CHRISTIAN UNITY AND YOU

Copyright © 2020 by Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 978-1-944971-10-6

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org • Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. • Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version, public domain. • Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV ® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011. • Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. • Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Printed in the United States of America.

Please visit BeUnitedinChrist.com for other Bible-based resources.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Introduction: A Call to Christian Unity

Laying the Groundwork for Our Unity

Chapter 1: Love

Chapter 2: Grace

Chapter 3: Peace

Chapter 4: Humility

Chapter 5: Contentment

Chapter 6: Holiness

Chapter 7: Compassion

Chapter 8: Truth

Chapter 9: Joy

Chapter 10: Hope

Expressing Our Unity

Chapter 11: Gathering

Chapter 12: Greeting

Chapter 13: Accepting

Chapter 14: Listening

Chapter 15: Speaking

Chapter 16: Teaching

Chapter 17: Submitting

Chapter 18: Singing

Chapter 19: Serving

Chapter 20: Praying

Strengthening Our Unity

Chapter 21: Graciousness

Chapter 22: Truthfulness

Chapter 23: Patience

Chapter 24: Thankfulness

Chapter 25: Gentleness

Chapter 26: Value

Chapter 27: Honor

Chapter 28: Mercy

Chapter 29: Generosity

Chapter 30: Hospitality

Preserving Our Unity

Chapter 31: Encouraging

Chapter 32: Restraining

Chapter 33: Admonishing

Chapter 34: Confessing

Chapter 35: Repenting

Chapter 36: Forgiving

Chapter 37: Reconciling

Chapter 38: Rejoicing

Chapter 39: Persevering

Chapter 40: Living in Loving Unity

Conclusion

Appendix: One Another Commands

Life Changing Resources

PROLOGUE

Before His betrayal and arrest, the Lord Jesus Christ spent a sober evening with His disciples. In those few hours, Jesus introduced a new covenant (Luke 22:20) along with a new commandment (John 13:34–35). Consider the connection. Jesus delivered a new commandment for His new covenant family. What was it? “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (NKJV).

Jesus repeated the commandment twice in John 15. This repetition underscored His urgency. Just hours before His sacrificial death for us, our Lord urged His followers to love one another. This sacrificial, mutual love is supposed to be visible among all those who are truly in Christ. The identifying mark of believers in Jesus Christ should be the mutual, sacrificial love He modeled and commanded.

The Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry exists to teach and promote Christian unity in accordance with God’s Word in order to bring about change in the body of Christ. This book, Christian Unity and You, attempts exactly that. We offer a library of resources to help you learn what the Bible really says about Christian unity. In this book we focus on a specific question: What does the Bible tell you to do differently—right now, today—in order to live in loving unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

We’re called to love our Christian family in a special way. Galatians 6:10 says, “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (NLT). Our obligation to brothers and sisters in Christ is greater than our obligation to others. When Jesus described the future judgment of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, He said that the King will judge using the following criteria: “When you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” (v. 40, NLT). Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, calls us to love each other better than the best earthly family ever has.

While many books exist that try to explain how Christians ought to relate to the world, our concern in this book is just how Christians ought to relate to each other. While there may be applications to how we engage the world, the unity and mutual love that we want to encourage can’t exist with unbelievers. Only those who are in Christ can love each other this way. In fact, in John 17:21, Jesus connects the unity of His followers to the gospel: “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me” (NLT).

In the coming pages we’ll explore forty changes to our attitudes and actions that Scripture says we need to make in order to honor God’s call to love-based unity in the church. If that sounds overwhelming, take heart. First, sanctification (the process of growing to be more like Jesus) is a process. Everyone who is truly converted, truly a believer, is engaged in a similar process. We learn more about the life Jesus calls us to, and then we apply that learning to our lives. These forty entries provide you with forty opportunities to grow.

Second, if you’re in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit in you, enabling you to obey the commands of Jesus. Jesus didn’t leave His disciples helpless after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, but He sent them the Holy Spirit to be their Helper (John 14:15, 26; 15:26; 16:7). And He gives us the same Spirit to be our Helper as well.

Once you’ve learned and applied what the Bible really says about living in loving unity with your fellow believers, we invite you to take one more crucial step with us: share what you’ve learned with other believers. That is how real behavioral change comes to the body of Christ. Our prayer for you as you read this book is that you would be changed by the truths of Scripture.

