What is meant by Unity in Christ?

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Jesus prayed for His children to be one


I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
John 17:21

(1) What do you think this unity is that Jesus speaks of? @Reba1 , @Dave M , @PloughBoy , @Fragrant Grace , @B-A-C , @Shaolin ?

Is this a unity about being one in doctrine?
Unity about treating each other with love?
Unity about always agreeing?

What type of unity is this?

(2) And what does it mean for those who are not in unity with the body, are they "out" of the body of Christ?
Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Dave M]

First thing that pops in my head is Love, and what the bible says about love. Love and unity go hand and hand IMO

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Putting others before our own needs,,

encourage each other, build up each other.

unity is one of the first things we see in the book of acts. We see supernatural unity in the book of acts, these people come together as believers,, and one of the first thing they do is sell everything they have, to take care of one another so no one has a need,, that is supernatural giving and unity IMO when we get born again it changes our behavior.

 

[B-A-C]

First thing that pops in my head is Love,

Agreed love is first and foremost.
Doctrinal differences are Ok up to a point, even the apostles didn't always agree on everything all the time. But I believe there is a line you can cross with doctrine.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Agreed love is first and foremost.
Doctrinal differences are Ok up to a point, even the apostles didn't always agree on everything all the time. But I believe there is a line you can cross with doctrine.

So Unity in Love, meaning that we love each other and because of our love for each other we end up acting as one.

Correct?

 

[Dave M]

So Unity in Love, meaning that we love each other and because of our love for each other we end up acting as one.

Correct?

one body, under one king is what I have ringing in my ears.

1 Corinthians 12:12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

one body, under one king is what I have ringing in my ears.

1 Corinthians 12:12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Makes much sense. Thanks.

 

[Reba1]

Unity in the Lord i believe is different then what most people think unity is or should be. Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be a unified goal. How we spread the same gospel does not have be the same fashion. Sone folks learn from gentle quiet love some from the love of a swift kick i the set down. As parents do we us the same exact teaching or discipline for each of our children?
The same gospel spoken to the guy on the street in San Francisco would not be delivered exactly the same to the guy in Afghanistan.
Not every one in our families are exactly like the others but we are family units.
I can have unity with other Christian ladies who have long hair and will not ware jeans/pants, we have the same goal. Or SDA folks who dont enjoy the pleasure of a bar b cue. I dont 'get it' that most Baptist who love the Lord dont show emotion yet the only church i became a a member of was the local Baptist Church.
The early Christian years of my life well. i could have been labeled a Scofield dispensationalist Christian. Although i disagree today with his teachings i was just as much a Christian then as i am today.

In reading this and typing it seems to be about me. I dont mean it to be but i dont know how else to say stuff. Please understand.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Unity in the Lord i believe is different then what most people think unity is or should be. Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be a unified goal. How we spread the same gospel does not have be the same fashion. Sone folks learn from gentle quiet love some from the love of a swift kick i the set down. As parents do we us the same exact teaching or discipline for each of our children?
The same gospel spoken to the guy on the street in San Francisco would not be delivered exactly the same to the guy in Afghanistan.
Not every one in our families are exactly like the others but we are family units.
I can have unity with other Christian ladies who have long hair and will not ware jeans/pants, we have the same goal. Or SDA folks who dont enjoy the pleasure of a bar b cue. I dont 'get it' that most Baptist who love the Lord dont show emotion yet the only church i became a a member of was the local Baptist Church.
The early Christian years of my life well. i could have been labeled a Scofield dispensationalist Christian. Although i disagree today with his teachings i was just as much a Christian then as i am today.

In reading this and typing it seems to be about me. I dont mean it to be but i dont know how else to say stuff. Please understand.

I think I understand you. I appreciate your contribution to the post.

It seems that you are saying that unity for you also means a common goal.
Kinda like an army? An army has one unified goal, but different divisions with different
missions, but a common goal.

 

[Reba1]

I think I understand you. I appreciate your contribution to the post.

It seems that you are saying that unity for you also means a common goal.
Kinda like an army? An army has one unified goal, but different divisions with different
missions, but a common goal.

yup

 

[Waggles]

Is this a unity about being one in doctrine?
Unity about treating each other with love?
Unity about always agreeing?

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call -
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [one doctrine of baptism that is water and Spirit ]
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:11 And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

1Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

1Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Great verses, thanks.

-WNL

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings Brother,

If we look at Whom we are in unity with, we might get a better understanding of the meaning?
The Author and Finisher of our faith. Perhaps love is the doing word but not the actual unity, but rather the process of or manifestation of the actuality of the unity.
We can not love our way to the Kingdom, that greatest love has already been revealed to those who believe..... we can not go through our loving door, so to speak.

So, the 'rhythm' and 'beat', the 'harmony' that is in Christ..... Who is One with the Father, Who has the plan, the 'blueprint', the 'score', Who perhaps we might go so far as to say, is the Composition Himself.... are we in unity, or in His symphony? Selah


Bless you ....><>

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Greetings Brother,

If we look at Whom we are in unity with, we might get a better understanding of the meaning?
The Author and Finisher of our faith. Perhaps love is the doing word but not the actual unity, but rather the process of or manifestation of the actuality of the unity.
We can not love our way to the Kingdom, that greatest love has already been revealed to those who believe..... we can not go through our loving door, so to speak.

So, the 'rhythm' and 'beat', the 'harmony' that is in Christ..... Who is One with the Father, Who has the plan, the 'blueprint', the 'score', Who perhaps we might go so far as to say, is the Composition Himself.... are we in unity, or in His symphony? Selah


Bless you ....><>

Amen well said, and good use of musical metaphor, quite brilliant.

 

[Br. Bear]

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:15-21

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.


Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:9-17

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.
Psalm 149:1

 

[Born Again 2004]

Jesus prayed for His children to be one


I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
John 17:21

(1) What do you think this unity is that Jesus speaks of? @Reba1 , @Dave M , @PloughBoy , @Fragrant Grace , @B-A-C , @Shaolin ?

Is this a unity about being one in doctrine?
Unity about treating each other with love?
Unity about always agreeing?

What type of unity is this?

(2) And what does it mean for those who are not in unity with the body, are they "out" of the body of Christ?
Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

First, you MUST be in Christ
Second, for those in Christ, we are called to Love one another despite our differences ! That is "unity in Chris".

I would like to think that this is a precept here at T.J. but I am afraid not many feel that way, most seem are here to argue and push their own agenda !

Maybe not many that are here are in Christ to start with?

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

First, you MUST be in Christ
Second, for those in Christ, we are called to Love one another despite our differences ! That is "unity in Chris".

I would like to think that this is a precept here at T.J. but I am afraid not many feel that way, most seem are here to argue and push their own agenda !

Maybe not many that are here are in Christ to start with?

Thanks for sharing.