Religious Unity

The apostle Paul believed in, taught and preached religious unity. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" [1 Corinthians 1:10]. During the earthly ministry of the Lord He prayed for unity. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." [John 14:20-21]. Jesus believed that religious unity was possible, therefore, He prayed for it. He also recognizes the difficulty of bringing the world to Himself through a divided people. Those then who thank God for the divided religious world, for all the denominations, as they say, "So that everyone can have the church of his choice," are in direct conflict with the prayer of Jesus.

Where God rules and where his rules are obeyed there will be religious unity, but where man adds to, or takes from the Word of God then there are different beliefs, confusion exists, and divisions abound. [See Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, Revelations 22:18-19, and Galatians 1:6-9]. Paul points out God's platform for unity, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." [Ephesians 4:1-6]. Here are seven distinct "ones" set forth by the inspired apostle Paul: many religious people believe and teach that there is ONE God, ONE Lord, ONE Spirit and ONE hope, but they reject the ONE faith, the ONE baptism and the ONE body. When people reject God's teaching concerning unity they are promoting religious division and turning their backs on God's platform, Jesus' prayer and Paul's plea for religious unity.

We can have religious unity if we will believe, obey, teach and live by God's Holy and divine Word, the Bible. God's Word only produces Christians only; members of the church we read about in God's inspired word.

If you would like to enroll in a free Bible Correspondence Course, email us using this link, or write to the Mauldin Church of Christ, PO Box 731, Mauldin, SC 29662. You are cordially invited to attend our services.

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