INTRODUCTION

A CALL TO
CHRISTIAN UNITY

When a dispute arose among His disciples regarding who was the greatest, Jesus spoke immediately and decisively (Luke 22:24–27). He did not let it build and linger. After gently identifying their pride as the problem, He called them to something better. Though woefully common in the world, pride did not belong in their souls and relationships. A posture of humility and eagerness to serve should define Christ’s followers, not competition and thirst for power. Humility defuses disputes, and mutual service helps to prevent them. Jesus taught His followers to live in unity.

Every Christian feels the desire for unity. We actually like it. Though we still sin against one another and do things that fracture our relationships, we genuinely want peace with God and one another. The desire for harmony marks us. The presence of fighting in our relationships grieves us. We lament with the psalmist, “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalm 120:7 NASB). From the moment the Spirit enters our hearts and unites us to Jesus Christ, we long for a day when absolute peace fills the creation.

“Why is this?” we might ask. When we see fighting and warring and broken relationships, we mourn. We don’t rejoice. Nor do we laugh. Nor do we say, “Oh well, no big deal.” On the contrary, we sense that something is terribly wrong. The theme of unity traces through the grand story of the Bible, and it lays the foundation for the rest of this book.

Our God Is United

The call to unity does not arise from our personal tastes but from the very nature of God. The unity He invites us to enjoy is a unity that first exists in Him. There is only one God, not many gods (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Scripture often says so. The nation of Israel was to have no other gods before God (Exodus 20:3) because there were no other gods to put before Him. Every other god was false, a figment of the imagination, a lie of the devil. Our God is one, and there are no other gods besides Him.

At the same time, the one God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19–20). They exist, think, and act as distinct persons (Mark 1:9–11). They relate to one another, speak about one another, and fulfill different roles. Scripture presents each as God and as displaying the characteristics of divinity. Any sin against one of the three persons is a sin against God. They each receive worship in their own right.

Our God who is three persons exists in perfect unity. They love and honor one another as equals. The Father loves the Son perfectly. The Son obeys the Father flawlessly. The Spirit serves and relates to the Father and Son with holy love. Their unity is a faultless unity. It never fractures. It certainly never fails.

God Created Us to Live in Unity

God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). This means that men and women resemble God and relate to God in order to represent Him, and this should dictate how they relate to God, the world, and one another. So we were created to relate with love to others. We were created to be others-oriented, to be sacrificial and willing to serve selflessly. It was not good for Adam to be alone. He needed someone of his nature to love (Genesis 2:18). Adam was to live in submission to God, in authority over the creation, and at peace with the other creatures.

Perfect unity existed in the garden of Eden. We do not know how long it lasted, only that a deep, comprehensive peace filled the cosmos. Adam and Eve related to one another with untainted love and gratitude. The lion and lamb lived together without fear or bloodshed. Nothing groaned. Nothing lamented. Everything rejoiced.

Holiness preserved this unity. The holy obedience of Adam shaped his attitude and works. Nothing was defiled. Nothing was unclean. Nothing was false. Spiritual beauty, physical splendor, and holy unity marked all the individual parts of the created world. Adam and Eve could eat freely of all the trees of the garden except one (Genesis 2:16–17). If they would remain faithful to their

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR OUR UNITY

What ingredients must be present in our lives for unity to last? What groundwork must be laid in our hearts for unity to become a reality in our relationships?

CHAPTER ONE

LOVE

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

~ John 13:34 NKJV

Perhaps the greatest foundation stone for Christian unity is genuine love. “Bearing with one another in love” is one way we “keep the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:2–3 NKJV). God is love, and He commands you to love. God commands you to love because love expresses who He is. He exists in perfect harmony as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though God made us to love others perfectly, sin corrupted our nature, making us terribly selfish and unloving. Jesus Christ died and rose to reconcile us to God and enable us to love and live in unity. If love is to take deep root in your life, then the Lord needs to take deep root in your heart.

We do not love God and others as much as we believe, which is one reason we struggle with unity as much as we do. We overestimate our love. This has always been a problem for followers of Jesus Christ. On the night of His betrayal and arrest, Jesus predicted that His disciples would fall away. They would run. The shepherd would be struck down, and the sheep would be scattered (Matthew 26:31).

The apostle Peter did not agree: “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33 NASB). The other disciples might depart, Peter thought, but he was made of stronger stuff. Since Peter saw the weakness of the other disciples, he easily accepted their desertion. He could not imagine his own.

What made Peter so confident in himself? We could say that he overestimated his love for Jesus Christ. He presumed to love the Lord much, when in fact he loved Him little. He vowed to follow Jesus to death, but he would crater beneath the slightest threat. Peter was not ready to lose everything for Christ.

