Preached in Markham Baptist Church, October 23, 2005

BECOME WHAT YOU ARE! PART 6: WALKING IN UNITY

What would you say makes for a great church?

One of the greatest marks of a church worth attending is unity. Why? Well as we read through Scripture we learn that unity is one of the primary means that the world discovers the reality of Christ. Unity in the church is a visible demonstration of the reality of Christ. Jesus said,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Unity is the mark of a great church for through unity the church is able to demonstrate the reality of Christ.

This is made plain again in Jesus’ prayer for the church in John 17. There we read of Jesus making three requests to God the Father:

- that God the Father and God the Son be glorified (John 17:1-5)

- that His followers – including later generations, you and me – would be unified, as Jesus and His Father are one (John 17:21a)

- that the world would come to know Jesus through the unity and love of His followers. (John 17:21b)

One of the truths that we have learned in our study of the first three chapters of Ephesians is that we now through faith in Christ we are part of His body, the church. At one time there were Jews and Gentiles but now God has brought the two together and made them one under one head who is Christ Jesus. What used to divide us from the Jew, the covenant, the sign of the covenant, citizenship in the people of God has all been met by Christ and now through faith in Him, both Jew and Gentile alike have access to God.

We are now part of God’s family, we are like a building in which each one of us is included, knit together to be like a holy temple where God dwells. God has made us one. We are like a body, to use another metaphor, with Christ as our head all working together for a common purpose under a common Lord.

Now, Scripture says, walk in that unity. Now, be sure to get the order right. God does not wag our finger at us and say – be united. We sometimes read the exhortations of the Scripture as commands, when in reality God is saying – it’s been done, God has made us one in Christ, now become what you are. It is not a command – it is a statement that says, “you are now able to be united because Christ has made us one.” Some couples divorce because of “irreconcilable differences.” Not in Christ’s family. There are no irreconcilable differences. Not with Christ as our head, the one who has made us one.

There’s no denying that this has been hard for the church to do. A quick look at church history will show you that unity is not one of its hallmarks. And Baptist history? Talk to other Christians about Baptists and what are we famous for? Eating and dividing. I am always asked, when first introduced to another Christian, “What kind of Baptist are you?” A Presbyterian is never asked that, an Anglican is never asked that question. A Baptist is always asked that question – because we are famous for division.

Speaking at a Baptist assembly, a church historian said, “Many of you trace your history back to the sixteenth century. Some of you trace your beginnings to the day of Pentecost, others to John the Baptist. You’re all wrong, said the historian, the origin of the Baptist goes back to the book of Genesis where Abraham said to Lot, ‘you go your way and I’ll go mine.’ ”

It is a sad blemish on our history for which we need take responsibility for and repent.

At the same time we need to celebrate the unity that is ours in Christ. Scripture says that it is a reality, we have been united. Now, says the Holy Spirit, live like it. Demonstrate that heavenly reality here on earth.

How do we do this? Three means.

First, through possessing Christ-like attitudes. Verse 2: “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Four attitudes - all attitudes that are essential for keeping unity in the body.

Be humble. Humility is John the Baptist saying, “I am not worthy to untie the sandals of One sent from God.” (John 1:27). It is John the Baptist pointing at Jesus and saying, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)

It’s the opposite of pride which sings along with the rock group Queen, “I am the champion my friend, and you are the losers.” A humble person never calls another person a loser. No, instead a humble person follows Christ’s example and sees others a more important than themselves. (See Philippians 2:1-11)

A prideful person is a person who depends on himself. A humble person depends on the Lord and when she receives praise, she gives thanks to God. And they realize that they are what they are because of what He has done in their lives.

Second, gentleness – it means power under control.

A horse is powerful, which when out of control cannot be ridden. But when it is gentle you are able to ride it and it is a thing of beauty.

Medicine is powerful and it can kill you if abused – but when it is used properly it is gentle and brings healing.

The wind is powerful and when it is not controlled it can destroy vast tracks of land, as we have seen in Hurricane Katrina – but when it pushes a boat along the surface of the water it is gentle.

Gentleness is power under control.

Third, patience – it means long-tempered.

Bear with one another – bearing with one another and having a forgiving spirit are synonymous concepts. Paul made this clear in his Colossian letter, “Bear with one another, forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians3:13)

Some Christians carry grudges for years. How miserable! And how tragic.

Don’t you think this would go a long way to creating unity if we practiced these Christ-like attitudes? If we were a little more humble instead of thinking that the church should centre around us, a little more gentle with those who disagree with us? A little more patient with those who try us? A little more forgiving with those who hurt us?

And make no mistake, these are all attitudes that are within our reach – they are all attitudes exemplified and possessed by Christ Himself. And where does Christ live? He lives in you and He lives in me.

Isn’t that a picture of a great church, that you would want to be united too because its people practice humility, they give glory to God, they are gentle, their business meetings aren’t marked by anger, they are patient, no short fuses, and they bear with one another in love?

That’s how unity is sustained and visualized in the church.

Next. How do we demonstrate the unity that is a reality in the heavenly realms? We pursue the unity of the Spirit. The text says, at verse 3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Notice that we don’t have to create the unity, that work is already done, by the Spirit of God. But we need to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. We need to pursue it.

We need to ask ourselves are we making every effort? Are we allowing Christ to have the whole of us so that those Christ-like attitudes can be developed. Are we avoiding all foolish talk and gossip and practicing humility, gentleness and patience? Are we following the Biblical guidelines for reconciliation as found in Matthew 18 when someone hurts us? Or are we simply avoiding those people who hurt us? Are we working together for a common purpose or are we seeking our own way? It takes work, it takes communication. Are we refusing to do the hard work that God has called us to do?

