The Marks of the Church
The Unity of the Church
That They May Be One
Description
Christ prayed that His followers would be one, even as He and the Father are one—that the world might believe. This unity is not organizational uniformity but spiritual oneness in Christ. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. We are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Division is carnal; factions indicate spiritual immaturity. The church's unity should reflect the unity of the Godhead—diverse persons in perfect harmony. This unity is both a gift to be received and a goal to be pursued.
Key Verses
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. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.