I was recently listening to a speaker and they were talking about something quite interesting; they were talking about how God works throughout scripture. From listening to the speaker I gathered and understood that whenever God is accomplishing a great work, He does so in certain ways and steps. Then, from my study, I saw how scripture clearly shows four key things about how God works:

• There is a MOTIVE to His work
• There is a MEANS to His work
• There is a MARK of His work
• There is a MEASURE of His work

Now, upon meditating on this, I had to personalize it to grasp it better. So, for example, if I’m a contractor who builds houses, I know that I should also have a motive, means, mark, and measure of my own work. My motive to build a house should be to gain income and help persons get their dream house. My means to building that house should be hiring the workmen and attaining the money and material that are needed. The mark of my work should be a completed house that fits the desires of my clients and the specifications of the approved plans. The measure of my work should be that, after years of storms, earthquakes, and any wear and tear that happens with the passage of time, that house should stand firmly and not crumble.

We can then apply this revelation and knowledge to a key structure and work that God built and is continually building among us; unity.

God’s Work of Unity

¹² While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. ²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; ²¹ 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 hast sent me. ²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: ²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

– St. John 17:12-21 (KJV)

Right before He was arrested and executed on the cross, Jesus spent some time praying. A period of 3 years of ministry was coming to an end and His purpose on earth was about to be fulfilled. The Gospel of John chapter 17 showed that, before enduring the pains of betrayal, arrest, accusations, beatings, and crucifixion, Jesus spent some time praying for us; He prayed for the disciples that He had then and He prayed for all of us who would come about after them because of their ministry. Even though we might not remember the entirety of St. John 17 word for word, we always tend to remember this presiding phrase; “that they may be one, as we are one”.

The greatest of miracles is to see that, by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the transformative work of His Holy Spirit, a saved and redeemed people can rise up and walk in complete surrender, complete obedience, complete fruitfulness, and complete unity with each other. Unity is critical to the survival of the redeemed people in Christ; He earnestly prayed for it for us before suffering the burden of the cross. Unity is also birthed among us by the Holy Spirit. It is therefore birthed not by our own works or efforts but by the Spirit of God; it is a work of God. If as a Church we are to progress in Christ, whether on a personal or collective level, we must learn the value and principles of God’s work of unity. We cannot continue to act as separate entities who cannot find solutions when there are strivings or disagreements, or who seek to run with every threat, discomfort or challenge.

Is there a motive, a means, a mark and a measure to God’s work of unity in scripture? 

#1 The Motive for Unity is the Great Commission

¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is the declaration of the Gospel to all and the initiation of Discipleship among the Saints. It is meant to spread the Gospel, develop believers, and, in doing all of that, help to foster unity. The Church did not grow until the Apostles started preaching. The Apostles didn’t start preaching until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were not filled with the Holy Spirit until after they were given the Great Commission.

#2 The Means of Unity is the Holy Spirit

¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; – Ephesians 4:1-4 (ESV)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. – Romans 8:14 (ESV)

The Great Commission is the motivation for unity, but the facilitator of unity is the Holy Spirit. He is the means through which unity is achieved. Unity in Christ is a Spirit-born and Spirit-led process. It comes to fruition when the fruit of the Holy Spirit are developed in the life of a believer. All of us who have the Spirit of God are children of God. And as children, since we have the same Holy Spirit, we will/should automatically allow the Holy Spirit to foster His work of unity and peace among us. Any other means of achieving unity, whether by our own strength, meditation, efforts etc, which would be void of the Holy Spirit, would never result to anything lasting.

#3 The Mark of Unity is the Love of Jesus

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – St. John 13:35 (ESV)

In understanding this point it would be good to reference 1 John 4:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 13, as they both speak about the importance of love. It is firstly important to know that God is love, then that there are distinct characteristics about love, and finally the importance of us having love for one another. Love is the primary mark of Christian maturity, even being the first aspect of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit mentioned. The love of Christ is therefore the primary indicator of unity in the life of a believer and church. As Jesus said in John 13:35, having love for one another (having the love of Christ) is the way in which persons would know that we are His disciples.

#4 The Measure of Unity is the Visibility of Jesus Christ

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Colossians 1:27 (ESV)

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. – Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)

It is one thing to be marked, but it is another thing to be measured. Having the love of Christ is the initially mark, but the measure of unity is seeing a believer mature to the full image of Christ. The believer develops, with time, surrender, and discipline, the mind of Christ, the heart of Christ, the desires of Christ, and even the expressed ministry of Christ (in power and proclamation). We are firstly crucified with Christ. This means that we must understand that it is Christ who is living in us, and not our own selves trying to live life our own way. Then we must see that God’s aim for us is that Christ become our hope of glory. Finally, we must be one in Christ, for we are the body of Christ. We possess His Spirit and only His Spirit can give the expressions of Christ. Our own spirits are unable to do so, hence why we need His Spirit and why we need unity in Christ and with each other. As Christ takes more control over our being the true measure of unity will be seen in us, where we would attain (not on our own strength but because of the work of Christ) the fullness of the image of Christ.

To Be Continued