Articles
Unity in Truth Part 1
Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Last week we saw from Ephesians 4:1-3 the proper "spirit" or attitude that each of us MUST have for there to be peace and unity. Today let’s examine Ephesians 4:4-6 for the proper "truth" necessary for peace and unity.
1. ONE BODY (Ephesians 4:4). Paul, verbally inspired of the Holy Spirit, gives us the "truth" for unity in organization. What is the body? Paul tells us, "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the CHURCH, which is his BODY, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23, emp LS). "And he is the head of the BODY, the CHURCH" (Colossians 1:18, emp LS). For there to be peace and unity, we MUST ALL accept the "truth" of God's Word that there is but ONE BODY!
Yes, my friend, that means that there is but ONE CHURCH! Which body or church is it? It's the one that Jesus Christ built. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build MY CHURCH" (Matthew 16:18, emp LS). All other bodies or churches are built by men. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psalms 127:1). "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13). Are you a member of Christ's church or a church that men have built or founded?
2. ONE SPIRIT (Ephesians 4:4). The "truth" here teaches unity of revelation. The "one Spirit" is God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed the Truth to man (John 16:13). Paul said "...the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by THE SPIRIT" (Ephesians 3:4-5, emp LS). There is only ONE SPIRIT and He does not work against Himself. Many religious folks claim to have the Holy Spirit but their teaching differs from the Word of God revealed by the ONE SPIRIT. Notice what Paul says about those that teach another Gospel, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Teaching and preaching that is different from the Bible, the Word of God delivered by the ONE SPIRIT, is false! The teaching and preaching you are listening to and following, is it from the ONE SPIRIT, the Word of God, or from man? Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21, emp LS).
My friend, if you are worshipping with a church that was started by a man; that teaches doctrines of men and not the Bible; then you are a member of a church that Jesus Christ did not build. You then are a part of denominationalism, division, SIN! "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17).
