I. Unity

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 1. Jesus prayed for it
• Jn. 1720-22
• Neither pray I for these alone, but for them
  also which shall believe on me through their
  word

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Jn. 1720-22

• 21 That they all may be one as thou, Father,
  art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
  one in us that the world may believe that thou
  hast sent me.22 And the glory which thou
  gavest me I have given them that they may be
  one, even as we are one

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 2. The Apostles Pleaded for it
• 1 Cor. 110
• Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
  Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same
  thing, and that there be no divisions among you
  but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
  same mind and in the same judgment

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 3. The early church practiced it
• Acts 432
• And the multitude of them that believed were of
  one heart and of one soul

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 4. The unity of the church was not
• A union of conflicting forces
• A federation of denominations (There were no
  denominations then)

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 4. The unity of the church was not
• An alliance of religions

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I. Unity An Important Characteristic Of The
Church

• 5. The unity of the N.T. church was Jews
  Gentiles - bond free - males female becoming
  one in Christ!
• Gal. 328

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Gal. 328

• There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
  bond nor free, there is neither male nor female
  for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 1. They believed the same gospel
• 1 Corinth 15 1-4
• Mk. 1615
• Gal. 16-9

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1 Corinth 15 1-4

• 1 Co 151 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you
  the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
  ye have received, and wherein ye stand
• 1Co 152 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep
  in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
  have believed in vain.
• 1Co 153 For I delivered unto you first of all
  that which I also received, how that Christ died
  for our sins according to the scriptures
• 1Co 154 And that he was buried, and that he
  rose again the third day according to the
  scriptures

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Mk. 1615

• And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
  and preach the gospel to every creature.

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Gal. 16-9

• I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him
  that called you into the grace of Christ unto
  another gospel7 Which is not another but
  there be some that trouble you, and would pervert
  the gospel of Christ.

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Gal. 16-9

• 8 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.9 As we said before, so say I now
  again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
  you than that ye have received, let him be
  accursed.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 2. They had obeyed the same gospel
• Acts 238, 41

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Acts 238

• Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
  baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
  Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
  receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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Acts 241

• Then they that gladly received his word were
  baptized and the same day there were added unto
  them about three thousand souls.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 3. They were added to the same church
• Acts 247

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Acts 247

• Praising God, and having favour with all the
  people. And the Lord added to the church daily
  such as should be saved.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 4. They kept the same law
• Mt. 2820
• Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
  have commanded you and, lo, I am with you alway,
  even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 5. They continued in the same doctrine
• Acts 242
• 2 Jn. 9

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Acts 242

• And they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
  doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
  bread, and in prayers.

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2 Jn. 9

• Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
  doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth
  in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
  Father and the Son.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 6. They wore the same name
• Acts 1126
• 1 Pet. 416

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Acts 1126

• And when he had found him, he brought him unto
  Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year
  they assembled themselves with the church, and
  taught much people. And the disciples were called
  Christians first in Antioch.

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1 Pet. 416

• Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
  be ashamed but let him glorify God on this
  behalf.

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 7. They heeded 1 Cor. 110
• Spoke same thing
• No divisions
• Perfectly joined together
• Same mind
• Same judgment

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 7. They heeded 1 Cor. 110
• Brethren can be united if they desire to be and
  if the Lords will is allowed to control their
  lives
• We can be united if we let his will reign supreme
  in our lives

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II. They Were All One In Christ

• 8. They had the same love one for another
• Phil. 22
• Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having
  the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

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I Corinthians 110-17

• According to verse 10, what is the formula for
  Christian unity?
• This section is called divisions in the church.
  What was dividing the church? (cf ch 31-4)
• What could be wrong with saying I follow
  Christ?
• Was Paul slighting baptism? (vs 14)
• What is often the cause of divisions in the
  church? (cf. 31-4)

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I Corinthians 118-25

• The Corinthians undue esteem of human wisdom
  was largely responsible for the factionalism in
  their midst.
• It was therefore necessary for Paul to put the
  wisdom of the world into the true perspective
  that can be gained only when it is compared with
  the wisdom of God revealed in the cross of
  Christ.
• Because their regard for human wisdom was so much
  a part of their Greek heritage and tradition, he
  develops at length the contrast between the two
  types of wisdom.

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I Corinthians 118-25

• Romans 1133 Oh, the depth of the riches of
  the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
  his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
• 2 Ti 315 from infancy you have known the Holy
  Scriptures which are able to make you wise for
  salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
• Why cant created man match Gods wisdom?
• How does the contest between human wisdom
  (philosophy) and divine wisdom (Scripture) affect
  many church bodies?

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I Corinthians 118-25

• Job 2828 - And he said to man, The fear of the
  Lordthat is wisdom, and to shun evil is
  understanding.
• Romans 1133 Oh, the depth of the riches of
  the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
  his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
• 2 Ti 315 from infancy you have known the Holy
  Scriptures which are able to make you wise for
  salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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Studying the Scriptures

• Why cant created man match Gods wisdom?
• What are the blessings of divine wisdom?
• With what attitude should we approach Gods
  wisdom?
• How is the conflict between human wisdom
  (philosophy) and divine wisdom (revelation)
  affecting many churches today?

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I Corinthians 126-31

• 2. 2 Samuel 78 Now then, tell my servant
  David, This is what the Lord Almighty says I
  took you from the pasture and from following the
  flock to be ruler over my people Israel.
• What does each passage teach us about honor
  and/or greatness in Gods kingdom?
• How does God nullify the wisdom, power, and
  prestige of the worlds leading people today?

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I Corinthians 126-31

• 3. Isaiah 662 Has not my hand made all these
  things, and so they came into being? declares
  the Lord. This is the one I esteem he who is
  humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my
  word.
• What does each passage teach us about honor
  and/or greatness in Gods kingdom?
• How does God nullify the wisdom, power, and
  prestige of the worlds leading people today?

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Unity An Important Characteristic Of The Church

• What is the Opposites of Unity?

Disorganize
Warfare
Antagonism
Difference
controversy
contention
CONFUSION
Variance
Battle
Separation
Contest
disproportion
conflict
incongruity
Opposition
disagreement
dissension
hostility
disunion
discord
inconsistency