Their Unity

by Toms, A. F. | Category: New Testament Churches Of God | Apr 1967

In the January issue of this magazine comment was made by "Torchlight" on the great religious combine to which the present ecumenical movement is hastening, and to the dilemma in which many born-again believers find themselves as the churches with which they are associated join in this march toward union. Reference was also made to the recent call by one prominent evangelical leader to born-again ones to leave their denominations and get back to the New Testament to find out what was the true Church.

This approach to the problem has scriptural support, for the divine call "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate" most certainly applies to all who find themselves in associations where they are unable to do the whole will of God. But if such obey the call and come out, whither then? That God has something for such obedient ones there can be no doubt. The God who calls His own out from darkness and error is the faithful God who also calls into "the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1.9).

God's great desire is that His children should be together in a visible unity which the world can see and through which the world might be caused to believe. There is unity in the Godhead. That is where unity had its beginning. "The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6.4). Issuing from this glorious truth of the unity of the divine Persons we have the prayer of the Lord Jesus for His own in John 17, "that they may be one, even as we are" (v.11). Four times over He makes request "that they may all be one". What is this unity which the Lord Jesus so earnestly desired, and where and how was it expressed? These are healthy questions to which we invite careful attention of our readers.

One Body

There is of course, a unity of all born-again ones in the Church which is His Body, but not concerning this was the Lord Jesus praying, for the simple reason that of this Church He Himself is the Builder and "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16.18). No one on earth nor in hell beneath can touch this Church or mar its unity. It is built, sanctified, nourished and cherished by the Head Himself and therefore is beyond reach of harm. To bring it into being the Lord gave Himself. "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it" (Ephesians 5.25). However, that was not the only purpose for which Christ gave Himself, as has been so often pointed out in the pages of Needed Truth. God has a dual purpose running through this dispensation of grace. The truth of the Church, the Body, must not be confused with the parallel truth, also issuing from His death, "that He might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad" (John 11.52). This is the unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed, and, may we stress it again-for which also He died. To this, Paul referred when he wrote:

"Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works" (Titus 2.13,14).

The Unity of the Spirit

This unity of believers is described as "the unity of the Spirit" and giving expression to it involves obedience, for the Scripture says, "Giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4.3). It consists of seven elements which the Spirit of God has joined together, and which consequently should never be divorced! They are (1) one Body, (2) one Spirit, (3) one hope of your calling, (4) one Lord, (5) one faith, (6) one baptism, (7) one God and Father of all. This is God's way of unity and it lies in the keeping together of these seven "ones". Men's effort at uniting together is actually anything but unity, as will be seen if it is carefully examined. It is union without unity. We therefore commend this passage of Scripture to the earnest attention of any reader who may be perplexed by the present situation where so many seem prepared to barter truths which their fathers have held dear for the sake of having a part in this man-made union of churches.

The first three of these seven "ones" are common to all believers, who are united in one Body, indwelt by one Spirit and share one glorious hope, for Christ in them is the hope of glory. But not on these three alone is this God-given unity based. The unity of the Spirit lies in seven "ones", all of which are essential to its manifestation. The first three might be described as unconditional, in that they belong to all believers, but the second three involve obedience to one Lord, which will be evidenced primarily by submitting to one baptism (of believers in water) and subsequently by continuing obedience to the one Faith. And each of these six finds its purpose and end in one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

The Lordship of Christ

This dispensation opened on the day of Pentecost with a plain declaration of truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ that:

"God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2.36).

And with Peter's message thus to the house of Israel agrees also his message to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius:

"Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)" (Acts 10.36).

This is basic truth which should be the guiding principle in every believer's life. God intends that it should affect every area of our lives. Because Christ is Lord of all, all authority has been vested in Him, and that in turn requires all obedience from our redeemed hearts. Lordship carries with it authority, and authority requires obedience. That the Lord Jesus expects this is clear from Matthew 28.20, "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you". The "all things" of His commanding are embodied in the one Faith which has been "once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), and which comprises the teaching of the Lord Jesus and His apostles. When a disciple is baptized in water he thereby makes public acknowledgement of the fact that henceforth the Lord Jesus is the Lord and Master of his life.

