Tag: One Mind

United In Mind and Thought…

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Our Verse of the Day focuses on the necessity of unity within the faith and the Church.  As we read in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes this appeal for unity to the brothers and sisters there. I have provided additional context regarding the concerns there for your reference:

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (ESV)

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

As we apply this to our modern-day culture and experience, we can see similar patterns within the universal Church … and in particular … the American church. So much of what divides the Body are the theological differences espoused by various denominational “leaders” which often steer people to “follow the leader” rather than the Head of the Church – which is Christ Jesus.  While faith is a personal matter, and each of us have our own individual theology, there is still a call for unity. The Apostle Peter and Paul did not always agree on doctrinal matters, but they were still united in their love for the Lord Jesus and in the work of the Gospel:

Galatians 2:11-16 (NIV)

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles; know that a person is not justified (counted righteous) by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. So, we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

2 Peter 3:10-18 (NIV)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you eagerly look forward to the day of God to come. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

The problem with following people or cultural changes instead of growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is that we can become divided over “worldly wisdom” or “human rules”.  Jesus spoke to this issue as recorded in both Matthew and Mark … where He quotes the Prophet Isaiah to affirm His teaching:

Matthew 15:1-9 (NIV) See Also Mark 7:5-13

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ (Cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ (Cf. Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9) But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus, you nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Cf. Isaiah 29:13)

So, yes, I think it is important for us to consider these concerns in light of our call to the unity of faith.  The early apostles encountered these same issues and warned of divisions as the post-Resurrection, post-Pentecost Church was being formed along with its subsequent evangelism emerging to fulfill the Great Commission. This concern for unity of faith is so important that we find other apostles including the message in their writings to various assemblies of believers.  Consider the Letter of Jude:

Jude 1:3-4 (NIV)

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Jude 1:16-19 (NIV)

These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

My friends, these are some thoughts and Scriptures that came to mind as I mediated on the verse. Unity within the Body of Christ is essential if we are to be productive and effective in sharing the Gospel and winning souls for the Kingdom of God. The Apostles knew this was critical to the Gospel and its power to save.  And they warned us in their writings to be aware of the pitfalls caused by those who would cause divisions. As Paul exhorted: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.” (Cf. Philippians 3:18-19) Indeed, I pray the Church will always seek unity of spirit and mind; be centered upon Christ Jesus and Him alone; and be joined in heart for the purpose of His commission and glory!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people. ~ Romans: 16:17-18

Have The Same Mindset…

Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Verse of the Day reminds us to have the same attitude of mind … the same disposition and character … that Christ Jesus had when He lived among us.  Paul requests that Father God, who gives us patient endurance and great encourage in our walks of life, would give us a correct mindset in our relationships with one another. So, why is this important for us to consider?  Paul answers, “That we might be united … one mind and one voice … in order to glorify God!” Let’s look at the passage in its broader context:

Romans 15:1-13 (NIV)

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (Citing Psalm 69:9) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” (Citing Psalm 18:49) Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” (Citing Deuteronomy 32:43) And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol Him.” (Citing Psalm 117:1) And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in Him the Gentiles will hope.” (Citing Isaiah 11:10) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What I love about this passage is its affirmation of WHO affords us endurance in our walk of faith … WHO encourages us in our trials and challenges along the journey … and WHO gives us the wisdom of His Word to equip us with a proper perspective on how we are to extend these same blessings to those around us.  Indeed, it is God the Father who richly gives us all these things through His Son – the Living Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (Cf. John 1:14)  Yes, I am reminded where Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi the same exhortation to have the mindset of Christ:

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 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. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

And the Apostle John exhorted:

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

We know that we have come to know Jesus if we keep His commands. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His Word, God’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

My friends, it is clear that we need to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Cf. Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27) We are to be in Him … live in Him … have the same mindset as Him.  We are to humble ourselves to one another … esteem others better than ourselves … look out for the interests of others.  Yes, these are the things that conform us to His image and bring glory to God the Father.  And so, I will conclude with what Jesus admonished:

John 15:5-14 (NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians: 4:22-24

Unity … The Purpose of Christ

Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)

He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Our Verse of the Day is a powerful revelation of the mystery of God’s will. Have you ever wondered about what God has been doing over the course of human history … what He has purposed through the sending of His Son into this world? Note how the “disclosure” of this mystery is phrased by Paul:

1. God has “unveiled” the mystery of His will … because He wanted to make it known (i.e. according to His good pleasure)

2. The mystery has to do with His will concerning the purpose for which Christ Jesus (His Son) was sent into the world.

3. The purpose is to “be put into effect” when the times reach their fulfillment.

4. The stated purpose is “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

There it is! God’s will … which He purposed in Christ … is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him … when the times reach their fulfillment…. And we find this message of “unity” proclaimed in the Scriptures. Here are some examples for us:

Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

 

John 17:22-23 (NIV)

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 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.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Ephesians 2:11-16 (NIV)

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

It is clear that God wants unity between all believers! He wants us to come to the unity that proceeds forth from faith in Jesus Christ. And I believe that the purpose of the Church is to assemble and unify the diversity and uniqueness of each individual believer. We are members of His Body … and the Spirit has gifted us as HE determines for the edification and building up of the Body into a unified whole … functioning in interdependence and respect for one another and loving one another as we have been loved by Christ Jesus. Remember, UNITY is His will! I pray this lesson will be applied to our hearts as we submit to His will and to love for one another. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Be Like-Minded…

Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Although Jesus has called us out of the world … believers are authorized and commissioned to be in the world as His Body.  We, the Church, are saved to serve … to be the eyes and ears, hands and feet, heart and mind of Christ in this world.  In order to fulfill our role, Paul admonishes us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world; but rather, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Cf. Romans 12:2) And so, our verse today reminds us that being united as believers in Christ changes us and how we relate to one another. What we have received from Him is to be shared in a spirit of unity through the bonds of love and peace. (Cf. Ephesians 4:3) The Apostle Peter urges believers to be like minded … to be sympathetic … to love another and to be compassionate and humble just as our Lord Jesus. (Cf. 1 Peter 3:8) Whatever blessings we receive through abiding in Christ Jesus, we are to share those same blessings with others.  Unity is a testimony to our faith, and God the Father is glorified through the fruit we bear. (Cf. John 15:8)

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:28

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!