The Unity of God

True unity begins in God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfectly united together. They never disagree, argue, or fight. There is perfect peace and harmony within God. God wants this divine unity to be reflected among his people.

Peace and harmony come from being united with God. Pain and trouble come from being disunited with God. 

God wants his people to be united with himself and with each other. As people submit to God’s word and walk in his Spirit, they will be united together. God commands his people to be of one mind (2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 2:2). He says they should be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). 

The early church was joined together in one heart and one soul (Acts 4:32). They had similar desires and similar thoughts, for they focused upon God. Because of unity, their prayers were answered (Matthew 18:20), and God’s kingdom came through them into the earth.

Divine unity is the source of our power.

Attacks on Unity

Satan attacks the unity of God’s people in order to destroy the power of the church. The Galatians were in danger of biting and devouring each other because they were disunited because of false teaching (Galatians 5:15). The Corinthians came together in church not for edification, but for destruction, because they were disunited (1 Corinthians 11:17-18). Jude described false teachers as rocky reefs who disrupted the fellowship among God’s people and brought shipwreck to the church (Jude 12). Disunity among God’s people can be a terrible thing.

God says the beginning of strife is as when water begins to trickle out from an embankment (Proverbs 17:14). It starts small, but the dam erodes, and finally a flood of destruction is unleashed. 

Strife comes from the flesh (James 4:1). We need to be in the Spirit to have true unity, but when someone is in the flesh, disunity appears. Those who are immature in the faith are like children; they are carnal and create strife.

Strife comes from sin, for sin separates from God and from his people. 

Strife comes from false teachings which introduce confusion and darkness among God’s people. God’s truth shines light and spreads his Spirit, but false teachings spread evil spirits and darkness.

Some people cause strife. False teachers cause strife (Romans 16:17). Some people are particularly divisive. Divisive people often bring doctrines that are not according to Christ. They must be avoided (Titus 3:10). 

God hates a few things, and one thing he hates is a person who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). Being a false witness is one way to sow discord, by talking about others in a false way. Gossip and slander can sow discord and damage close relationships.

Unity Will be Attained

God desires the perfect unity of the Trinity to be manifested among his people. Jesus prayed that his people would all be as united with each other as he is with his Father (John 17:21). There is perfect unity between Father and Son, and there is to be perfect unity among believers. Someday this great prayer of Christ will be answered, and perfect unity will be achieved. This united church will be the bride of Christ – the faithful remnant of God in the end times. 

God’s people will eventually come into the “unity of the faith” and be transformed into “a perfect man” (Ephesians 4:11). Then the members of the body of Christ will receive instructions from their head, submit completely to him, and be perfectly united with each other. Out from this powerful singular, many-membered MAN, God’s glory will radiate into the world. Then they will have dominion over the earth, and the creation will be set free (Romans 8:19-21). 

Whenever we have true fellowship with God’s people, we have a glorious foretaste of that coming day of blessedness. 

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

It is like the dew of Hermon,

Descending upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.” (Psalm 133)