Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2024
John 17:21
Introduction:
A. Tonight, we will look at the 5th Petition in the Lord’s Prayer. A prayer for the unity of the believers. Tonight, we will look at the importance of rightful division and unrightful division as both are used in your Bible.
1. Notice the wording of verse 21. “That they MAY be one.” There is a double meaning found here. “May be” means that they may be or the may not be unified!
2. We live in divided days where churches are divided against each other and saved people are divided against each other.
3. The will of our Lord Jesus Christ was that believers and churches be unified. Therefore, His petition.
B. The word “divided” is used 69 times in your King James Bible; divide is used 129 times; and division or divisions is used 23 times making a total of 221 times in one form of the other.
C. The word “unity” is only found 6 times in your King James Bible. The massive differentiation in numbers is because often in the Bible, the Word of God gives more warning than encouragement. A great example of this is that our Lord Jesus said more about hell than He did about heaven.
D. The opposite of unity is division, and each one has its proper place as BOTH are essential to the purity of our unity and our service in unity.
E. In the First Mention of Divided (Genesis 1:4), we find that the first division was an act of God.
1. God divided Light from Darkness. Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. God said that light was good and the opposite of that is darkness is not good.
2. God divided sin from holiness. Genesis 3:7-8 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
3. Sin divided the sinner from the Lord. Genesis 3:7-8 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
4. God has divided the believer from the unbeliever. Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
5. In the Nes Testament, God has divided sound doctrine from false doctrine. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
6. God has divided the ones walking orderly from those who walk disorderly. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7. I will stop with these as the subject tonight is unity rather than division. But division is, in such cases, God ordained and therefore good.
F. Therefore, there is a division that is right and a division that is wrong. Watching over the unity of the local church is a valuable part of the pastor’s work.
G. Christ prayed for unity through the ages. John 17:20-21 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.
1 Corinthians 1:10 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.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
H. “That they all may be one!” Who is “they all?” Every believer in every place in every time. From Christ until the Rapture of His Church.
1. Unity comes through Love. Romans 12:9-10 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
2. Unity comes through Forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
3. Unity comes through SoundDoctrine. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
4. Unity comes through Direction. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
5. Unity comes through Purpose. Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
6. Unity comes through Diversity. Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
a. Diversity in People. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Red, yellow, brown, black or white—they are precious in His sight and have a perfect right to assemble together! Period!!!)
b. Diversity in Personal Separation. Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. (God hates Phariseeism!)
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