Scripture Reading: Eph. 4:1-6; John 17:21-22; Acts 1:14; Rom. 16:7
Ⅰ
We need to see the uniqueness of the Body of Christ:
A
There is one Body in the universe—Eph. 4:4a; 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 5:23-25; 2:15; Col. 3:11; 1 Cor. 12:12.
B
The oneness of this Body is kept and expressed by each local church in its locality—Acts 8:1a; 13:1a; Rev. 1:11.
Ⅱ
We need to see the base of the oneness of the church:
A
The base of this oneness is the seven factors of our Christian faith—Eph. 4:4-6, 13:
１
The first factor is the one Body for the corporate expression of Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God.
２
The second factor is the one Spirit as the essence of the Body of Christ.
３
The third factor is the one hope of glory for the redemption of our body.
４
The fourth factor is the one Lord as the element of the Body of Christ.
５
The fifth factor is the one faith, uniting us to Christ.
６
The sixth factor is the one baptism, separating us from Adam and the Adamic world.
７
The seventh factor is the one God and Father, overshadowing us, taking care of us, and being with us.
B
The base of this oneness is the oneness of the Spirit—4:3.
C
The base of this oneness is the oneness of the Divine Trinity—John 17:21-22.
D
The base of this oneness is the oneness for which the Lord prayed:
１
This oneness is in the Father's name by the eternal life—vv. 6-13.
２
This oneness is in the Triune God through sanctification by the holy word—vv. 14-21.
３
This oneness is in the divine glory for the expression of the Triune God— vv. 22-24.
Ⅲ
The practice of the oneness is the one accord—Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 5:12; 15:25; Rom. 15:6.
Ⅳ
The apostle exhorted us to keep the oneness of the Spirit—Eph. 4:1-3.
Ⅴ
Division is heretical, sectarian—Gal. 5:20b-21a:
A
It dismembers the Body of Christ and is repulsive in the eyes of the apostles— 1 Cor. 1:10-13a; 3:3-4; 11:17-20.
B
The apostles were strong in condemning the heresies, denying the person of Christ in His divinity or in His humanity—1 John 2:22; 4:2-4; 2 John 7, 9-11; 2 Pet. 2:1.
Ⅵ
The apostle charged us to deal with the divisive, sectarian ones—Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10.