Church unity is not a core concern of the church because it’s a trend or fad. Jesus prayed for the church to be one “so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). Unity demonstrates the love of God to the world in a beautiful way. But in the other half of John 17:21, Jesus prays, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you…” In 17:11 he prays, “that they may be one, even as we are one.”<\/p>\r\n
It’s amazing that church unity has a purpose: that the world would believe in Jesus. But it’s no less astounding that church unity also has an origin: the very unity of God. Church unity is from God and for God. Our unity mirrors the life of God – Father, Son, and Spirit in perfect fellowship and harmony. Three divine persons, but one God. This is what the church means when we talk about God as trinity (three in one). We baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). And we pursue generous unity in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<\/p>\r\n
1 Corinthians 12 is the most thorough chapter in the Bible on Spiritual Gifts. But Paul brings up the topic in the first place because the church was struggling to maintain unity as they used their gifts. Some were arrogant and thought their gifts were superior. Some were depressed and considered their gifts worthless. We’ll look at these twin problems in depth next week.<\/p>\r\n
For now, I want to point out that Paul and Jesus are completely on the same page about one crucial reality: the unity of the church is grounded on the unity of God. Before Paul can launch into what Spiritual Gifts even are, and before he can challenge the prideful and comfort the discouraged, he points out that many gifts come from one God – Father, Son, and Spirit.<\/p>\r\n
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