[Biblemat] How Is Unity Possible? - Number 2

[GLClair at aol.com]

HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? – Number 2 

First things  first: 
Go back and connect with  Number 1 in this series of studies. 
There will be several  Numbers forthcoming dealing with this subject  [GLC]. 
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE  [i.e. proper interpretation of the Written  Word] 
John 8:32, “and ye shall know the truth, and the  truth shall make you free.”
 ASV 
John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word  is truth.” ASV 
Psalms 119:9-19, “9 Wherewith shall a young man  cleanse his way? By taking 
heed (thereto) according to thy word. 10 With my  whole heart have I sought 
thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11  Thy word have I laid up in 
my heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12  Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: 
teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I  declared all the ordinances of 
thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy  testimonies, as much as in 
all riches. 15 I will meditate on thy precepts, and  have respect unto thy ways. 
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not  forget thy word. 17 
Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; so will  I observe thy word, 
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things  out of thy law. 19 
I am a sojourner in the earth: hide not thy commandments from  me.” ASV 
Indeed, interpretation is  another point where disunity exists among 
religious people. Many religious  people disagree on the meaning and application of 
the same Scripture; for an  example, Acts 2:38 is interpreted by some to teach 
baptism because they are  already saved yet the passage clearly states that 
baptism is “for the remission  of sins” --- The passage cannot have two meaning 
that are both correct. In order  for unity to exist among the two disputants 
of the passage one must give up  their interpretation and accept the 
interpretation of the  other. 
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN {i.e.  submitting to the Biblical plan for man’s 
salvation from  sin}: 
God has revealed a plan  for man’s salvation from sin [i.e. often called 
first principles]; that plan  includes: 
    1.  Hearing the gospel [i.e.  understanding it]: Romans 10:17 
    2.  Believing the gospel  [i.e. being convinced that Jesus Is Christ, the 
Son of God and acceptance of  the Bible as an absolutely perfect guide in 
past, present, and future  details]: Mark 16:15-17 
    3.  Repenting of past sins:  Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38 
    4.  Confessing Jesus with  the mouth publicly: Romans 10:9-10 
    5.  Being baptized through  immersion --- for the remission of sins: Acts 
2:38; Romans 6:1-5; 1 Peter  3:21 
    6.  The Lord will “add” you  to His Body, the church; Acts 2L47
REMAINING FAITHFUL TO  GOD”S INSTRUCTIONS THROUGHOUT LIFE [i.e. understanding 
that man is subject to  fall and understanding that God has provided a means 
for restoration to full  disciple status]: 
Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art  about to suffer: 
behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison,  that ye may be tried; 
and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful  unto death, and I 
will give thee the crown of life.”  ASV 
Psalms  119:30-32,  “30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: thine 
ordinances have I set (before  me). 31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put 
me not to shame. 32 I will  run the way of thy commandments, when thou shall 
enlarge my heart.”  ASV 
Gal 5:22-25, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,  joy, peace, 
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness,  self-control; against 
such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus  have crucified the 
flesh with the passions and the lusts  thereof. 25 If we live by  the Spirit, by 
the Spirit let us also walk.” ASV 
IS UNITY  POSSIBLE? 
The unity for which Christ  prayed, the unity that is Biblical in origin; all 
are based upon acceptance of  God’s Written Word and a consistent 
interpretation submitted to by all who seek  true religion. This is a problem today as it 
has always been with mankind  because of “free moral agency” --- the ability 
for each person to choose between  a given point of Biblical truth. Many 
people cannot agree upon the content and  application of Holy Scripture --- this 
is the point at which disunity enters the  equation; man is capable of unity 
but he will not allow unity because he will  not abide by the interpretation of 
its contents 

_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)  
considermagazine.com



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