A servant girl exposed Peter’s weak allegiance. When she identified Peter as one of Christ’s disciples, he flatly denied it (Matthew 26:70; John 18:17). When pressed again, Peter denied even knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:71–72). On a third occasion he uttered curses to emphatically deny knowing the Lord (Matthew 26:73–74). Once Peter realized what had transpired, he went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75).

In various ways, we’ve all been there. In a moment to stand firm in our devotion to Christ, we falter. When invited to receive mocking and humiliation as followers of Jesus Christ, we remain silent or shirk away instead. The time comes to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and call people to repentance, and we chicken out. Sometimes all it takes is a little child to expose how little we love Jesus and how much we love ourselves.

Or perhaps the moment comes to love our fellow Christian in a costly way. Do we gladly sacrifice, or do we back away? That really is the test, isn’t it, when love costs us something dear to us? When love invades our schedule, our bank accounts, our reputations, our safety, our creature comforts? Yes, that’s when we see the depth of our devotion. More likely than not, we could all share stories about moments when we denied our Lord in the face of costly love.

Yet He is gracious. Despite our weak love, He remains steadfast. If we belong to Him, then He pursues, restores, and strengthens us, just as He did Peter. After His resurrection, Jesus did not leave Peter to wander in shame. Rather, Jesus sought Peter and restored their relationship. Three times in the process, however, the Lord questioned Peter’s love (John 21:15–19). This grieved Peter. It brought the denials back to mind. Jesus wanted to make a point: “Peter, you do not love Me as much as you may think, but I will teach and help you. Go care for My flock.”

In order for Peter to grow in love for Christ and others, he needed to first realize how little he truly loved. All of us need to begin here. As we already stated, we do not love God and other believers as much as we believe. The evidence is everywhere, and we should learn to face it.

Dealing Honestly with the Evidence

Accepting bad news does not come easily to us. We prefer to deny

CHAPTER FIVE

CONTENTMENT

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

~ Psalm 23:1 NKJV

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

~ 1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

~ Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Contentment is a true gift from God. When the Lord is our God and Jesus is our Good Shepherd, then contentment is only a matter of perspective, for He is truly all-satisfying. In fact, He is the only thing truly satisfying to the human soul. When the Lord is our shepherd, we lack for nothing. In His presence there is “fullness of joy,” and at His right hand there are “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 NKJV). When the Lord is our shepherd, we begin to realize that everything we truly need is provided by Him.

If you are content, then you are probably in a place of spiritual rest. Each day you wake up with peace in your heart. Your soul overflows with thanksgiving and praise to God. At the same time, if you are content, then you are probably at peace with your brothers and sisters in Christ. After all, a satisfied soul does not covet the things of others. A soul satisfied in the Lord does not fear the loss of things to others, for the one thing you most value cannot be taken away. This prepares you well to live in unity with others.

A contented people will be a unified people, for they refuse to claw and scratch one another with greedy desires. If we are not satisfied in God, then all kinds of sin might look pleasant to our souls. “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7 NKJV). A great deal of conflict in the church comes from the work of discontented souls. It is the root of many troubles.

Discontentment Is a Root of Grumbling

After the Lord redeemed the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, He led them into the wilderness en route to the Promised Land. In order to train their faith and show them His power, the Lord led them to places without food or water so that He could miraculously provide for them. It tested their faith and taught them to rely on the Word of God. Their response was not good: “The people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears of the Lord” (Numbers 11:1 AMPC).

They craved food. They craved drink. They craved comfortable circumstances. When the circumstances grew difficult, they grew discontent. Their discontentment produced all kinds of grumbling and complaining in the ears of the Lord. They took it out on Moses and Aaron: “All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!” (Numbers 14:2 AMPC).

When we are discontent, we tend to grumble. Maybe not openly, but in our thoughts and attitudes we complain and bicker. Eventually this spills over into our conversations. Once it does, our relationships turn sour, whether through complaining to others about another person or bickering with one another directly. Either way, grumbling and complaining hurts our unity and displeases the Lord. “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you [yourselves] may not be judged. Look! The Judge is [already] standing at the very door” (James 5:9 AMPC).

Discontentment Is a Root of Conflict

Discontentment not only produces complaining; it breeds conflict. It causes quarrels and fights in our relationships. James is clear:

What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fighting) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?

You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. (James 4:1–2 AMPC)

CHAPTER EIGHT

TRUTH

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

~ Amos 3:3 NKJV

Your Word is Truth.

