More Unity

We are exploring Jesus’ prayer for unity through the indwelling Spirit of God.

John 17:20-23

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

We've already seen how the church, the apostles, and the elders continually brought each other back to the indwelling presence of God to restore unity in the church in Jerusalem. Now, let’s look at how Paul dealt with division, the solution he used, and if it worked.

We find this situation in the church in Corinth:

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul’, or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

                                                                            I Corinthians 1:10-13

After reading this, I think it is safe to say that the church in Corinth was in a fairly unhealthy place, as far as unity goes. What is Paul’s solution?

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

                                                                              I Corinthians 2:12

Paul spends most of chapter two encouraging the Corinthian church to be spiritual. He contrasts spiritual people and fleshly people. He extols the glorious wisdom of God that is found in Christ Jesus. He has us all thinking, “Yes! I get revelation like that! God shares His wisdom with me!” Then, Paul hits us with this zinger:

“for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

                                                                               I Corinthians 3:3

Paul’s measure of maturity is not revelation but, the ability to maintain unity.

How does Paul say we maintain unity?

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

                                                                         I Corinthians 3:16-17

Yet again, we see an apostle returning to the truth of the indwelling Spirit of God to restore and maintain unity. This is the model for the New Testament church.

Did It Work?

So, did it work? Did Paul’s pointing the Corinthian church back to the indwelling Spirit of God work to restore unity?

I Corinthians is believed to have been written between 53 and 57 C.E. (AD). We have a letter written to the church in Corinth by Clement. Clement was the fourth bishop of Rome. He writes to the church in Corinth regarding divisions in their church. This letter is believed to have been written sometime between 95 and 97 C.E.  

So, did Paul’s solution work? It appears to have worked for an entire generation. The reason I say this is because Clement opens his letter with this:

“Because of the sudden and repeated misfortunes and reverses that have happened to us, brothers, we acknowledge that we have been somewhat slow in giving attention to the matters in dispute among you, dear friends, especially the detestable and unholy schism, so alien and strange to those chosen by God, which a few reckless and arrogant people have kindled to such a pitch of insanity that your good name, once so renowned and loved by all, has been greatly reviled. For has anyone ever visited you who did not approve of your most excellent and steadfast faith? Who did not admire your magnanimous piety in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificent character of your hospitality? Who did not congratulate you on your complete and sound knowledge?”

                                                                        I Clement 1:1-2

Allowing for diplomatic flattery, it appears that Paul’s pointing the Corinthian church back to the indwelling Spirit of God healed the church enough to live peaceably together for the next 40 years. It wasn't until all of the apostles had died that these issues (again, issues common to man) arose in this church again.

Our Two Lessons:

1.      Maturity is measured by our ability to maintain unity.

2.      Unity is maintained through the indwelling Spirit of God.

Father, please give us the grace to live in the unity You have provided for us by making us Your home.

Note:  The writings of Clement of Rome and St. Ignatius of Antioch deal almost exclusively with divisions in the church. You can read their writings, in English, in “The Apostolic Fathers in English” by Michael W. Holmes, published by Baker Academic.

 Unfortunately, both Clement of Rome and St. Ignatius of Antioch chose to go a different route in dealing with divisions in the church. They both basically said, “Submit to the bishop because the apostles said so.” The church has, for the most part, followed this path ever since.