Essentials of Unity

A Biblical Survey of the Key Elements for Christian Unity

Published by Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry

Copyright © 2017 by Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry.

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ISBN 978-1-944971-06-9

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations 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.

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 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 AMPC are taken from the Amplified® Bible. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

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CONTENTS

Essentials of Unity

Chapter 1 God

Unity in creation is rooted in the unity of the Creator Himself, who exists eternally as the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 2 God’s Works

God’s works in creation reflect a divine, unified diversity.

Chapter 3 God’s Will

God desires His image bearers to reflect His unified diversity.

Chapter 4 Sin

Sin ruptured the harmonious unity that God established and decreed, and it disrupts our relationships with God and creation.

Chapter 5 Christ

God sent Christ to reconcile the relationships that sin ruptured and to reunite what sin separated.

Chapter 6 The Holy Spirit

God the Father and God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit to effect the reconciliation and reunion decreed by the Father and accomplished by Christ.

Chapter 7 The Church

The church is God’s instrument to display and proclaim the reconciliation and reunion purposed in the gospel.

Chapter 8 Eternity

People should live their lives knowing that they will ultimately stand before their Maker and then enter into either eternal blessing or eternal judgment.

Chapter 9 Be United in Christ

A sampling of Scripture that leads to the conviction that all Christians should be united in Christ.

Chapter 10 Faith

Faith believes what God reveals and produces obedience to what God commands.

Chapter 11 Truth

Faith’s proper object is the Word of God, the very revelation of God.

Chapter 12 Love

Love is the ultimate motive for and expression of unity.

Chapter 13 Holiness

Personal holiness is essential for loving relationships and unity in the body of Christ.

Chapter 14 Reconciliation Lifestyle

Living in unity requires a pattern of active, ongoing relationship repair and restoration.

Chapter 15 Leadership

Leaders proclaim truth and build faith to encourage loving unity in the body of Christ.

Summary Blessed Unity

Notes

One: The Passion and Prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ

Life Changing Resources

Essentials of Unity

I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for
those also who believe in Me through their
word; that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me.

~ John 17:20–21

TRUTH TRANSFORMS

You hold in your hands the opportunity to transform the way you see God, His creation, and His redemptive plan. That sounds bold—and it is. We’re bold because we know God’s Word is powerful and life changing.

If you are a Christian, when you set your mind to study, enjoy, and obey a particular truth from God, a marvelous thing begins to happen. You change! The Holy Spirit opens your mind and heart to understand and appreciate what God has said, and this alters the way you see God, yourself, your relationships, and the world. You notice the connection between this truth and other truths. A single seed of grace bears fruit in other graces.

A study of unity in the Bible works exactly this way. Once you set your heart to understand, celebrate, and honor the blessed unity God models and produces in His people, then phrases, verses, and stories from God’s Word stand out in ways they did not before. It becomes clear that unity is integral to the nature, mind, and mission of God.

You cannot ignore the implications for your life. God’s passion for unity among His people starts filling your thoughts and relationships. You feel conviction for selfish thoughts, hurtful words, and your stubborn refusal to reconcile with brothers and sisters in the Lord. You can no longer surrender your marriage and friendships to pride, conflict, and division. You feel a new motivation to wholeheartedly follow the prayers, thoughts, and patterns that Jesus Christ left for us to obey and sent His Spirit to help us fulfill.

You realize with amazement that this precious unity with God and others is the fruit of the gospel! God the Father sent God the Son to die in the place of sinners in order to reconcile His people to Himself and to one another (Ephesians 2:11–22). God the Holy Spirit, who effects this reunion, directs and enables believers to proclaim this reconciliation throughout the world.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17–20)

God the Father has reconciled you to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. Before He atoned for your sins and brought you to God, you were at war with God. You hated God and loved sin. You loved yourself most of all. You were a soldier, entrenched in a battle with a holy God, and you didn’t seem to care. Jesus entered the world to bring an end to the conflict and to dictate the terms of peace.

Christ provided a path to reconciliation. Hostility toward God has been replaced with peace and love. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father so that your sins would not be counted against you but against Him. The righteousness of Christ is offered to anyone who receives Him by faith so that they can be declared righteous before the Father. This is the word of reconciliation, the gospel. This is the glorious message believers have been charged to carry into the world. Every believer is appointed to this ministry for the sake of God’s name and for the sake of unity between God and His people.