Together in One Thing

Dear reader, can you see that if all who love Christ are prepared to demonstrate their love by acknowledging His Lordship and submitting to the all things that He has commanded, they will necessarily find themselves walking together? If the one Lord be owned and the one Faith obeyed, we shall be bound together in a unity which will be evident to all. So it was in the early days of the Acts of the Apostles. Those were great days. The Master's prayer was finding its early fulfilment, for "they were all together in one place" (Acts 2.1). "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ...For there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" Psalm 133.1,3). Yes, those were days of blessing! Peter preached, and "they then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2.41,42). On the day of Pentecost the first church of God was formed in Jerusalem, composed of those who were prepared to translate into their daily lives and behaviour the all-glorious fact of Peter's preaching, that Christ is Lord of all.

As the work progressed the number of the disciples multiplied and the word of God was carried out beyond Jerusalem to all Judaea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth, as the Lord Jesus envisaged. Other churches of God were planted, one leading to another, but always to the same pattern as the first church in Jerusalem. "For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus" wrote Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2.14). However far the work of God spread it was to the one Lord that disciples became obedient, and the one Faith governed them all. Those were memorable days as in the power of the Holy Spirit this outward and visible expression of unity expanded and grew.

Paul and his fellow-apostles were not content merely to preach the gospel as they itinerated, but to use Paul's own words, they shrank not from declaring the whole counsel of God. Believing ones were taught the word of God (Acts 18.11), and those who responded to the teaching were baptized and built together into churches of God. Paul was a wise master-builder and as the Spirit of God directed him from place to place he left behind him buildings, churches of God, built according to the God-given pattern, and in the aggregate growing into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2.21), not isolated churches left to function autonomously, but all linked together to form God's habitation in the Spirit.

Unity of Doctrine

They had been brought together by the action of the word of God upon the hearts of the believers. "Ye became obedient from the heart to that pattern (R. V. margin) of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Romans 6.17); and it was by the word of God that they were kept together. There was one teaching which governed all the churches. Clearly this was the case:

"Even as I teach everywhere in every church" (1 Corinthians 4.17), "And so ordain I in all the churches" (1 Corinthians 7.17), "If any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God" (1 Corinthians 11.16).

This one doctrine was in every case the word of the Lord. No place was given to the traditions of men or to human thought or reasoning. "I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you" (1 Corinthians 11.23) was Paul's faithful stand and from that he never departed.

Unity of Practice

One teaching, circulating throughout the churches and adhered to by all, resulted in the same practices obtaining in each. The wider purpose of the Master's prayer was finding its fulfilment, for them also that believe on Me through their word" were being gathered together into this one thing for God. He who is Son over God's house and who in Revelation 1 is seen in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, must have found great pleasure as His divine eye surveyed the churches thus linked together in a unity of obedience to His word. It is not surprising therefore that that which was of pleasure to God should come under attack of the evil one, and faithfully the Lord records his attempts to sow seeds of discord and division among the early disciples. A typical example is cited in Acts 15. Erroneous teaching carried to Antioch by certain men from Judaea was threatening to cause division that might well have led to disruption had it not been wisely handled. It is well to notice carefully the procedure that was followed. All was done in closest fellowship between the apostles and elders both in Antioch and Jerusalem. Certain brethren from Antioch were appointed along with Paul and Barnabas to meet the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and there in conference the question was carefully examined and the mind of the Lord sought. As a result the Scripture says they came "to one accord" (precious word!); the agreement reached was circulated throughout the churches, and the happy outcome was that they were strengthened in the Faith and increased in number daily.

Conclusion

Is it not possible to get back to the New Testament pattern today? We firmly believe that it is, and some eighty years ago, when this magazine was first published, it appeared as a result of much exercise of heart on the part of some brethren to give expression to such truths as these, which the Spirit of God had made precious to them. We call upon believers today in every place to get back to their Bibles and like the Beroeans of old to examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so, if they are so, then they are the commandment of the Lord, and let us ever remember that it stands recorded that He Himself said,

"If ye love me, ye will keep My commandments" (John 14.15).

Toms, A. F. | Apr 1967
New Testament Churches Of God