Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. who is over all, in all, and living through all.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
One God and Father of all the comprehensiveness of God s being. God is one. Deuteronomy 6:4 the Shema. And it is out of that oneness of God that he can make us one people. Jew and Gentile, slave and free, men and women.
The Shema Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the L ORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV
Suppose there is friction and bad feeling in your church what should you do, especially if you are involved in the arguments and divisions yourself? Further, let us suppose that you are in the right, that the trouble is not your fault, and that you are a mature and compassionate person. In that case, I suggest that you should say to the elders and members of the church:
If I am in any way the cause of this trouble, even if unwittingly, or if my presence will in any way serve to perpetuate it, I will move to another congregation I will go away anywhere you wish, and do anything the congregation says anything. If it will contribute to peace among Christ s flock and its pastors. Anyone who adopts this attitude will deserve a high reputation amongst Christians, and God. Clement of Rome (died c. 100 A.D.)
The Power of Agreement. Matthew 18:18-19 NLT 18 I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.
Spiritual Warfare Ephesians 3:10 NLT to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
Worship in the Spirit Psalm 133 NLT How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
The World Will Know Jesus John 17:20-23 NLT I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Ephesians 4:1-6; 11-13 Therefore I, a shepherd, serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 We will always be humble and gentle. We will be patient with each other, making allowance for each other s faults because of our love. 3 We will make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit, binding ourselves together with peace.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as we have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to you, the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Our responsibility is to equip, you, God s people, to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 We will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-8;11-13