church “may be one” (John 17) and for this reason, much of the Spirit’s internal work has the purpose of producing spiritual unity in the church (Eph 4).[su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]How would you define unity?[/su_box]
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What did Peter encourage believers to be?[/su_box]
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. How did Paul encourage the Corinthians to be unified?[/su_box]
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. In what 4 ways is unity described in this verse?[/su_box]Unity can be described negatively as “a lack of division” or it can be described positively as having commonality in our thoughts, desires, affections, pursuits and consequently, our actions.
The World’s Unity vs. The Spirit’s Unity
Unity is hard to come by in this world. Generally, worldy unity is artificial and fragile. Unity in the world is accomplished when individuals see it as in their best interest to lay aside differences. This type of unity is fleeting. When one party feels that his needs or wants aren’t being met he will, driven by self-interest, disrupt the unity. Spiritual unity is not this way.
Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What did Paul encourage the Ephesians to “keep?”[/su_box]There is a stark contrast between the world’s “spirit of unity” and the church’s “unity of the Spirit.” The focus of a “spirit of unity” is unity for unity’s sake and often results in compromise and a lowest-common-denominator type of religion. In our day of countless denominations, worldy compromise and doctrinal ignorance there is a consistent call for the unification of the body of Christ. Oftentimes these would-be unifiers call for unity “at any cost.” They are willing to lay aside most anything that causes division, including distinct, biblical doctrine and standards of personal holiness. This is not Spiritual unity. The “unity of the Spirit” is a principled, spirit-led and spirit-empowered unity under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.Spiritual unity keeps the Spirit of God as its center and its circumference. All that we are and all that we do must please the Spirit of God. For this reason, it makes no sense to compromise doctrine or holiness in an effort to unify. In doing so, we grieve the very source of spiritual unity and are left only with unity for unity’s sake.[su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]When might division be required instead of unity?[/su_box]
God’s Provision for Lasting Unity
Spiritual unity does not come about by organization or outward pressure, nor is it driven by self-interest. Spiritual unity is produced by the inward work of the Holy Spirit as He motivates us to please our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.Spiritual unity was a mark of the early church:
Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What phrase in these verses indicates the early church’s unity?[/su_box]
Acts 4:32-37 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Verse 32 tells us that the early church was of one heart and of one soul. Q. How do we know that this unity was not driven by self interest?[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v33. What spiritual fruit was produced by this unity?[/su_box]After the death of Jesus Christ, the disciples were initially distraught. They did not understand God’s redemptive plan. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were sad, Peter returned to his fishing trade, Thomas doubted the resurrection. This was an open door for discord and division but neither of these occurred. Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them a unified comission (Matt 28:19-20) and told them to meet together in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4). They were immediately unified in obedience to their risen Lord.
The Indwelling Spirit
The disciples, in obedience to Christ, met together and continued in one accord in prayer and supplication. Then, in Acts 2, we see how Jesus Christ planned for this unity to continue and to grow.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What provision did Jesus Christ send to the church?[/su_box]
John 17:20-23 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit as actually an act of the Father in answer to the prayer of Jesus Christ (John 14:26). What did Jesus pray for believers in this passage?[/su_box]Christ’s prayer was not primarily about practical unity in daily church life, but about the spiritual union that takes place at the moment of salvation. This spiritual union with Christ, the Father and all other believers happens as God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within the believer. In John 17:22 Jesus prayed, And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. The Holy Spirit is the “glory” which God the Father has given us and the means by which all believers are united in Him. We are one because we share his very nature.The Bible refers to this moment of uniting with God by his indwelling spirit as being “baptized into Christ” (Gal 3:27). For this reason also, the church is referred to as the “body of Christ” (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 4:12).
1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What has the Spirit done for us? How does this verse speak of unity?[/su_box]
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What 7 things speak of Christian unity?[/su_box]All believers share the same Lord, same faith, same God, same calling, are part of the same body and have been baptized by the same spirit. Our baptism into the body of Christ speaks of our positional or spiritual unity. This took place on a spiritual level at the moment of salvation and will never change. This unity is essential for, but different than, the practical unity which every church must work to achieve.
