Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Paul is giving a classic statement on unity
• Phil 2
• Eph 4
• Paul is very thankful for the believers (1:3-4)
• The people are in unity
• There is hardly a word of correction
• There are many commendations
• However, there is the concern over unity
• There is a problem with two women
• He addresses this matter in Philippians
• v2 - Paul wanted his joy to be complete - he wanted them to be completely united
• Quote from John MacArthur
• Unity is so important (and was Paul's desire)
• Rom 15:5-6
• 1 Cor 1:10
• 2 Cor 13:11
• Eph 4:3-6
• Unity often needs to be brought to the Church
• It is a needed message for the Church as the devil will always seek to disrupt God's people
• Consider Jesus' prayer
• We are really united this has a huge impact on the world around us
• Overview
• Meaning of Unity
• Motives of Unity
• Marks of Unity

Meaning of Unity

• The world defines unity as the brotherhood of man
• The world expects this of the Church
• This philosophy will never work as it does not deal with the fundamental issues that disunite
• What is unity?
• Biblical truth tells us why man hates man - because of sin
• It tells us how we can be united with one another - only if we are united with God
• The heart of the Bible is the message of reconciliation at the cross
• We find peace with God and one another
• If you are reconciled to one another, you still have to work hard to preserve unity
• Paul is writing to a doctrinally sound church
• 4:1 - there is no heresy in this church, it is a joy and crown
• 4:15 - this is an exemplary church
• Yet there are dangers of disunity
• We may be doctrinally sound yet disunity can come
• Examples
• The devil attacks where the church is active
• Unity is about your relationship with God
• If you are right with God - you are right with others

Motives of Unity

• v1 - Consolation of Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection & mercy
• Not an 'if' of doubt but a since, a because, a therefore
• Consolation of Christ
• Consider the promises of Christ
• Consider the consolations and encouragements of Christ
• Paul addresses the issue tenderly
• Comfort of love
• If Christ has loved us so, we should love others the same
• Examples
• Fellowship of the Spirit
• 1 Cor 6 - our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
• We ought not to grieve the Holy Spirit
• Affection and mercy
• The Holy Spirit has worked in us sympathy and affection for each other
• God wants us to bear for, feel for and carry the load for each other
• Recap
• It all goes back to our relationship with God
• A fifth motive - to fulfill Paul's joy

Marks of Unity

• Like-minded
• The Bible speaks of unity - pulling together
• We are on the same team and must pull together
• We are able to speak our mind and work out our differences - but not in a way the divides or puts others down
• Example of a choir singing from the same song sheet
• We have a common standard - the Bible
• Let us remain mature
• The same love
• We do not stop loving one another
• Respond in grace and love
• Being of one accord
• We read of the early church being of one accord - in prayer, of one soul, totally united
• One soul
• One mind
• Being of one purpose
• Example of tuning a piano
• We are to be tuned to Jesus Christ
• We are to have the mind of Christ (v5)
• We need to be humble like Jesus Christ
• Unity can be restored
• Examples
• Pray for each other

Closing Remarks