THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

GOD’S PLAN FOR UNITY

“THAT THEY MIGHT BE ONE IN US.”

• Believers must be united in Christ

• Whatever unity might be effected outside of Christ is an utter failure.

• “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.” {John 17:20,21}

“SPEAK THE SAME THING.”

• God’s word the only basis of true unity.

• Unity on any other basis—failure.

• “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.” {1 Corinthians 1:10}

“SPEAK THE SAME THING.”

• Recognition of proper authority in religious matters is essential.

• Teaching of Christ and Apostles—standard by which judgment is rendered.

• “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” {Galatians 1:6,7}

“SPEAK THE SAME THING.”

• Recognition of proper authority in religious matters is essential.

• Teaching of Christ and Apostles—standard by which judgment is rendered.

• “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” {Galatians 1:8,9}

“SPEAK THE SAME THING.”

• Recognition of proper authority in religious matters is essential.

• Teaching of Christ and Apostles—standard by which judgment is rendered.

• “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” {Galatians 1:10}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One God—unity in worship.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Lord Jesus Christ—unity in authority.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Faith—unity in Message.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Baptism—unity in practice.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Body—unity in organization.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Hope—unity in desire.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• One Spirit—unity in Life.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

THE DIVINE STANDARD OF UNITY

• These seven Unities constitute the only basis upon which Unity is possible from a Human viewpoint—accepted by the Divine viewpoint.

• Peter adds—One Name.

• “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.‘ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” {Acts 4:11,12}

DENOMINATIONAL CORRUPTIONS OF THIS PLAN

• First denominationalism corruption:– “Spiritual Union, Organic Division”

plea.– “One church as good as another”

plea.–Different roads—leads to the same

place– “We are all seeking to get to the

same place.”– All are deceptive and illogical—in total

disagreement with God’s plan!

CORRUPTION OF GOD’S PLAN…

• This plan is based on following essentials:–One God–One Christ–One Spirit–One Hope

• Other plan disrespects other essentials in God’s plan:– One Faith (not just

any faith)– One Baptism—

(not three modes)– One Body (not

1500 different churches)

CORRUPTION OF GOD’S PLAN…

• No man has any more right to thus nullify God’s plan on Faith, Baptism, or Organization than to worship more than one God!

• ALL are essentials to achieve true Biblical unity.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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 4:4-6}

DENOMINATIONAL CORRUPTIONS OF THIS PLAN

• Another denominationalism corruption:– “Spiritual Union, Organic Division” plea.– Should only be one church organization,

insisting on freedom of beliefs and practice should be allowed.

– “Union Revivals”—Unity meetings.– Such “meetings” within themselves admit

that denominational names, creeds, organizations, doctrines and practices actually prevent the salvation of souls!

STICK WITH THE DIVINE PLAN OF GOD!

• Some of these “disagreements” are laid aside in “Unity Meetings” hoping to reach more people.

• Better if we all accept the Divine Platform of Unity, whereas God is well pleased, and many more souls will be saved by His truth!