Christian unity is incredibly important according to the Bible. Jesus himself prayed for unity among believers in John 17:20-23, saying “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” This shows that unity among Christians is directly tied to leading others to faith in Christ and bringing glory to God.
The apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of unity within the church. In Ephesians 4:3 he urged believers to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” He explained that though we have differences, we share one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father (Ephesians 4:4-6). Our oneness in Christ should lead us to make “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
Paul reprimanded the Corinthian church for having divisions among themselves (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). He pleaded with them to agree with one another, unite in the same mind and judgment, and avoid divisions. Paul saw unity as crucial for the witness and work of the church. Disunity hinders evangelism and destroys the community of believers.
In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul called on the church to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (v.2). He reminded them to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (v.3). Pursuing selfish desires destroys unity, but humility cultivates unity.
According to Psalm 133, unity among God’s people is pleasant and joyful: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3).
Jesus taught that loving one another is one of the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). One of the key ways we show love is by fostering unity and avoiding division in the body of Christ. Romans 14 instructs believers to accept one another even when there are disagreements on disputable matters. We are not to pass judgment or despise other Christians over secondary issues. Our unity is found in Christ.
According to John 13:34-35, our love and unity give credibility to our witness: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Unity takes hard work and intentional effort. We must be humble, gentle, patient, and eager to maintain unity as Ephesians 4:2-3 commands. Romans 15:5-7 says, “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Glorifying God together with one voice requires diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit.
According to Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Christian unity shows the world that God the Father sent Jesus and loves those who believe in him. Our unity testifies to the life-changing power of the gospel that breaks down barriers and unites diverse believers into one family. Unity is tied directly to our Great Commission call to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Division hinders evangelism, but unity advances it.
The Bible exhorts believers to make every effort to maintain unity because unity strengthens our witness, edifies the body, brings glory to God, and demonstrates the genuineness of our faith. Jesus prayed fervently for the unity of all believers throughout the ages because he knew disunity would weaken our gospel witness and hinder the work of His Kingdom.
Christian unity is not just agreeing on every theological issue. We have diversity within biblical orthodoxy. But we must be united in the core tenets of the faith while granting liberty in secondary issues. We must also be united in purpose – fulfilling the Great Commission and obeying Christ’s commands, especially loving one another.
Paul confronted Peter when he was in the wrong (Galatians 2:11-14), but they maintained unity in the gospel. We stand against obvious heresy, but minor issues should not divide us. We can respectfully debate secondary doctrines without breaking fellowship. Division over adiaphora (disputable matters) is sinful. Unity in the Spirit with humility, patience, and love is God’s desire for the church.
Jesus said that Christian unity would get the world’s attention: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23). Our unity amidst diversity testifies to a supernatural God who can transcend barriers and bring people together. It shows the unifying power of the gospel.
Jesus also said that division will destroy our witness: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” (Luke 11:17). Many dismiss Christianity because they see our divisions and hypocrisy. When believers are unified, it grabs the world’s attention in a powerful, authentic way that makes the gospel believable.
Christian unity is not uniformity or forcing everyone to agree on disputed issues. As Romans 14 says, we can have unity in Christ while respecting differences on disputable matters. We don’t have to see eye-to-eye on everything to be unified. We must extend grace to those we disagree with when it comes to secondary issues.
But for primary doctrines, we cannot compromise truth or tolerate false teaching. Jude 3 commands us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” But secondary issues should not be allowed to divide us. Our unity is in one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). The way we disagree matters greatly, which is why humility and patience are essential.
According to Jesus, Christian unity brings glory to God. In John 17:22 Jesus prayed that the unity of believers would lead to Christians being “brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Our unity glorifies God by testifying to the redeeming power of the gospel.
Colossians 3:12-15 describes what our unity should look like: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”
Christian unity requires humbly bearing with one another in love, forgiving freely, putting others first, and letting the peace of Christ rule in our relationships. Only then can the body of Christ become perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Jesus said that Christian unity would get the world’s attention: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23). Our unity amidst diversity testifies to a supernatural God who can transcend barriers and bring people together. It shows the unifying power of the gospel.
The book of 1 Corinthians addresses numerous issues that were causing division in the church – factions, sexual immorality, lawsuits, food sacrificed to idols, abuses of the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts. Paul continually redirected them to unity in Christ and sacrificial love for one another. The solution to divisiveness is Christ-centered unity.
In times of disagreement, we would do well to heed Paul’s instructions in Romans 14:1-4 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?”
When Christians divide and attack each other oversecondary issues, it dishonors Christ. As Romans 14 says, disputable matters should not be allowed to break the bond of peace and unity we have in Christ.
We can disagree and still show profound love through patience, grace, and understanding. We can debate important matters without attacking those we disagree with. John 13:35 says the world will know we follow Jesus “if you have love for one another.” Our unity must be centered in Christ and a mutual love for one another.
Christian unity is a beautiful witness to the world. But division and hostility among believers undermines the credibility of our witness. That’s why Romans 12:16-18 urges, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
As Psalm 133 says, unity is pleasant and joyful. Disunity is painful and full of animosity. The body of Christ is called to be an alternative community that models mutual love across differences, just as Christ bridged the gap between us and God. Christian unity is essential for displaying the life-changing power of the gospel.
Unity is not easy in a fallen world with so many personalities, giftings, backgrounds, and opinions in the body of Christ. We will have conflicts and disagreements at times. But Ephesians 4:3 commands, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” This requires humility, patience, grace, forgiveness, and love.
Philippians 2:1-4 describes the attitude we must have: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Christian unity is precious gift from God purchased by Christ. It is something we must earnestly fight to protect and preserve. Unity brings delight to God and advances the Kingdom. Disunity and division destroy our witness and dishonor the Lord. As Christ’s ambassadors on earth, we are called to guard, cultivate, and exemplify the beauty of Christian unity.
Jesus prayed to the Father, “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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
Christian unity is not just agreeing on every minor theological issue. We have diversity within biblical orthodoxy. But we must be united in the core tenets of the faith while granting liberty in secondary issues. We must also be united in purpose – fulfilling the Great Commission and obeying Christ’s commands, especially loving one another.
Paul confronted Peter when he was in the wrong (Galatians 2:11-14), but they maintained unity in the gospel. We stand against obvious heresy, but minor issues should not divide us. We can respectfully debate secondary doctrines without breaking fellowship. Division over adiaphora (disputable matters) is sinful. Unity in the Spirit with humility, patience, and love is God’s desire for the church.
Jesus said that Christian unity would get the world’s attention: “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23). Our unity amidst diversity testifies to a supernatural God who can transcend barriers and bring people together. It shows the unifying power of the gospel.
The Bible exhorts believers to make every effort to maintain unity because unity strengthens our witness, edifies the body, brings glory to God, and demonstrates the genuineness of our faith. Jesus prayed fervently for the unity of all believers throughout the ages because he knew disunity would weaken our gospel witness and hinder the work of His Kingdom.
Christian unity is essential for displaying the life-changing power of the gospel. As Christ’s ambassadors on earth, we are called to guard, cultivate, and exemplify the beauty of Christian unity for the glory of God and the furtherance of His Kingdom.