Category Archives: Fellowship – Unity

“If … then …” statements provide conditions for something to happen. We find four conditional statements for unity in Philippians 2:1-2, thus providing us with keys to unlocking the door to unity. Click on the links below to previous posts on the first three conditions. Here we conclude this series by looking at the need to guard our hearts.

1) Function from your position “in Christ”.
2) Know and rely on God’s love.
3) Walk together in the Spirit.
4) Guard your heart.

To Experience Unity We Need to Guard Our Hearts

Philippians 2:1-2 states that if there’s “any affection and compassion” then we can be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”. The original Greek words for affection (splagchnon) and compassion (oiktirmos) both relate to our inwards parts (bowels, heart, etc.). These two words seem interchanged in their various uses, both signifying the seat of our strong emotions —- what we metaphorically call our heart. We are to respond to one another from the core of our being.

Think of Jesus. He saw a need and then felt compassion which caused Him to respond appropriately (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; Mk. 6:34). Jesus felt compassion because of what was in His heart — love for people. Also remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:45 — “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Failing to Nurture and Watch Over Our Hearts with All Diligence Leads to Trouble

Consider a few ways our relationship with God and others could be affected:

• If we don’t guard our hearts, we’ll quickly be pulled away, distracted from our position in Christ (1 Cor. 7:35; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pet. 5:7-8). We’ll see others through our own distorted lens rather than how God sees them.

• It’s possible we’ll lose our first love for God (Rev. 2:3-5) and simply go through the motions which won’t get us through the hard times. Rather than having love and devotion for God and compassion toward others, we’ll live for self.

• We’ll be so consumed with ourselves that we no longer walk in the Spirit which will quench His work in our midst (1 Thess. 5:19). We’ll be part of the problem rather than the solution.

Is it little wonder we’re commanded to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov. 4:23)?

Do you want your church to experience unity? If so, you can unlock the door to unity by functioning from your position in Christ, knowing and relying on God’s love, and guarding your heart. Now let’s see how walking together in the Spirit helps.

To Experience Unity, We Need to Walk Together in the Spirit

The Church is made up of people from different walks of life, backgrounds, giftings, and personalities. This will inevitably lead to disagreements as we come together with our own sets of perspectives and preferences. We need help outside of ourselves to rise above conflict and remain united.

In addition to being a diverse group of people, we’re all fallen human beings who don’t always get it right. Too often our self-centered human nature gets in the way. So, we read, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1). The solution? — “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)

The Spirit enables us to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Rather than “indulge the flesh”, we will “serve one another humbly in love” (Gal. 5:13).

Walking Together in the Spirit Leads to Fellowship

Philippians 2:1-2 provides keys to unity, one being the role of the Holy Spirit. — “If there is any fellowship of the Spirit” then we can be “of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

God wants us to “live in harmony with one another” (Rom. 12:16, NIV), also translated as being “of the same mind toward one another” (NASB). That will happen as we find our commonality (fellowship) in Christ as we walk together in the Spirit. Without fellowship, we don’t have unity, only outward conformity. If hearts remain unchanged, not truly melded together in love, it probably won’t last.

The title of this post adds the word “together” to our need to walk in the Spirit. As an individual, we can make every effort to be at peace with others (Rom. 12:18) as we walk in the Spirit but we can’t make them do the same. True unity requires a mutual coming together in fellowship of the Spirit.

Leaders can steer the church toward Body Life as God intends for us but must also steer the church toward God’s power to get there.

To unlock the door to unity we need heed the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 2:1-2.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil. 2:1-2, NASB)

We already looked at the first key, based on the “if” phrases, that of functioning from our position in Christ. Here we take the challenge to embrace the “consolation of love” (Phil. 2:1).

To Experience Unity We Must Learn to Truly Love One Another

If we are going to remain united through the failings of one another and strong differences of opinions, we need unconditional love. That’s a love that perseveres, that will not fail. It’s a love that responds with patience and kindness, not anger. That kind of love isn’t self-seeking but rather seeks to honor others. It let’s go of pride and forgives.

This unconditional love, described in 1 Corinthians 13, comes from God. Human love, that which we muster up within ourselves, is insufficient for us to remain united. Only God’s love will enable us to break through the walls and address the feelings of one another without attacking the person. If we’re going to love each other this way, we need to “know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 Jn. 4:16). We can only love because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).

Loving One Another Unconditionally Leads to Comfort

Paul referred to experiencing unity “if there is any consolation of love” (Phil. 2:1). Another word for consolation, comfort, may help us understand this result of loving one another. Love let’s us know that it will be alright, that we’ll still be loved and accepted. We’ll still belong. We’ll be forgiven. That’s comforting.

Having such assurance tends to motivate. It’s worth the risk because it takes the fear out of being “united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Phil. 2:2). — “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 Jn. 4:18)

Make your purpose as a Church to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-40). Then you will unlock the door to unity.

Divisiveness describes our world today, which sadly also creeps into our churches. We can’t function like the world, from a political stance of pride and prejudice, and expect to experience the unity described in Scripture. We must function from our position “in Christ.” Therein we find encouragement and the building up of one another, rather than reacting toward one another with anger, deceitfulness, and manipulation.

Learn from Philippians 2:1-2

The Apostle Paul gave the Philippian church four conditions upon which unity would be based. Notice how the word “if” occurs four times.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil. 2:1-2, NASB)

This post will zero in on the first “if” with subsequent posts looking at the other keys to unity.

To Experience Unity We Must Function from our Position “in Christ”

The first “if” points to our position “in Christ” — “if there is any encouragement “in Christ” (Phil. 2:1). According to Ephesians 2:6, God has “seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When we look at life from that position, we see things differently than when we are right in the fray of it all. We see the big picture, not merely the piece that affects me.