~ John 17:17 AMPC

We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

~ 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

This 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 4:13 NLT

If we do not abide in the truth, then we cannot possibly abide with one another in peaceful fellowship. “Can two [people] walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3 NKJV). The answer of course is no, they cannot. If two people intend to walk together for any length of time, then they must agree on the direction, pace, and destination of their journey. If their definitions of true north lead them in opposite directions, then what hope do they have for walking in unity?

Christian unity depends on truth and agreement about where truth is found, just as bricks in a building depend on a single foundation. They rely on an immovable pillar to which they are all connected. If the pillar crumbles, then the integrity of the whole building disappears. Bricks will begin to break away from one another, not because of the mortar but because the foundation that keeps them in place is crumbling.

If you commit yourself to unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ, then you commit yourself to believing and standing on truth. Not relative versions of truth or speculations about truth from scientific and philosophical inquiry, but the absolute truth set forth by God through His Word.

God’s Word Is Truth

Few statements are less popular today than what Jesus spoke in His prayer to God the Father, “Your Word is Truth” (John 17:17 AMPC). The Bible is not mere opinion. It is not a perspective. It is not a collection of outdated moral guidelines. It is truth, in a way that nothing else on earth can or ever will be truth. This makes Scripture the absolute authority for Christian faith and practice.

Scripture provides a kind of map and compass for Christian life. The Holy Spirit supplies the ability to read the map and apply the compass. Through Scripture God reveals Himself. In Scripture He teaches us right from wrong, wise from foolish, sacred from profane, and truth from falsehood. The Word of God provides light for our journey on earth, food for our strength, and a clear destination.

Scripture provides a lens through which we can rightly interpret reality. The psalmist declared to God, “In Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9 NKJV). In other words, only in the light of God’s Word can we accurately perceive, interpret, and respond to God, ourselves, others, salvation, and the rest of reality. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, making them “unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). Like a pair of spiritual glasses, the Word of God helps us see our sin and the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, the devil believes the Word of God is the truth, essential to the welfare of souls and to the health of the church. Otherwise he would not be so committed to attacking it. He is “the father of lies” (John 8:44 NLT). He tries to sow discord in the body of Christ by tempting people to despise, contradict, and twist Scripture. False teachers divide the church by introducing “destructive heresies,” and in doing so “the way of truth [is] blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1–3 NKJV).

We resist the devil and false teachers by taking up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NKJV). Every leader of the church is charged with “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9 NKJV). Every Christian, including you, is called by God to believe, hold to, and speak the truth (John 19:35; Ephesians 4:15). Our love for one another and unity with one another depend on it.

Love Depends on Truth

Obedience to the truth of the gospel, enabled by the Holy Spirit, purifies our hearts in the blood of Christ and helps us genuinely love one another. Peter instructs us, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22 NKJV). If we disregard the truth, our hearts remain under the control of the sinful flesh, making it impossible for us to truly love one another. Truth, then, is an essential foundation stone for unity, because it is essential to our love for one another.

Truth, then, is an essential foundation stone for unity, because it is essential to our love for one another.

Truth gives us joy in our love for one another. Love “rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6 NKJV). If we discard the truth, then our claims to love God and one another are false. Please take this to heart. If you want to love God and others, then learn to love the truth of His Word. If you want to dwell in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ, then cherish every word of Scripture. Make it your daily bread. Live by it. Think deeply about it. Hear God speak through it, and speak to God in prayerful response to it. Relate to other people according to the precious truth of God’s Word.

Truth expresses itself in our love for one another. The purpose of Biblical teaching is to produce “love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV). If we do not love one another, then we do not have the truth in us. The apostle John says it plainly: “He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11 NKJV). Our love for brothers and sisters is the evidence that God’s truth abides in us.

STRENGTHENING OUR UNITY

As we express our unity, how do we keep feeding it? What kinds of attitudes and actions strengthen our unity in the body of Christ? What must be present in our relationships for the Lord to bless our fellowship?

CHAPTER TWENTY–ONE

GRACIOUSNESS

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

~ Matthew 7:1–2 NKJV

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

~ Romans 14:13 NASB

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

~ Ephesians 4:29 NASB

When we receive grace from God through Jesus Christ, we naturally begin to give grace to others because of Jesus Christ. The grace of Christ, rightly understood and appreciated, cultivates a spirit of graciousness in us. We stop relating to everyone in response to what their sins deserve and start responding in accord with what Christ has done with their sins. For our unity to be strengthened, we must learn to be gracious.

