Ephesians 4:4–6 “There
is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs
to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who
is over all and through all and in all.”
Continuing
the short study on the church that I came across, it states that: Holiness is
not the only characteristic of the church that is identified in the Nicene
Creed. The statement of faith also says that the church is “one” and
“catholic.” But what is meant by these adjectives?
First,
the word “catholic” in the creed does not refer to the Roman Catholic
Church, for there was no Roman Catholic Church at the time the creed was
written. The word catholic only means “universal”, the worldwide body of
Believers in Jesus Christ. It is a testimony that the church is not limited to
one nationality, ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or gender. Anyone—male or
female, rich or poor, European or Asian, Hispanic or anyone—can be a full
member of the church of Jesus Christ. All that is required is repentance and
faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Scripture addresses the catholicity
of the church in many places. Paul, for example, says all believers, no matter
their background, are one in Christ Jesus in Galatians 3:28–29. The prophets
foresaw a day in which people from all nations would worship “Yahweh”, the one
true God and covenant Lord of Israel. In Christ, this is happening even as we
speak.
Catholicity
and unity are intimately related. Because the church is not limited to one
area
or people group, it forms one body. There is not church a, church b,
and church c. There is just “the church of Jesus Christ.” Now, you might
be thinking: “Wait a minute. But we do
see different denominations and non-denominational churches. The church is not
one; it is split among many bodies.” Of course, that is true. As a “visible
entity”, the church is not presently united. We have Lutherans, Baptists,
Methodists, Presbyterians, and a host of others. There are important points of
disagreement between all these churches that keep them from maintaining visible
unity.
John 17:16-23 “They
are not of the world, even as I an not of the world. Sanctify then through thy
truth: thy word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, even so have I
also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I I sanctify myself, that
they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these
alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That
they all may be one; as thou, father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also
may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the
glory that you give me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are
one. I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in me; and that
the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have
loved me.”
Yet
when we talk about the oneness of the church, we are speaking primarily of the “invisible
unity” that all of us who believe in Jesus share in Christ. Everyone who knows
Christ as Savior is united to everyone else who knows Christ as Savior. That is
because all of us are united to Christ, and He has only one body (the body of
Believe – His church), as the opening bible passage indicates. At present, this
unity is often invisible to us, although it is visible when Christians from
different denominations fellowship together. Any disunity is regrettable, and
we should work toward “visible unity” insofar as it is possible to do so
without compromising the gospel. Even so, we know that one day the church will
be visibly united in glory. Jesus has prayed that we will be one.
Many
people want to promote visible unity at the expense of the truth. But it should
be evident that if individuals cannot agree on the basics of the truth, they
are not united in any meaningful sense. Unity at the expense of truth is a
foundationless unity, but that does not mean the pursuit of unity—even visible
unity—is in itself sinful. We should be seeking unity. It is what Jesus prayed
for.
Blessings
No comments:
Post a Comment