Unity Through Maturity
After Paul listed the seven things which bring unity from diversity in Eph 4:4-6, he went on to list the diverse spiritual gifts that exist within the unity of the church.
Ephesians 4:12-13 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Each of these gifts is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. In short, they produce spiritual maturity.[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. According to verse 13, what result will the exercise of these gifts produce?Q. Unity, knowledge of the Son of God and Christ-likeness are all marks of spiritual maturity. According to verse 14, what other mark of spiritual maturity goes hand-in-hand with unity and Christ-likeness?[/su_box][su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]How do you think spiritual maturity contributes to church unity?[/su_box]Unity in the church is produced when Christian men and women grow in the faith. This growh entails increasing in the knowledge of Christ and becoming stable in our doctrine. When we all seek to please the same Lord, studying and obeying the same Bible and adhering to the same doctrine we will naturally be unified. In contrast to this unified maturity, division in the church is a hallmark of spiritual immaturity.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v1-2. How could Paul not speak to the Corinthians? Q. What do these verses indicate about their spiritual maturity?Q. v3-4. What evidence did Paul give of their spiritual immaturity?[/su_box]
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What does God think about someone who “soweth discord among brethren?”[/su_box]Church unity is the product of men and women growing in the Lord and walking in the Spirit. As an individual Christian matures he grows in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. These are the fruit or evidence of the Spirit’s working (Gal 5:22-23). This spiritual fruit is developed in each and every growing Christian which leads them to new and increasing areas of commonality. The Christ-like character in me will not clash with the Christ-like character in you!
Romans 15:5-6 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What did Paul want God to do for the Romans?Q. On what basis were they to be likeminded? (according to..)Q. What would the result of this likemindedness be?[/su_box]In the church we do not need to search in vain for areas of common interest. We are not strangers trying to get along. We are brothers and sisters in Christ with the exact same Spirit working to make us all like Jesus Christ. Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Spirit of God is what produces the ability for us to walk in supernatural unity. For this reason a growing church is a unified church.
Unity Through Labour
Ephesians 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. How does this verse indicate that effort is required to maintain unity in the church?[/su_box]Like many aspects of the Christian life, unity is two-fold. It involves both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. On one hand there is God’s sovereign provision of the Holy Spirit as the source of our unity and on the other hand there is our responsibility to endeavour to keep unity. To endeavour means to use “diligence”, “labour” and “effort.” In other words, unity takes work!
Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
In verse 1 of this passage Paul is giving the reasoning or motivations for his exhoration to unity. The word if found in this verse can be better understood as “because.”[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What 4 things does Paul list as motivations for unity?Q. Being motivated by the 4 blessings in verse one, what does Paul exhort the church to do in verse 2?[/su_box]The encouragement and comfort we have in Christ, the fellowship we have with the Spirit and the mercies which God has shown us should create in us a spirit of gratitude, indebtedness and obedience. It is with this attitude that we should labour to keep unity in the church.
Spiritual Attitudes That Maintain Unity
As we have already learned, spiritual maturity leads to unity in the church. The reason for this is that spiritually mature Christians will exhibit Christ-like character qualities. When we learn to respond to hurts, offenses and accusations with the meekness and gentleness of Christ, we will be well on the way to maintaining unity in the church.Now, let’s explore a few of the spiritual attitudes which maintain unity.
Ephesians 4:2-6 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. In this passage Paul is telling the Ephesians to walk worthy of their salvation and to work at maintaining unity in the Spirit. What six attitudes are essential for keeping this unity?[/su_box]
Humility (lowliness)
Humility is an essential character quality that should define all Christians. God abhors pride. It was the very sin that had Satan cast from Heaven. It had no place in the presence of God in heaven, nor does it have a place in His church.
Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What quality of Christ does Paul tell us we should exhibit? How would this contribute to unity in the church?[/su_box][su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]How might exercising humility help to maintain unity in the church?[/su_box]
Proverbs 13:10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What is pride always the cause of?[/su_box]Pride will, without fail, bring about arguments and offenses in the church. We can expect to find ourselves in situations where we disagree with others. The question is, how do we respond? Do we allow a contentious conversation to ensue so that we can prove our point? Do we go out of our way to prove ourselves right? Do we dwell on the disagreement? Do we involve others? All of these responses are driven by pride, show a lack of humility and will result in disunity.