In fact, for us to obey the commands of God pertaining to unity, our way of relating to one another needs to be full of grace. After all, spending hours and days with brothers and sisters in Christ, while good and encouraging, will also create occasions for disagreement and offense. The sins and weaknesses of our spiritual siblings will be on display. At some point they will say something rude or insensitive or contrary to our opinions. At some point they will do something offensive. Or they will be weak, frail, and needy. They will make demands on our time and emotions. We will be tempted to judge them for their sins and despise them for their frailty.

At the same time, our own weaknesses will be on full display. Our particular struggles with sin and selfishness will show up. It would not be difficult to pick our faults to pieces. Others will be tempted to judge us. We need grace. Judging one another takes no effort, which is why God says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:1–2 NKJV). Applying these truths and commands of Scripture to our Christian relationships is vital to the health of our unity. Let us consider how to do it.

Godly Self-Awareness

Graciousness begins with an awareness that we are not God and therefore do not occupy the throne of judgment. After being severely wronged by his brothers and ascending to authority in Egypt, Joseph had an opportunity to exact revenge on his brothers. Listen to how he spoke to them:

Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. (Genesis 50:19–21 NLT)

Graciousness then grows with an awareness of our personal sins, faults, and weaknesses before God. When brought through a vision into the presence of God, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV). Though Isaiah was surrounded by sinful people, this did not make him feel better in the presence of God. He was aware of his sinfulness and how he deserved divine punishment.

The Pharisee in Luke 18, however, talked to God in this way: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:11–12 NKJV). Notice how little grace he has for the tax collector, his lack of self-awareness. And remember the gracelessness of Simon the Pharisee toward the sinful woman weeping at the feet of Jesus. Why was he so callous? Because he did not see himself as a deeply sinful man in need of great forgiveness from God (Luke 7:47).

Hypocrisy springs from such blindness to our sin. We judge others for the very things we do, whether in action or attitude. We see ourselves as deserving better from the Lord when in fact we sit under the same sentence of death. We treat others as second-class

CHAPTER TWENTY–THREE

PATIENCE

Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

~ Ephesians 4:1–2 NKJV

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

~ Galatians 5:22–23 NASB

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NKJV

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

~ 2 Timothy 2:24 NLT

We live in an impatient age. Fast and efficient is the order of the day. High-speed internet is considered a basic human right. From swift transportation to microwavable dinners, from electronic mail to text messaging, the technology of our world tells us to expect immediate gratification. If our phones take two seconds to respond to our touch, we cry foul. Waiting has always been difficult, but the modern era magnifies the struggle.

Waiting patiently on God in the midst of pain seems ludicrous. Pain medication and alcoholic beverages, television shows and video games, fast food and online shopping—all provide means to escape whatever discomfort we may be enduring. Senses can be numbed. Bad memories can be pushed away. Hard relationships can be avoided. Physical and emotional pain can be removed.

Exercising true patience with one another is difficult as well. The apostle Paul told the Ephesians to walk worthy of their calling as followers of Jesus Christ “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2–3 NKJV). Notice how endeavoring to keep unity is a natural result of walking worthy of the gospel and, for the sake of the present chapter, how long-suffering is an essential part of the whole journey. In these few pages we will consider how patience is key to growing unity in your relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.

A Precious Virtue

Patience refers to a quality of character that allows us to suffer long under difficult circumstances. Long-suffering is a common way of saying it, and long-suffering is both a rare and a precious virtue. Long-suffering in our relationships refers to a glad willingness to endure the weakness, sins, and troubles of other people. It is a beautiful thing—indeed, a godly thing.

God is patient. When the Lord revealed Himself to Moses at Sinai, He called Himself “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6 NLT), which is another way of saying patient. The fact that Jesus has not returned to judge the world is a testimony to the patience of God. Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB). The apostle Paul referred to his own salvation as a testimony to the “perfect patience” of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:16 NASB).

If the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we will be growing in patience, for a fruit of the Spirit is patience (Galatians 5:22). Some of us begin the Christian journey with less patience than others, but we all should be increasing in our capacity to suffer long with other believers. Otherwise, we will find ourselves constantly frustrated with the realities of the Christian life and the process of sanctification.

If the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we will be growing in patience.

Sanctification Is Slow

People are sinful, even Christians. Though they are grieved by their sin and in the process of killing their sin, they still continue to sin. Your brothers and sisters in Christ will be weak and clumsy and difficult to relate to from time to time. Though filled with the Spirit and walking in His Word, they will not grow up overnight. Just like you, they are sanctified slowly. God designed it this way.

God tells us to “warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NKJV). In any given moment, each of us could be unruly or fainthearted or weak. Sometimes we need to warn one another. At other times we offer comfort. In other moments we uphold others in their weakness, but at all times we should be patient.

CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE

ENCOURAGING

I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

~ Romans 1:11–12 NKJV

I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.

~ Colossians 2:1–2 ESV

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.

~ Hebrews 10:24 NKJV

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

When trying to reignite a fire from a few glowing embers, we know what to do. After carefully placing tinder around the coals, we bend low and close in order to blow on whatever fire remains. By blowing on the red coals, we increase the amount of oxygen coming into contact with the carbon compounds, increasing and spreading their heat. A few glowing embers can multiply within seconds and produce a strong flame.

Encouragement works in a similar way. Words of encouragement blow on the embers of faith and love so that they multiply and grow. Times of testing will come, like rain falling on a campfire. We need the fire to be well tended and guarded. The unity we enjoy in Jesus Christ is protected by godly encouragement, for it keeps our affection for one another burning, making it less likely to go out when the rains of hurt and conflict come.

Words of encouragement blow on the embers of faith and love so that they multiply and grow.

A Reason to Gather

The opportunity to give and receive encouragement should be a reason we spend time together. The apostle Paul longed to see the Christians in Rome, “that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:12 NKJV). The point of getting together was not to criticize and attack one another. It was not to compete for attention and compare accomplishments. It was to celebrate and encourage their mutual faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Such encouragement protects unity in the body of Christ. When we view other Christians as belonging to a different team, as part of the “other side,” we move closer to division. This is one reason why it is so important to view one another as friends, not enemies, as spiritual family, not strangers. When we grasp the fact that we are united to the same Savior, members of the same family, and seekers of the same kingdom, our sense of togetherness only grows stronger. Let us consider a few critical steps to encouraging one another for the sake of unity.

See Christ in Others

It does not take effort to see faults in other people. It comes naturally to us. Whether physical blemishes or personal quirks, the “imperfections” of our neighbors stand out. In fact, the more time we spend together and the more carefully we pay attention to one another, the more often we will notice our besetting sins and weaknesses. Seeing the good, the very presence of Christ, in our brothers and sisters, therefore, takes commitment and effort.

When we turn from our sin and put our faith in Jesus Christ, we change. Not everything becomes perfect overnight, but we receive a new heart with a new nature and direction in life. This means we should see our brothers and sisters in Christ as wonderfully new creatures. “From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. . . . If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:16–17 NKJV).

Due to this new work of God in our fellow Christians, we should be able to see the evidence of Christ in them. Even immature or unsophisticated brothers and sisters in Christ display evidences of God’s grace. They will exhibit new degrees of peace. They will love the world less and people more. They will show a hunger for the Word of God and a thirst for His Spirit. If we want to preserve the unity of the church, then we need to start noticing the presence of Christ in the members of our spiritual family.

Voice the Growth We See in Others

Once we see Christ at work in the hearts of our fellow Christians, we will also see their growth in the grace of God. That is, we will

CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVE

REPENTING

Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

~ 1 Corinthians 5:6–7 NLT

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

~ 2 Corinthians 7:9 NKJV

When we sin against God and one another in the body of Christ, we risk causing division. We temporarily fracture our fellowship with one another. The fracture cannot be left to mend itself. Humble, diligent action is needed. First, we need to see our sin and feel contrite over our sin. Then we need to acknowledge our wrongdoing to those who need to hear our confession. We discussed this in the last chapter.

Full reconciliation of relationships requires us to go further. After confessing our sin to God as well as to brothers or sisters involved, we need to complete the process of repentance. The word repentance refers to the whole activity of turning from sin to God. It includes confessing our sin with genuine sorrow and then forsaking that sin in order to seek forgiveness and reconciliation in Jesus Christ. It aims to restore our relationship to God and our relationship to any brothers or sisters we offended.

Preserving unity depends on repentance because we cannot truly reconcile our broken relationships without it. Without repentance we continue walking in the sins that destroy our relationships. Without repentance we keep widening the divisions in our fellowship. Without repentance our brothers and sisters cannot offer us full forgiveness, and without forgiveness we cannot achieve full reconciliation.

Two basic actions compose Christian repentance, the turning from sin and the turning to God through Jesus Christ. We will consider these one at a time and then talk about their connection to our relationships and unity in the body of Christ.

Turning from Our Sin

Biblical repentance involves leaving sin behind. Our sins separate us from God, and so we cannot possibly be reconciled to God without removing our sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ announces the means God provides for the removal. It declares that Jesus atones for our sins at the cross and brings us to God covered in His righteousness (Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 3:18). In order to receive this gift, we must repent and believe the good news. Jesus came preaching the gospel with the following words: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15 NKJV).