This book will point out how central and critically important loving unity is to God. Jesus summarized God’s requirements under the old Mosaic covenant as loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36–40). Two days later when Jesus announced the new covenant, He issued a new commandment, to love His disciples as He loves us (John 13:34–35). These three great love commandments unite us with God and one another so that we can effectively invite our neighbors into the loving unity of the Trinity. Before entering the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed for His disciples to be one with Him and with one another so that the world would believe that the Father so loved the world that He sent His Son to save them (John 17:20–26). Loving unity summarizes God’s requirements for His people under the old and new covenants, was the focus of Christ’s closing prayer for His disciples, and is essential to the fulfilling of His great commission to make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:18–20).

HOW TO READ THIS BOOK

Essentials of Unity conveys God’s plan for the world in two major sections. The first section includes eight chapters explaining Christian unity in the context of redemption history: Creation, Fall, Reconciliation, and Reunion.

Chapter 9 serves as a bridge between sections one and two, allowing God Himself to communicate these truths directly through His Word. God’s design for unity runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This chapter simply lets the inspired and inerrant Word speak to you directly in order to more powerfully prepare you to respond in the final section.

Chapters 10 to 15 comprise section two and set forth the appropriate response to these Biblical truths. Faith, truth, love, holiness, a reconciliation lifestyle, and leadership are six critical ingredients for Christ’s disciples to fulfill His passionate prayer for unity. Faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word unite believers to God and one another.

This chart will help you to see these key Biblical themes and essential elements of Christian unity in relationship to one another.

To get the most out of this book:

• Read actively. A highlighter or a pen in hand helps you note key ideas, themes, and truths.

• Spend time in the For Reflection section of each chapter. God’s Word is mighty. Make sure you take the time to let it change you.

• Whenever practical, discuss these ideas with your spouse, friends, or church family. As we experience the unity God created us for, these truths will become better understood.

When believers stand together upon the truth of God’s Word, we stand upon an unshakable foundation. When we are motivated by the love of God—when we are growing in love for God and others—we preserve the unity of the Spirit. When we are set apart from sin and walking in the holiness of God, we enjoy God. Praise God, He has created us to be united in Christ.

Chapter One

GOD

Unity in the Nature and Character of God

God Almighty, the maker of Heaven and earth, the preexisting one, has always been without sin. He is holy—wholly righteous and morally perfect. The Trinity, the great three-in-one, exists in the perfect unity that human hearts can only long for on this side of eternity. Sin, offense, and broken relationships are realities of human experience. Yet they are not permanent realities. Scripture reveals that the God of the Bible has a plan for the redemption of humanity that is good, beautiful, and—best of all—true.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
~ 2 Corinthians 13:14

You cannot think rightly about unity without thinking rightly about God. Since God exists in unity, you must look to Him as the reason and pattern for any true unity you hope to enjoy. Knowing what unity is and how it works is only possible when you know God and what He wills. Since God designs and gives unity on earth, He is the source of any unity you hope to receive and preserve. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

Everything in the universe finds meaning and value in connection to God who created it. Not only did the created world come into existence through Him, it all exists for Him (Colossians 1:16). Every good thing comes from Him and honors Him. God is the foundation for thinking about unity. He is the reason for unity.

As you study God, you’ll see unity at its source. Our prayer is that your heart will be transformed as you read and come to better understand what Scripture says about who God is.

GOD ALONE IS GOD

Perhaps the most elementary truth about God is that He alone is God. There is no one like Him, and there is no other God but Him. The first sentence of the Bible reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The Christian faith is founded on the concept that before the heavens and the earth ever came into being, there was one God.

In Scripture, the concept of a single, true, and supreme deity is declared by God Himself. In the first of the Ten Commandments given on Mount Sinai, God makes His uniqueness a serious priority: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). He wanted the Israelites, and us as His covenant children, to relate to Him in this way. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Consider these instances in Scripture where God clarified His position as the one true God.

• Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.” (Isaiah 44:6)

• “Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.” (Isaiah 44:8)

• “I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5)

This one God declares to His people that He is unique, different from the false deities worshipped by the people around them. There’s no other God besides Him.

GOD IS THREE PERSONS, YET THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD

We see clearly and consistently in Scripture that this one true God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. The opening verses of the Bible begin to reveal Him. The word for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim, a plural word that the rest of God’s Word reveals to have Trinitarian implications. In Genesis 1:2, “The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” In verse 26, the divine persons declare, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (emphasis added).

As God progressively reveals Himself in Scripture as the one true God, we discover that He exists eternally as three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit—each fully divine yet distinct.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are each fully God. They share a common nature but have distinct roles. These roles involve a hierarchy of authority. The Father has primary authority, and the Son happily celebrates and submits to Him (1 Corinthians 15:28). The Father and Son send the Spirit to fulfill the Father’s will, and the Spirit happily honors the Father by honoring the Son (John 16:12–14). This model of

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of the Trinity. And now, through salvation, you become a messenger of this gospel. As you live a godly lifestyle, you proudly declare the oneness, diversity, and cooperation of the Father, Son, and Spirit, who are mighty to save.

FOR REFLECTION

All genuine and lasting unity arises from God and exists because of His nature as one God in three persons. Knowing, believing, and obeying God are the most critical steps toward unity with Him and with one another. Believers are to love as He loves, to forgive as He forgives, and to serve as He serves.

If you are looking for the best way to relate to others, you need to look to God Himself. Learn to delight in who He is and follow what He does. The unity the Trinity enjoys is the kind of unity God wants you to experience and express.

Take time to meditate on the following Scripture as it relates to unity in the nature and character of God.

James 2:19

You believe that God is one. You do well.

Deuteronomy 4:35

The LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Isaiah 44:6

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.”

John 1:1–2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

Hebrews 1:8–9

Of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

1 Corinthians 2:10–11

The Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

Psalm 139:7

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

Luke 3:21–22

Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, Heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of Heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Luke 10:21

At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth.”

Matthew 28:19

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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Chapter Nine

BE UNITED IN CHRIST

A Sampling of Scripture Related to Unity

Scripture shapes our thinking about Christian unity. This chapter cites passages to survey the Bible’s teaching on unity, presented with very brief commentary, showing that all Christians should strive to be united in Christ.

Why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?
~ Luke 6:46

Today, Christians are separated from each other in many ways and for many reasons. Churches are suffering from open conflict and division. Jesus prayed for His church to be holy and set apart from the world. In John 17:20–23, He prayed for His disciples to be one … united.

A great number of Bible passages reveal the Lord’s passion, prayer, and instruction for how believers are to think, feel, and live in our relationships with each other.

Genuine, visible love and unity among God’s children honors the Lord and proclaims His gospel to the world. Jesus prayed for us to be one so that the world may believe the Father sent Him. To deepen your study, read each of these Bible passages in its context. By reading and meditating on these passages, we pray you will learn and obey God’s will for unity among His people.

The preceding chapters traced the storyline of Scripture to summarize what God has to say about unity within the context of redemptive history. The current chapter presents a sampling of Bible passages connected to the theme of unity. We have titled this chapter “Be United in Christ” because the passages sampled, when received with humility and faith, should help us clarify our beliefs and increase our convictions and efforts to live at peace with one another and pursue unity in the body of Christ. May the weight of God’s Word motivate and guide us to build up the body of Christ in love.

A HOLY, LOVING GOD HAS CALLED US TO LOVE AND UNITY

The call for Christians to love one another and live at peace with one another arises from the nature and works of the God of the Bible. God is love. God is holy and righteous. He exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons yet one God. He exists in perfect unity and created the world to reflect His majesty and power. He has redeemed us to share and delight in His glorious love and unity.

John 17:20–23 (NKJV) I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 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.

1 John 1:3 (ESV) That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Romans 14:13 (NKJV) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Romans 14:19 (NKJV) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Peter 4:8–10 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

SINFUL DIVISIONS GRIEVE GOD AND AWAIT HIS JUDGMENT

Adam and Eve were created to love, enjoy, and live at peace with God. When they rebelled, the human race fell into sin. Sin separates us from God. It is hostility towards God. It divides people and destroys relationships. Sin damages unity. A day is coming when God will judge all sin, and all people will receive either the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ or the doom of eternal death.