In some ways, unity just happens. When we travel anywhere, and we meet another Christian there is an instant of marvellous unity that we experience. But in another sense unity takes work. Paul admits this when he says, “Make every effort” - it takes work. There are all sorts of different personalities brought together and we are to be united in our focus in our desire in our moving forward as a body.

There isn’t one group over here who says we are the hands of the body and we don’t need the feet so we don’t want anything to do with the feet of the body. And we don’t want to have any part of what the feet are doing. Look at the feet - calloused burden-bearers. They don’t think the same way as us hands, or look the same as us hands – look at us, we are the ringbearers of the body, we hold the word of God.

None of that. Make every effort. Are you making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit? Or are you bringing division to the church?

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. That’s how it is done, what is the bond of peace. Bond is glue. Who is our peace? Jesus Christ is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). Through the glue of Jesus Christ we make every effort, so you hands you wash the feet, for that is what Christ has done for us. Make every effort.

The text continues, why should we make every effort? Because we display the character of God and His truth when we are unified. Verses 4 through 6 demonstrate that we display the reality of God when we are united.

There are seven undeniable truths that we have to agree on.

There is one body – that is the church that we serve the Lord through.

There is one Spirit - who comes into our lives to save us and to be part of our lives.

There is one hope - of heaven that we’re looking forward to.

There is one Lord – who is Jesus Christ that we bow our knee to and want to follow Him together. It is our faith in Jesus Christ and trust in Him that brings us to salvation and nothing else. It’s not what we do. It’s what He does.

There is one faith - that has as its centre our one Lord and Saviour of us all.

There is one baptism – Some scholars understand this to be the baptism of the Spirit, but I don’t think that’s correct. I think it refers to water baptism, the one act through which we visibly demonstrate our union with Christ.

There is one God in heaven that we look to together.

If you believe all those things, you have a foundation for unity.

A divided church makes God out to be a liar. The church doesn’t have one board over here saying that we are going in this direction. There isn’t another board over here saying we are going in this direction. No, no, that’s not what God is like. God is one. It is as the church works together in unity – that’s why we need to be constantly checking in with one another, are we are on the same page. That’s why we have a vision statement so that we can all see that our future is clearly marked out. It is as we are united that we display the reality of God. For God is one.

[Illustration of what the church looks like – call a group of 8 people to the front as a representation of the church – all very different, but united in Christ. ]

The text continues - here is the next way we demonstrate unity in the church.

Practicing God-given gifts - verses 7 – 13.

When Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross He was, in a sense, captive to Satan. He was dying for our sins. When He was laid in the tomb He was held captive death for three days. When He rose from the dead, He rose with power and majesty, as the risen Victorious King and He led those who held Him captive as captives.

This is the picture that Paul gives to us in quoting Psalm 68:18. The picture is of a victorious king, coming home from battle, leading his captives behind his chariot and as he rides into the city he generously gives out the spoils of war to the people.

So Paul speaks of Christ descending to earth and even further to death – to the lower earthly regions (verse 9) – and ascending in victory giving gifts to His people.

And Paul lists some of the spiritual gifts that are given to the church. Some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.

It’s important here that when we speak of unity we are not speaking of conformity, that we are still individuals and each one of us have been gifted individually. But the wonder of it all is that we have been gifted for a unifying purpose.

To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Now Paul speaks of leadership gifts in particular here. Verse 12 is my job description. It is my job to prepare you for works of service. So when I invite you a training day so that you can exercise your gift effectively, please don’t scowl! Say, “Hey, the pastor’s doing his job!” Or when I invite you to take on a task in the church don’t be all hot and bothered! Just say, “Hey, the pastor is doing his job!”

For what purpose? So that my work can be easier? No, we do the works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up.

We have some very generous people in our church, don’t we? They are so generous in exercising their gifts. Ask them to do any task and they are willing to try, ask them to do anything and if it’s in their abilities they will do it. We need to show our appreciation to such people. And encourage them in the work that they do. This text speaks of church leaders and we need to show our appreciation for them.

Think of all the work that needs to be done so that one little girl can come to our Explorers girls program. There are the obvious upfront people who have the gift of teaching. Give thanks for their dedication. But when that little girl is in our building she needs to be able to use the bathroom - the lights need to work, the building needs to look clean and presentable as she is most likely a guest in our building. So we need a group of people with the gift of stewardship. Then we hear from our insurance company and they say to us that since we have people using our building we need policies in place. Now we need a group of people with the gift of administration. Then we find out that the girl’s parents are not Christian and we want to reach them with the love of Christ so now we need a group of people with the gift of evangelism to reach out that family. And to help them all we need a group of people who are prayer warriors who will fall on their knees and support the whole thing in prayer. All that needs to happen so one little girl can come to one of our programs on Tuesday night and find out about the love of Jesus. And we have so many more programs besides Explorers. There’s Children’s Choir, Adult Choir, CORE groups, etc. Thank God for those people who make all that happen. But there are others of you – and we are waiting for you to exercise your gifts. You have been gifted by Jesus Christ to do works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. Use your gift.

My friends, won’t you please realize that there is someone in our church who can benefit from your work of service? There is someone in the body of Christ who needs you to offer your work of service so that they can grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ – so they can become mature.

What makes for a great church? It’s not the building, it’s not the music, it’s not the Sunday School or the style of worship.

It’s unity. When all the people of God realize that we have been made one and possessing Christ-like attitudes, pursuing unity, and practicing Christ-given gifts, we are able to build one another up for God’s glory and for the world to see that Jesus Christ is real.