Unity
of the Church
United
through the Gospel
1:13 fruit among gentiles
and Jews; 1:16 for the Jew first and also for the Greek – Paul sought to gain
fruit from the Jewish believers in the surrounding churches in the area near
him just as he also hoped to see fruit abound in the Gentile believers. This
stated desire was a precursor to his confessions later in the book. He is most
assuredly an apostle to the gentiles. That does not keep him from showing a desire
to see that his countrymen are saved and growing in the faith and knowledge of
Christ that he has become so fond of in devoting his life to. The Gospel does
not work periodically with specific races. Because the Gospel went out to the
Jews first does not mean that it no longer saves them, nor does it mean that it
is no longer supposed to go out to them. But it shows that God operates with an
agenda and has specific plans in mind for all the peoples of the Earth. The
Jews and Gentiles are united by the Gospel into Christ.
2:9 judgments to both Jew
and Gentile; 2:10 God will bless both Jew and Gentiles; 2:14 both Jew and
gentile have revealed law from God; 2:24 Jew’s sin causes gentiles to curse God
– Just as the message of salvation has gone out to all who would call on the
name of Christ, so also must the consequences of unbelief. The consequences of
unbelief are clearly laid out for the readers of this letter for the past
generation and extends all the way down to today. Those who do believe will
receive in unity the blessings of God. God is racially impartial, for man looks
at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. These people will be
judged according to their deeds, and because they are good, they will live in
unity as believers and in unity with Christ having died with Him. God
sovereignly gave a revealed law to each nation, a law that could hold them
accountable on the day of judgment. The name of God has been blasphemed because
of the Jews. Now, the Jews must try to reestablish an example as the people of
God, so that they may live in unity with the Gentile nations around them.
3:1 God still has special
blessing for Israel; 3:9 Jew and gentile are under sin; 3:29 God is God of Jew
and Gentile – Paul did not want the differences in blessing to tear apart the
different believers in the church. Both are blessed to be united in Christ.
Paul simply stressed that the Jews have some different blessings from those of
the Gentiles. Paul does stress that both are equally under sin and will walk in
unity to death, or in unity to the foot of the cross for God is the God of both
Jews and Gentiles.
4:9 Faith not heritage
brings salvation; 4:24 both Jews and gentiles imputed righteousness by faith –
Paul wanted to make sure that both sets of believers knew that it is faith, not
heritage that makes one righteous. This faith is what unified these different
groups of people into one functioning body of believers. This is how the church
was always to act. As a unified organism. The death of Christ has placed both
groups into fellowship with Christ through the imputed righteousness of Christ
from the atoning sacrifice. Christ promised to establish His church, and this
can only happen through a unified body to a unified Savior.
9:24–26 God calls both Jews
and Gentiles his people – Not just Paul, but God, calls all those who believe
in Christ his/His people. Paul is united to both groups of believers through
blood, but is united all the tighter through the blood of Christ. This is the
unity of the believer. Complete familial fellowship with those who share almost
no common ground with us, except our risen Savior.
10:12 no distinction
between Jew and Gentile; 10:19–21 Gentiles provoke jealousy in Jews because of
their blessing of Salvation – This goes back to 3:29. God is God of both Jews
and Gentiles. He has no partiality and is willing to lavish love on whomever He
wills and whomever kneels at His feet in repentance and faith.
11:11 Jewish jealously that
salvation has come to the Gentiles; 11:12 Riches for the Gentiles and so much
more for the Jews; 11:16–20 Gentiles grafted in among Jews; 11:21 cast judgment
on both Gentiles and Jews; 11:25 Jews blinded until all elect Gentiles receive
salvation – The mistake of the Jews has led to the uniting of the Gentiles into
fellowship with the Jews. This does not make the tree weaker. It makes it
stronger. Their gaffe allowed riches to be sent to the Gentiles, and how much
will the fulfillment brought through unity of the church through Christ mean
for the peoples of the earth? God tells the groups that they are not spared
because they are special in some way, but because they have kept the word of
Christ. This love is to unite them in dedication and love. Both groups of
people are working hand in hand subconsciously and are fulfilling the will of
God as they unite in the body of Christ.
United
for Service
12:4–8 unity within the
body (as a body) each fulfilling his gifted function; 12:16 be of one mind;
12:18 peace with all men – The body of Christ is designed to first, worship and
love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Second, they are to
edify each other every day through the use of their spiritual gifts. Gifts are
not for the person who possesses them. Gifts are for the hearers and witnesses
who may be unsaved, or who may have been brought into your presence for such a
time as this. We are united into one body of believers in the death of Christ.
Paul exhorts the believers to live in unity with one another and to avoid
pride. Paul’s command to be at peace was a command to both groups of believers
so that they may better uplift one another.
13:9 love your neighbor as
yourself – What greater way to show unity in the body of believers than when we
love each other. This love is to be unconditional. This is self-sacrificial
love.
14:1–5 do not judge fellow
believers for God is the judge; 14:13 replace judgment with effort to prevent
placing stumbling block before brother; 14:14–23 extending love to brothers –
God has placed us into union with Him so that we may be united with Him and
fellow believers. We are, then, not to judge one another in a hypocritical way,
or in ways that are contrary to Scripture. This passage is teaching that one of
the best ways to build unity in the church is to respect the desires of others
who may have different convictions than others. When it boils down to it, the
thing we usually get mad about usually turns out to be no big deal. When
believer’s are living in unity, they live in such a way that they are
reflecting the light of the Son. They are not causing each other to stumble.
This is how the Gospel changes people. Christians must take the initiative and
never be afraid to admit that they were wrong. This unity is built through
humility, and the desire to not make any of the Christians fall into sin. We
extend love to our united brothers and sisters because we show grace when they
have different convictions from us and how they take offense to some things
that we believe.
15:1 bearing the weaker
brother’s burdens; 15:2 please his neighbor; 15:5–6 like-mindedness 15:7–12
glorify God together 15:14 admonish one another15:15–21 preaching to Jews and
gentiles; 15:27 love offering committed to each other – The unity of the body
is integral to helping others bear one another’s burdens. The spiritually
strong are to help and fight for the spiritually weak. This is what any family
would do for theirs. We please our neighbor, because we are commanded to, in
the form of the command “Love your neighbor.” Like-mindedness shares with it a
sense of common values and beliefs that are often underestimated. But it also
shares and creates a closer unity for the believers. But the question is “Why
does God unite us?” The answer simple: So that we may bring glory to God. We
are to glorify God together because we can(as Christians) glorify together.
Part and parcel of being in a church is more than just exhortation. It involves
not just showing grace to the person who committed the wrong. It involves a
unity that places the believer in a position to remind his friend of the
promises and love that Christ has for His children. Paul was commissioned to
preach to the Gentiles first and foremost, but that did not prevent him from
preaching to whatever Jews came across his path. The final act and proof of
unity that Paul shared with the believers in Rome was the great love offering
that Paul was gathering for the believers in Rome. The unity of Christ can
sometimes be best shared when the people of God are placing themselves in risk
to carry out the will of God. We are part of the family of God, and in that
unity, we are never alone.