Proverbs 6:16–19

There are six things which the LORD hates,

Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that run rapidly to evil,

A false witness who utters lies,

And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Matthew 5:22–24 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,” shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, “You fool,” shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery Hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

Matthew 12:25 (NKJV) But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation,

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Chapter Ten

FAITH

The Formation of Christian Unity

A shared faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the starting point for visible Christian unity. Sinners are identified with Christ when they repent and entrust themselves to Jesus as their Savior, agreeing that He is God’s Messiah and acknowledging that only He can save them from their sins. All who do so are connected to one another in Christ, and together they continue to walk by faith until it becomes sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is indispensable to the everyday life of believers and is displayed in the way they live their lives (James 2:14–17). Christians are united by their “one faith” and strive together to “all attain to the unity of faith” (Ephesians 4:5, 13).

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
~ Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a
rewarder of those who seek Him.
~ Hebrews 11:6

The proper response to God and His Word is faith. Faith in the gospel is essential to salvation. Through the Spirit of God, you can grow in faith. Unity doesn’t form because we share a church building or a certain set of habits. It forms through a common faith. This is what joins you to other Christians and distinguishes you from the world: faith in Jesus Christ.

Though your faith is simple, it is also distinct and noticeable. It evokes a host of other responses to God and His Word. Repentance accompanies saving faith. Obedience and good works are the fruit of genuine faith and spiritual rebirth. True, God-fearing, Christ-honoring faith will transform your life, rejuvenate your community, and change the world.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS BY FAITH

Our Christian life begins by faith, for by grace we have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8), and it is by faith that we are justified (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16). Faith means that we entrust ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 6:40; 11:25–26). When Paul and Silas’ jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” they answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30–31). His question and their response could not be clearer.

The type of faith that saves is accompanied by repentance. After being convicted by the preaching of Peter, his listeners asked what they should do. Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Repentance accompanies faith in the conversion of a believer. Repentance means we turn from sinful behaviors and self-reliance to the Lord in order to trust and follow God’s commands. By faith the Spirit unites us to Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE CONTINUES BY FAITH

Our Christian life also continues by faith. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We live by faith, understand by faith, and wait by faith (Hebrews 10:38; 11:3; Galatians 5:5). Faith is indispensable in our everyday lives as believers. We are to abound in it, pray in it, and be rich in it (2 Corinthians 8:7; James 1:6; 2:5). When our time comes to die, we die in faith (Hebrews 11:13).

It is our God-given responsibility to encourage one another’s faith (Hebrews 10:24–25). When a brother or sister is weak in faith, we are to be accepting and merciful (Romans 14:1). Even the strongest of us can wrestle with doubt and double-mindedness. Remember Peter’s faltering faith while walking on the waves (Matthew 14:22–33). Faith is our shield against Satan’s assaults (Ephesians 6:16). We are to cry out as an afflicted boy’s father cried out: “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

THE UNITY OF THE SAINTS IS FOUNDED ON A COMMON FAITH

When we genuinely believe and obey the gospel, we share a common faith. The Holy Spirit plants the same seeds of faith in our hearts and enables us to believe (James 1:18; Ephesians 2:8–9). Then He unites each of us to the same Savior through faith. Joined by devotion to the same King, we become citizens of the same kingdom. The faith we have received secures our membership in the same family and grants us access to the same Father.

The faith of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament disciples rested in the same God—a God who made promises that

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Summary

BLESSED UNITY

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.
~ Psalm 133

God loves unity. Unity is not just something He desires, it’s a gift from Him. Believers living with one another in visible love show evidence that they know Him, that they are truly disciples of His Son, Jesus Christ. Unity among believers is what we will enjoy in Heaven. Enjoy the blessing—life forever.

We hope this book has transformed the way you see God, His creation, His redemptive plan, and your special place in it.

Everybody wants a blessed life. We want to be happy, so we seek happiness in things, people, accomplishments, money, and fame. We assume these will bring us pleasure and therefore happiness and blessing.