So much of the divisiveness comes from wanting our own individual ways rather than what’s for the good of the whole and most importantly for what honors and glorifies God. If we step out of ourselves and look at life through the eyes of Jesus, our hearts begin to change. We’re willing to sacrifice our own agendas. — “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death …” (Phil. 2:5-8)

Functioning from Our Position in Christ Leads to Encouragement

Face it: The Church is filled with human beings. We won’t always see eye to eye. Leaders will sometimes fail. People will disappoint. We can still be encouraged despite the blemishes when we look at the Church as it is “in Christ”. Then we will no longer focus on all its flaws. We will see the Church as God sees her “in Christ” — dearly loved, His precious pride. When we see the Church from His vantage point, then we can come alongside (paraklesis) of each other in Him. We will speak the truth in love, not anger and disgust, spurring one another on rather than tearing each other down.

Reality tells us we won’t always agree but “in Christ” we can still come together. We will seek to get on page with Him, not pull others to our side. Then, even if things don’t go our way, we can rejoice together and move forward.

God’s Word tells us to “live in harmony with one another” (1 Pet. 3:8). With so much conflict around us, is harmony possible in the Church? We’re all so different with varying views and opinions. Can we really come together as a unified whole?

Living in Harmony Isn’t an Option

Living harmoniously isn’t an option for us as believers. God commands us to live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-9). The beginning of 1 Peter 3:8 provides two important points: “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another …”

1. “All” means each and every one of us so none of us are the exception.
2. The use of the term “one another”, allelon in the original language, suggests a mutual, reciprocal response of members toward each other. That means, even in conflict, both the offended party as well as the offender work toward reconciliation (Matt. 5:23-24).

Since this is a command for each one of us, let’s look more closely at what it means to live in harmony.

Being Harmonious Doesn’t Mean a Lack of Differences

Liken living harmoniously to an orchestra. Different instruments with different shapes and sounds come together to make a fuller and harmonious sound. The instruments do not all become the same. They bring their differences together.

In the Church, members likewise have varying parts. We’re different from each other, not only in gifting but also in the ways we think and express ourselves. When we bring our differences together, we can produce something stronger, even better.

Problems come when even just one instrument is out of tune, makes a mistake, or decides to do their own thing instead of coordinating with the whole. We then experience a break in harmony. Sinful actions and reactions are always wrong. Some conflict, however, isn’t the result of sin but rather differences.

We’re all human. It only takes one person in a relationship to act contrary to the Spirit, in one’s old nature, offending another person, and there will be conflict. Or, it might be a misinterpretation of what someone has done or said. Either way, perceived or real, we have conflict.

We are all individuals, with varying personalities, philosophies, and perspectives. Whenever two different ideas or ways of doing things collide, conflict ensues.

How We Handle Our Differences Determines if We Experience Harmony Amid Conflict

We must pay attention to the warning signs of conflict turning bad. If we don’t, we open the door for the devil to wreak havoc among us.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph. 4:26-27)

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:14-16)

We must make harmony our ultimate objective when we find ourselves in any kind of conflict.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Rom. 12:18)

When it comes to conflict management, “true reconciliation — the healing of the relationship — is the primary objective, not resolving the issues” (quote from an article on the TrainChurchLeaders.com site). We can be harmonious without agreeing on an issue. We don’t have to like what a person says or does to live in harmony with them.

But, you might ask …

• What does that mean?
• How’s that going to happen?
• Why isn’t it happening?

We live in a divided society. Even in the Church we let all sorts of issues divide us with strong opinions pitting us against each other. We may follow certain personalities, putting one above the other. Perhaps we engage in certain inconsiderate practices that favor one group of people over another. Our programming can also separate us rather than bring us together. Brothers and sisters this ought not to be. Read through Ephesians 2 and discover God’s intent for unity, not disunity in the Church.

When God established the Church, He broke down walls, making unity possible. Why do we rebuild those walls?

Remember that we all are on the same plane and with the same ultimate purpose:

We all came from the same place pre-Christ.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Eph. 2:1-3)

We all came into Christ by grace. None of us deserved our salvation.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2:4-9)

Having all been saved by grace, not of ourselves, we now live for Him, not to advance our own cause.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:10)

On this foundation, God built His Church. bringing together two very different groups of people, the Jews and the Gentiles, who were hostile toward each other. He “made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility … in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Eph. 2:11-16).

Being on the same plane leaves no room for superiority of one over the other. We are equal in Him, each receiving the same message of peace made possible because of His grace. “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Eph. 2:17-18)

Walls stay down when Jesus remains the centerpiece, keeping disunity at bay. Why do we make it about ourselves?

We all have the same access (Eph. 2:18) to the throne of grace where we “may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Eph. 2:19). — When we rebuild those walls, it’s like we’re disregarding the fact that we’re God’s people. As God’s people, we align with Him. It’s not about our preferences or politics.

Here’s the key: The Church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” (Eph. 2:20-21). — When we let our differences, and any other cause, divide us, it’s like we’re saying that Jesus isn’t enough to hold us together.

We don’t have to rely on ourselves to stay united. Why don’t we depend on God’s power source?

When we keep the focus on how it’s “in him the whole building is joined together”, we rise above and “become a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21). The good news is that God doesn’t expect us to muster up the will power and self-effort to stay united. Rather, “in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). When we walk by the Spirit, we will “serve one another humbly in love” rather than “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:13-16).

When we make it about ourselves, we stifle and quench the Spirit who lives within us. Then we wonder why the Church at times looks no different than the world around us. Let’s be the Church God established us to be, built on the foundation of Jesus Christ with Him as the Chief Cornerstone, the Head of the Body.

Church leaders, do your part to steer the Body toward God’s power, the only means of staying united. Check out the Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide.