ONE BODY

ONE BODY

Main Reading: Eph. 4:1-6,

Competence in evangelism begins with competence in loving other believers. If we do not discern the body of Christ, we risk judgement, and have no testimony.

One who goes out to win souls but is unable to live with other believers is called a hypocrite. He is like the Pharisees and Scribes who “travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell” as themselves. (Mat. 23:15).

This does not ignore the fact that it takes considerable effort to keep the unity of the Spirit according to the Lord’s standard, but He leaves us no other choice. Indeed if we fail at this we have no testimony and are unworthy of Him.

In this sermon, we will meditate on Apostle Paul’s counsel on how to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. We have so much in common with other believers that we dare not condone discord among us. We should receive, regard and serve other believers, even up to the level at which we receive the Lord Himself.

WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON

1. ONE BODY: The Church (Eph. 1:22, 23, 1 Cor. 11:29)

ONE SPIRIT: One Counsellor, Motivator, Enabler, and Seal (Eph. 4:30)

2. ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING: to be saints that will inherit eternal life (1 Co. 1:1, 2, 1 John 2:25)

3. ONE LORD: Jesus, whose Father’s will we do (Mt. 7:21)

4. ONE FAITH: that Christ died for our sins (John 3:16)

5. ONE BAPTISM: that our old selves of sin are buried with Christ and we live only to Christ. (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:3-6)

6. ONE GOD: We worship no other. (Ex 20:3)

7. ONE FATHER: We rely on no other. (Matt. 6:9,32)

WHY WE MUST KEEP THE UNITY

1. The basic manifestation of our testimony:

a. By this people will believe we are disciples of Christ (John 17:21-23)

b. If you do not love brother but love God you are a liar (1 John 4:20)

2. We are stronger with one another’s gifts (1 Cor. 12: 25-27, Ps. 133: 3)

3. Injunctions against not discerning the body (1 Cor. 11: 29, )

4. Imperatives of caring for the household of faith (Gal. 6:10)

5. It is the only walk that is worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1)

HOW TO KEEP THE UNITY

(Treat all with genuine love)

1. Humbly, give your life for the body (1 John 3:16)

2. Gently, work so hard as to let one another’s gifts flourish

3. Patiently, restore the offending brother (Mat. 18:15-17)

4. Receive one another as you would the Lord, being concerned for one another’s needs (Mr. 9:37)

5. Treat everybody according to the order of his calling (1Tim 5:19)

CONCLUSION

As we make the effort to evangelise, let us regularly turn to look inwards into the household of faith and sharpen our caring tools on the believers who should definitely be easier to handle than unbelievers. Believers must be easier for us to love because the lord has already touched them, and they are often able to love us back.

This brotherly love keeps us united and stronger in our common calling. If we have ignored this source of strength and judged other believers presumptuously, we ought to approach the Lord for mercy and to ask for grace to be effective brothers’ keepers.