God wants to bless us. He created the world, and He knows that to experience blessing, we must be in harmony with Him, which leads to peace within, peace with each other, and peace with the world around us. Genuine happiness flows from holiness, which flows from unity with God and His creation. Psalm 133 points out the blessedness of unity. Unity is a blessing from the Lord and a sign of His presence in the body of Christ.

God Himself eternally exists as a blessed and blissful unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so He knows about the joy of unity. He created the universe as a perfect balance of diverse objects existing in perfect harmony with Himself and the rest of creation. When He revealed Himself, He disclosed His perfect will for the various roles and relationships that offered the best existence for His works. Yet humans, who received personhood from God, placed themselves above Him and chose their own will rather than the will of their Maker. This rebellion ruptured their relationship with the Creator and creation and opened the door for all the pain and suffering in this world and all the judgment and wrath to come.

But God, being rich in mercy, did not leave us in our wretched condition but sent His Son to seek and to save those who were lost and to reconcile hostile sinners to God and to each other (Romans 5:10). Father and Son sent the Holy Spirit to apply Christ’s reconciling work through the church, the body of Christ on earth. This redeeming and reconciling work will continue until the Son sits on His throne to eternally separate the repentant from the resistant.

This great work, which we’ve traced through creation, fall, reconciliation, and reunion, is the storyline of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It is the story of loving unity established, ruptured, and

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YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY
ONE: THE PASSION AND PRAYER
OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

An “essential” is something basic and vital, something central and indispensable. Essentials of Unity explains eight basic theological categories that are vitally important to understanding Christian unity. It also identifies six central and indispensable practical elements that Christians must pursue in order to live in unity. Bridging these theological truths and practical responses is a Scripture survey of how God’s will for unity is revealed and accomplished in redemption history. In fifteen short, straightforward, Scripture-saturated chapters this book presents the theological, biblical, and practical essentials of Christian unity. It is intended for every believer and lays a fundamental foundation of what Christians need to know and do in order to be united in Christ.

Because these fifteen elements are so basic, vital, central, and indispensable to true, biblical unity, we develop them more completely in One: The Passion and Prayer of Jesus Christ. These same fifteen subjects are discussed under the same chapter titles but to a much fuller extent. A combination of biblical and systematic theologies, this book is our most comprehensive treatment of Christian unity. While accessible to all, educated and intellectual readers will appreciate its thorough research and extensive documentation. One contains our fullest presentation of the theological, biblical, and practical dimensions of God’s will and Jesus’ prayer that all Christians be united in Christ.

Visit BeUnitedinChrist.com for more details!

Life Changing Resources

Unique. Inspiring. Timeless.

The Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry is a Bible-based ministry whose mission is to teach and promote Christian unity in accordance with God’s Word. Renew your mind with these Bible-based 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.

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YOU CAN LOVE LIKE JESUS.

Imagine how the world could be transformed if Christians loved each other the way Jesus asked them to. Jesus’ life is the greatest example of love that the world has ever seen. He told His disciples to love one another as He loved them. When believers live in visible love and unity as Christ lived—unity based on Biblical truth—we will begin to experience a taste of what Heaven will be like.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

The Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry is committed to teaching and promoting Bible-based Christian unity worldwide in order to bring about real change in the body of Christ.

As finances are available, we also help support Christ-centered ministries around the world including Christian orphanages, Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, Bible colleges, Christian K-12 schools, after-school programs for at-risk children, the preaching of the gospel, and humanitarian efforts.

Consider making a donation at www.beunitedinchrist.com. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

HOW WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

In the history of Christianity, no one has written as vividly on the subjects of Heaven and Hell as Jonathan Edwards. Heaven Is a World of Love combines Edwards’ most powerful sermons and presents them in modern-day language. Be encouraged with the hope of Heaven, sobered by the horrors of Hell, and assured that you can spend eternity enjoying God’s love.

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

www.beunitedinchrist.com

BRING HARMONY TO YOUR CHRISTIAN FAMILY.

What if your church could be conflict-free? Drawn from the wisdom of respected Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs, Peace and Healing reveals the sources and dangers of conflict within God’s family and recommends God’s solutions. Get to the root of disunity and bring love and harmony to the most important relationships in your life.

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