Biblical repentance involves leaving sin behind.

Consider the Corinthian church. Sin was ravaging their fellowship. Rather than mourn and weep over their pride, immorality, and divisions, they persisted in them. Because of their lack of contrition and change, Paul sent them a serious and sobering letter to reprove them. The Lord used it to grieve their hearts and move them to repentance. Paul rejoiced in their repentance.

Even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:8–9 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit used Paul’s letter to help the Corinthian church see their sin and grieve over it. And grief produced repentance—a turning away from their sin. The apostle went on to describe the elements and evidence of their repentance:

Observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (v. 11)

The Corinthians’ repentance was not mere lip service but a genuine turning of the heart. They were diligent to put away their sin because their hearts broke and their minds changed. They became serious about the sin they once laughed over. They feared and revered the Lord where once they thought little of Him. They proved their longing to be restored to the Lord and one another by zealously putting their sin away in order to vindicate the name of Jesus Christ. These are key aspects of Biblical repentance.

Turning to God

Biblical repentance also refers to the act of throwing ourselves on the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. There is an initial cry of repentance to God that leads to salvation, where we look to Christ for forgiveness and adoption into the family of God. This is what Peter offered Simon the Sorcerer when he said, “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22 NKJV).

There is also a repentance that belongs to the Christian, to the wayward brother or sister who needs to be restored to communion with Christ and His people. Though our union with God remains secure because of Christ, our communion with the Lord and others can be harmed by sin. This is why we pursue brothers and sisters who wander away from the Lord. Motivated by love and grace, we confront the sin and call the sinner back to Christ. “If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (Matthew 18:15 NKJV). This is the kind of repentance to which Paul called the Corinthian church. It was not a call for unbelievers to repent and believe but for believers to repent and be restored.

Repentance is relational. It returns us to God and to the brothers and sisters we’ve wronged along the way.

Repentance is relational. It returns us to God and to the brothers and sisters we’ve wronged along the way. Restored communion and fellowship are the rewards for repentance. Religions throughout the world make judgments about sin and require various works to

CHAPTER FORTY

LIVING IN
LOVING UNITY

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

~ Colossians 3:14 NLT

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

~ 1 Peter 4:8 NLT

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

~ 1 John 3:11 NLT

And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

~ 1 John 3:23 NLT

It seems fitting to close where we began, with love. The apostle Paul said, “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith” (1 Timothy 1:5 NLT). The goal of this book is to help us love God and other believers more deeply in order to be unified in Christ. If love was Paul’s aim in teaching Scripture, then it seems right for us to adopt a similar objective. Love is the chief virtue, the one we “put on” above all the others (Colossians 3:14; 1 Peter 4:8).

On Jesus’s final night with His disciples, the Lord mentioned love more than thirty times. His followers’ unity was a great concern to Him (John 17:20–26), so He commanded them to love one another. Their unity depended on love for one another. The apostle John certainly gleaned this from the teaching of Jesus Christ. It was the first thing he taught the churches where he served: “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another” (1 John 3:11 NLT).

Love for our fellow believers is a commandment we cannot miss. We must “believe,” and then we must “love one another” (1 John 3:23 NLT). Belief and love go together in the Christian life. They are the two legs of walking with Jesus Christ. They are the two basic expressions of our faith in Christ.

Living in Loving Unity

It comes down to how we live in loving unity with one another, and 1 Corinthians 13 (quoting here the NKJV) teaches us how. In verses 4–8 the apostle Paul outlines what love looks like. First, “Love suffers long,” which makes us willing to bear patiently with the faults and flaws of our brothers and sisters. In fact, love makes us willing to endure until the very end. The world does not love this way. Perhaps it bears with people’s flaws for a little while, but in the end it either exploits those flaws or discards the one who bears them. Love among Christians, to the contrary, does not give up.

“Love does not envy.” We do not compete with one another and jockey for position in the body of Christ. As Christians we do not claw for the best seats in our churches or for respectful greetings in marketplaces. When our brother succeeds, we rejoice. When our sister is blessed, we praise God. Rather than covet their goods, we thank God for the kindness of the Lord toward them. Rather than grow jealous or bitter when they prevail, we celebrate.

“Love does not parade itself.” People spend significant energy seeking attention and applause, which makes this a special mark indeed. As followers of Jesus Christ we do not boast in our achievements but in the cross (Galatians 6:14). We exalt Christ and Him crucified.