Philippians 2:1-3 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. In this passage Paul is encouraging the Philippians to be likeminded, to have the same love, to be of one accord and one mind. In verse 3 he tells us how to maintain this unity. How should we never allow things to be done?Q. What attitude should we have? How does this affect the way we view others?[/su_box]
Romans 12:16 tells us not to “mind high things” and to “condescend to men of low estate.” Romans 12:10 tells us to be “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” and to “prefer one another.” Humility involves considering others as superior to ourselves. In a world driven by pride, that is a very difficult thing to do. Our flesh naturally desires pre-eminence and oftentimes attains it by looking down upon others. God hates pride and has designed the entire salvation plan so as to exclude any human boasting (1 Cor 1:26-31; Rom 3:27; Eph 2:8-10). For the sake of spiritual unity we should ensure that nothing that we do has even a hint of fleshly pride.
[su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]How might thinking of others as better than ourselves show itself practically?[/su_box]
Meekness
“Meekness” is a humble attitude that expresses itself in the patient endurance of offenses. A meek person does not assert himself. He does not “always have to be right.” He does not engage in arguments which cause strife. He does not react harshly. He has learned how to maintain unity by putting down his own pride and making peace his priority.
Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Who is better than the mighty? Who is better than one who taketh a city?[/su_box]
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. If we find ourselves in a situation where someone is upset with us or “looking for an argument”, how should we respond?Q. What is the likely result of this response?Q. What is likely to happen if we respond to this person on their terms with anger, sarcasm or criticism?[/su_box]It takes two to argue. Oftentimes those who are disgruntled look for opportunities to cause strife. They approach you with an angry, irritated tone or sarcastic words hoping to evoke an emotional response from you. When you oblige them by reacting with the same attitude they have, you have allowed them to successfully “stir up anger” and consequently cause division in the church. On the other hand, if you were to respond to this person with meekness, gentleness and humility it would have the same effect as throwing water on a fire. You rob the person of the fuel they need to fan their anger into wrath and bitterness.
1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Peter tells us to be of one mind to have compassion one of another to love as brethren to be pitiful and to be courteous. According to verse 9, how can we maintain these right attitudes?[/su_box]Jesus told us how to handle offenses in Matt 5:39. He indicates that “turning the other cheek” is the same as “resisting evil.” Sometimes a meek and humble spirit is the best resistance against division in the church.
Longsuffering
Longsuffering speaks of being long tempered, patient and having endurance through negative circumstances. Especially when dealing with others.Paul told Timothy to preach and encourage with all longsuffering. In 1 Corinthians 13 we see that longsuffering is a characteristic of love. Romans 2:4 tells us that God is longsuffering toward us. To be longsuffering is to be patient and gracious with others even in the face of their shortcomings, immaturity and sin. It is enduring humility, enduring meekness and enduring love even when our flesh tempts us to give up on others.
Forbearance
Forbearance is even more intense than longsuffering. It literally means to put up with one another. It is loving in the midst of other’s imperfections, faults, annoyances even when it is taxing on us.
Love and Peace
All of the above must be done in the context of love and with the desire of maintaining peace.
Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. How does Paul tell us we should feel toward one another?[/su_box]
Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What does Paul tell us we should pursue? (follow after). What will these things also be good for?[/su_box]God hates discord in the church. He has provided everything we need for continual oneness, but because we still exist in our mortal, sin-prone bodies we must always endeavour to keep unity in the church. The best way for the church to function in continual unity is for its members to be in a continual state of spiritual growth; consistently exhibiting the character qualities of Christ and employing the tools for unity which God has left us. When a church functions this way, it can with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 15:6).[su_box title="Review!" style="soft" box_color="#FF4D2C"]1. What is the difference between the world's unity and Christian unity?2. Occasionally groups promote inter-denominational (and sometimes inter-faith) unity. What is wrong with this type of unity?3. What is the "center and circumference" of Christian unity?4. Who produces spiritual unity?5. How are all Christian's already unified?6. How will growing Christians become increasingly unified?7. How might disunity in the church affect its ability to evangelize the unsaved? [/su_box]