Towards Unity in the Cross

Unity – The state of being in full agreement. Oneness!

To a true child of God, the invisible bond that unites all believers to Christ is far more tender, and lasting, and precious; and as we come to recognize and realize that we are all dwelling in one sphere of life in Him, we learn to look on every believer as our brother, in a sense that is infinitely higher than all human relationships. This is the one and only way to bring disciples permanently together. All other plans for promoting the unity of the Church have failed.

A.T. Pierson

Disunity – Dissension or disagreement. It is a lack of unity.

Is disagreement disunity? When does it become disunity?
Whatever disunites man from God also disunites man from man. – Edmund Burke

It is said, “Where two or more Baptists are gathered, there are three or more opinions.”

What does disunity look like?

Cultural Divisions:

It is not just that we are born on different sides of the railroad tracks with different customs/traditions. Division can be based on economic status. It can be driven by race, color, creed, or nationality. It may be the result of large or small differences. The size is only determined by us!

Causes of Divisions in the Church:

1. Gossip
2. Self-serving church members. Some church members insist on getting their way in everything from worship style to the order of the worship service.
3. A critical spirit
4. Lack of love for each other
5. Lack of prayer and ministry of the Word.

I want to repeat A.T. Pierson’s previous quote for emphasis. We must “learn to look on every believer as our brother, in a sense that is infinitely higher than all human relationships. This is the one and only way to bring disciples permanently together. All other plans for promoting the unity of the Church have failed.”

Disunity and/or division can occur when unity is attached to a personality. This is regardless of the greatness of the leader/personality, unless that Person is Christ.

1. Unity should always be grounded in convictions, not personalities (1 Corinthians 1:10–17)

Convictions – Fixed or firmly held beliefs or opinions

“The Christian’s convictions rest in the gospel. Jesus died for our sins and rose again. God’s call is an inner conviction given by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the Word of God in the Body of Christ.”

Erwin Lutzer

Beware of the danger of personalities: they come and they go! Even with the greatest of personalities, we must remember it is all about Christ and no one individual!

Here is what Paul said to the Corinthian Church:

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 1:10–17

Charles Spurgeon said, “Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.”

2. Unity is preceded by God’s wisdom shown at the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18–25)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

What made no sense to man was more than 100% reasonable to God. Songwriters David Allen Clark, Donald A. Koch, and Mark R. Harris looked at the cross and said, “Now I’m not one to second-guess what angels have to say, but this is such a strange way to save the world.”

Look upon the cross – crucifixion was Rome’s chosen manner of execution for slaves and non-citizens. Because it was so cruel and shameful, only Roman citizens who had been declared enemies of the state were crucified.

To the Jewish mind, the cross was a symbol of tyranny by an occupying foreign power. The thought that the long-awaited Messiah would end up being crucified was foolish because they looked for the Messiah to be the One who would finally free them from such oppression. For many of them, Jesus’ crucifixion closed the door on the possibility that He was the Messiah. While the Gentiles had no notion of the Messiah, they saw the cross as foolishness because the basic idea of an executed criminal being a hero was absurd.

And yet our unity is based on the cross because:

3. Unity is furthered by Christians who boast only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26–31

“Boasting is an evidence that we are pleased with self; belittling, that we are disappointed with it. Either way, we reveal that we have a high opinion of ourselves.” – A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

But when we realize it’s all about God, we can be used by Him for His glory!

Everything we possess, both physical and spiritual, is a gift of grace:

1. The gifted speaker
2. The talented worship leader
3. The incredible Bible teacher

All possess what they have through God.

We are brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of our race or color. Our common denominators are 1. Undeserved forgiveness and 2. Abundant spiritual blessings — both of which come as a result of our relationship with Christ!

Conclusion:

Too often we approach the Body of Christ to be served by it. We’re tired and weary. We are sad and lonely, needy for refreshment and encouragement, significance and affirmation. The Church does serve as the hands and feet of Jesus, and we should receive such ministry and love from it; but if our mindset is mostly on what we can get from the people of God instead of a humble heart of service, then we have it all backwards. Jesus Himself came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). This example of humility is what begins to unify us. When we demand our own way and assert our preferences to serve our own needs, we miss the unifying purpose of the Church: To glorify God and make known the name of His Son, Jesus, through a lifetime of Spirit-filled living.

Christ Connection: Paul addressed divisions in the Corinthian Church by reminding believers that the gospel overturns human expectations and robs us of any ability to boast in our salvation. Jesus is our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption; therefore selfish boasting and divisions have no place among God’s people.

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
– Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Lesson adapted from The Gospel Project Series taught at Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, Illinois.