Love “is not puffed up.” Like yeast in dough, arrogance expands over time. We need to keep in mind that every noble thought and fruitful deed we have ever produced comes from the gracious work of God inside us.

Love “does not behave rudely.” It thinks before speaking or acting. Love considers the feelings of others.

Love “does not seek its own.” Though our flesh seeks nothing more than its own pleasure and protection, love compels us to consider the welfare of others.

Love “is not provoked.” It does not react. It does not respond rashly to the pride of others.

Love “thinks no evil.” It does not dwell on things that displease God. Love rejects sinful, tempting thoughts. Love runs from them. Love refuses to entertain evil intentions against others or harbor ill will.

Love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” It does not enjoy what the Lord grieves over or celebrate what God condemns. It does not glory in falsehood, even when it serves our advantage. When love fills our hearts, we rejoice in the truth, even truth that makes us uncomfortable.

LIFE CHANGING
RESOURCES

A THIRD GREAT LOVE COMMANDMENT.

Within every human heart is the desire to be loved and to show love. It is the mark of God on our lives—a God who embodies love, who IS love, according to the Bible. In His Word, God gives us three great commandments, rules for operating in love with Him, with others, and with our Christian family. These commands should provide the foundation for everything we say and do.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

ENJOY THE LIFE CHRIST INTENDS FOR YOU.

The most prominent preacher of the 19th century, Charles Spurgeon pastored the world’s largest mega-church and spoke to millions. Considered one of the greatest preachers in church history, his messages are as inspiring today as when they were first preached. Spurgeon on Unity lets you slip into the pew of this “Prince of Preachers” as he applies God’s Word to one of your greatest needs.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

BELIEVE IN GOD? READY TO DO HIS WILL?

The theme of Christian unity is found throughout the Bible. God’s Will for Christian Unity clearly reveals, in thirty Bible passages, our Lord’s passion and instruction on the meaning, importance, and manifestation of Christian unity. Understanding this collection of Bible passages will help you to know how you should think, feel, and act in relation to other believers in accordance with God’s will.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

LEARN WHAT JESUS PRAYED FOR YOU.

In the hours just before He was crucified, Jesus prayed for you. But what did He pray? And why does it matter? With the John 17:20–26 Exegetical Guide, you will see through Jesus’ eyes and be moved by what He prayed for you at this critical time. You will find where you belong. And your desire to draw closer to God and to other believers will grow as you read this inspiring guide.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

DEVELOP A RICH CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

Blessing. Peace. Eternal life. How can you experience them for yourself? Explore Psalm 133 and learn King David’s song of the goodness and pleasantness of God’s children living in harmony. You will discover that unity is not only God’s desire but also His design to lead you into the satisfying life He desires for you to experience.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

UNCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN GOD’S PLAN.

All of us want to belong, to feel connected, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. For the Christian, these desires find their fulfillment in Christ and in the life He has designed for His church. The 1 Corinthians 12 Exegetical Guide will show you how God intends to fulfill your deep need to belong. You have a reserved position in His plan. You have a unique place, and you have a vital role.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

FEEL THE PASSION OF CHRIST FOR UNITY.

In John 17:20–23, Jesus prayed for His disciples to be one … united with Him and each other. In His prayer, we hear the passion of Jesus Christ for the union of His people to God and to one another. One: The Passion and Prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ was written to help God’s people understand the nature of this unity as well as how it is to be accomplished in the body of Christ.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH GOD’S GRACE?

God sees you. He loves you. And He wants you to experience a full and blessed life. In the 365-day devotional, Grace for Everyday Living, some of Christianity’s most respected voices cast light on topics such as how to maintain a peaceful spirit, love others, and freely enjoy God’s grace and mercy. Your life will be transformed as you discover the excitement of pleasing God and obeying His Word.

Our Premium Collection of books may be purchased from the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry at www.beunitedinchrist.com.

www.beunitedinchrist.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

The mission of the Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry is to teach and promote Christian unity in accordance with God’s Word. Our goal is to bring about real change in the body of Christ by helping believers to better understand our Lord’s will for His people to “Be United in Christ.”

We thank our brothers and sisters in Christ who support this worldwide outreach ministry in three ways.

First, we thank you for purchasing our Bible-based resources. Your purchase provides our ministry with financial support to continue to produce Bible-based resources to be distributed around the globe.

Second, we thank you for making tax-deductible donations to our ministry on BeUnitedinChrist.com to help us promote a loving union between believers that draws people to the truth of the gospel.

Third, we thank all of our faithful family of believers who regularly pray for our continued impact around the world as we await the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT.

www.beunitedinchrist.com