May 23: UNITY OF THE SPIRIT
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
When Christ’s followers are united in truth, God is glorified. This kind of unity presents a clear message to the world of salvation from sin, available only through Christ. The Good News of the gospel message brings new life to the repentant soul. But our spiritual enemy works diligently to bring strife and division onto the scene of would-be followers of the Lord Jesus. If he can intercept the thoughts of one on the path of growth, his nefarious scheme to render that one’s spiritual walk ineffective is underway.
The unbeliever has no awareness of being carnally minded. The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14a). Paul is making the point that there is little to no difference between an unsaved person and someone who names the name of Christ, yet refuses to accept certain truths of Scripture because his or her “brand” of Christianity doesn’t teach it. Sectarianism is sin. It is the shaky and shifty foundation under much of the world’s confusion, and it causes many people to be lost. Satan delights in using the professed people of God to unite in error.
Whenever divergent teachings are encountered, the only wise course is to pursue the Scriptures in a spirit of humility, for the answers. This is what Christians are called to do, receiving the grace that God gives as the truth is sought. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for being receptive to the milk of the word (that is, being forgiven – or justified), while refusing to accept the solid food of making mature decisions based upon the sure written word – or sanctification (see 1 Corinthians 3:2-3). The leading of the Holy Spirit is essential, for He is the Bible’s author. He never contradicts Himself, nor does He lead Christians to form separate denominations.
Jesus used very strong language against cultivating thoughts, traditions, or habits that place obstacles in the road of sanctification. “If your hand (or foot) causes you to sin, cut it off…And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” (Mark 9:43,45,47). His scathing rebuke to the church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-7) highlights the incompleteness (partial truth still mixed with error that kills) of the separate churches that were formed by those who exited the church of Thyatira.
“If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right. He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, “Oh, I can explain that.” Oswald Chambers
I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism… Ephesians 4:1-5
On being unified in truth: Psalm 133:1; John 17:23; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27; 2:2; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8