Purity, which is the basis of both fellowship and unity, started at the cross.
This unity is to continue. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:2-6).
The continuing means of staying pure is walking in the light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:5, 7, & 9). This provides continual cleansing and continual fellowship with each other. This is predicated on all of us walking in the light.
As we had all of our sins forgiven when we received Christ, now we must keep them forgiven; this happens by the faithfulness of God. He forgives the sins we confess and all other unrighteousness. If sins accumulate unconfessed and unforgiven, the fellowship is ruined and oneness greatly hindered. We are still in the body of Christ, but the body is sick all over.
Oneness is not based on everyone agreeing with each other; it is based on each part of the body staying healthy and caring for other parts of the body. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
(Taken from Day & Night: Unity Series, 2003)
This unity is to continue. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:2-6).
The continuing means of staying pure is walking in the light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:5, 7, & 9). This provides continual cleansing and continual fellowship with each other. This is predicated on all of us walking in the light.
As we had all of our sins forgiven when we received Christ, now we must keep them forgiven; this happens by the faithfulness of God. He forgives the sins we confess and all other unrighteousness. If sins accumulate unconfessed and unforgiven, the fellowship is ruined and oneness greatly hindered. We are still in the body of Christ, but the body is sick all over.
Oneness is not based on everyone agreeing with each other; it is based on each part of the body staying healthy and caring for other parts of the body. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
(Taken from Day & Night: Unity Series, 2003)
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