Skip to main content

Confession of Sin Leads to Unity

In reading different histories of World War II, we can read how the British won the war, the Americans won the war, then on to tanks, submarines, destroyers, airborne, bombers etc., how each won the war. We were all on the same team. However, it was not always evident.

Unity is comprised of two components:

1. The greatest loyalty is to the supreme commander of all units; and
2. Great love for all those who are under the supreme commander.

Let me illustrate with an isosceles triangle. The two points at the ends of the base of the triangle represent two units, tanks and infantry. The apex represents the supreme commander. If these two units get farther removed from the supreme commander, the distance between the units gets greater. The closer they are to the supreme commander, the closer they are to each other.

Jesus’ prayer for His army in John 17:20, 21:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (NIV)

Do you see it? He was praying for US who are Christians today. He was praying we would be one with each other in the same way as the Father and the Son are one.

How are they one? “Just as you are IN me and I am IN you.” That is not competition, nor is it cooperation. It is much greater; it is interactive unity.

Why does He pray this? So “that the world may believe that you have sent me.” The greatest truth in the gospel is the deity of Jesus Christ. The world is the enemy army. Our oneness is the way we communicate the deity of Jesus Christ to the world.

This unity has another component. It is love for each other.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34, 35 (NIV)

Jesus tells us to love other members of the body in the same way He loved each member of that same body. The result will be that ALL MEN will KNOW we are followers of Jesus Christ.

We are not to be at war with other members of the body of Christ. We are not to be satisfied with co-belligerence, competition, tolerance, cordiality, friendliness, or cooperation. All of these are less than the command to be one and to love one another.

Do not jump to the question, “How do we do it?” That is not a valid question until we know we WANT to obey; we WANT to love; we WANT to be one.

Sin will have to be confessed before we can begin to want this oneness.


(Taken from Weapons & Tactics in Evangelism, part 9)

Comments

Unknown said…
Yes, Unity a blessing and if it exists in us with those who our brethern, how much greater effect it will be and have on the world.

Recently at work I received a phone call that contained much anger and many choice words. I am greatful that I was able to respond appropriately. A couple days later in my quiet time I was shown the benefit of saying the right thing. The following scriptures are most fitting.

Proverbs 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

Proverbs 25:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
9:18 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ripe for Harvest: Prepared to Give an Answer

As you read through the book of Acts, look at every conversion, and see what happened right before it: what was said, who said it. The situations are the same today.     A long time ago, my duty in the Officer’s Christian Fellowship was the east coast of the United States. I went to an officer’s office at Fort Lee, VA, and stayed overnight, then I went on to Norfolk and Fort Bragg.    Forty years later, I was no longer on the staff of OCF, but I had to go to Denver. While I was in Denver, I checked in at the OCF offices. There was the same Air Force officer I had met in Fort Lee, retired now, a colonel. I had stayed in his house when he was a first lieutenant. He asked me, “Do you know what happened when you stayed overnight?” I said, “No, I just remember staying in your home.” He said, “You led the next-door neighbor to Christ.” I had no memory of it.    Ten years after that, I was speaking at a banquet at the Hotel Salisbury, and who was th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Is Obedience So Hard?

There are several reasons why obedience seems hard. I will comment on some of them and then speak positively on how obedience is easy. We think: 1) Obedience is an infringement on freedom. Since we are free in Christ, and obedience is somehow contrary to that freedom, we conclude that obedience is not good. Yet we know it is good. Thus, we become confused about obedience and are not single-minded. 2) Obedience is works. We who have been justified by grace through faith are opposed to works; therefore, we are opposed to obedience. 3) We have tried to obey and have failed—frequently. Therefore, the only solution is to disobey and later confess to receive forgiveness. It is easier to be forgiven by grace than to obey by effort. 4) We confuse obedience to men with obedience to God. Although these are sometimes one and the same (see Romans 13, 1 Peter 2-3, Ephesians 5-6, Colossians 3, and Titus 2), sometimes they are not the same (see Colossians 2:20-23, Mark 7, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, a...
7 comments
Read more

Joy

Here are five biblical passages on joy: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (Psalms 51:12-13). “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have give...
Post a Comment
Read more