06 Jan Unity Part 3

John 17:20-26 – Unity

If you read my last blog you were encouraged to meditate on Paul’s appeal in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “that they agree with one another so there may be no divisions among them, and that they may be perfectly united in mind and thought”. It should be noted that his appeal is, “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. It wasn’t just so there would be peace and quiet, but that which our Lord had prayed for would be fulfilled, and so bear witness!

We now look at what was the underlining cause of the “quarrels” among them, and we find it was a form of first century nominationalism. For some said they followed Paul, others Apollos and others Peter, and then those who claimed the high ground, we follow Christ.

Have you read, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. Ecclesiastes 1:9 If Paul was writing to the Church of your city today he could well have penned the same words of appeal with subtle changes such as. Some of you say you follow Luther, others Calvin, others Wesley, or maybe Booth or Parham or indeed a myriad of others spiritual leaders who established Christian movements.

Paul asked a short but searching question that is just as relevant today as then, “Is Christ divided”? The great indictment on the Church is our misrepresentation of Christ to the world.

I would like to point out something Paul had said to them in 1 Corinthians 1:7 just prior to his appeal for unity. He said, “…you do not lack any spiritual gift”. Remembering that we are reading a letter where the apostle is addressing numerous issues, let’s look at 1 Corithians 3:1. “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but worldly – mere infants in Christ”. Paul again attributes this to the quarrels and disunity as afore mentioned. So twice at the commencement of a long letter he takes them to task over the issue of disunity.

We can further conclude that spiritual gifting is no guarantee of spiritual maturity. And although not on topic it is worth stating that spiritual gifts or gifting were not a consideration for Paul in the directives for the appointment of elders and deacons, but rather spiritual maturity evidenced by character. We will further explore what Paul had to say to other churches on the matter of unity. But please answer Paul’s question and what it means practically for us today as Christians, “Is Christ Divided”?

Blessings, David.