Chapter
130
Unity of
Believers
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What relation do
the Father and the Son sustain to each other?
"I and My Father are one." John 10:30.
In what did
Christ ask the Father in behalf of His disciples?
"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given
Me, that they may be one, as We are." John 17:11.
Could the church
be thus, what influence would it have on unbelievers?
"That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou has
sent Me." John 17:21.
What did the
apostle Paul teach on this point?
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment." 1 Cor. 1:10.
What was a
prominent cause of division in the early church?
"For I know this, that after My departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts
20:29, 30.
What did this
division cause among the believers even in Paul's day?
"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth [hindereth] will let, until he be taken out of the way." 2 Thess.
2:7.
When paganism,
that which hindered the full development of this "mystery," was taken
out of ti1e way, what followed?
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of
His coming." 2 Thess. 2:8.
By what name is
this power elsewhere called?
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition: who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called
God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God." 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.
To what does the
apostle liken the church?
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
1 Cor. 12:27.
And being
members of Christ's body, of what else do we become members?
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members
one of another." Rom. 12:5.
As members of
one another, what is the duty of each?
"That there should be no schism in the body: but that the members
should have the same care one for another." 1 Cor. 12:25.
If the church is
one, as the body of Christ, what should be its united aim?
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. 4:1-3.
When the Lord is
about to come, how will the true ministers of the gospel stand on this point?
"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall
they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again
Zion." Isa. 52:8.
What solemn
message, just before the Lord's coming, will bring this unity?
"And the third angel followed
them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God... Here is the patience of the saints: here are they
that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev.
14:9-12.
When the lord
comes, what will be the united cry of these faithful ones?
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have
waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the lord; we have waited for
Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isa. 25:9.
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