The Unity of Faith

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:7-16

While unity among the body of Christ is important, there are several non-negotiable elements. For example, we might not agree on which automobile is the best, but we would all certainly concur that it needs an engine and four wheels. Similarly, there are several indisputable anchors of Christian truth that cannot be compromised.

There can be no uncertainty about the deity of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God - fully divine, fully God - without blemish or spot.

There can be no dispute about the centrality of the cross. It was Calvary that Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of man, making forgiveness and eternal life possible. There is no other way to be reconciled to God except by faith in Christ. Salvation cannot be earned; it is a gift of grace received by personal trust.

There can be no doubt about the accuracy of God’s Word. All of the Bible is divinely inspired and is God’s inerrant communication to man. All of Scripture is literal, plain truth.

When fellowship is built on these unchanging convictions, the testimony of the church is a bedrock of truth in an unstable and volatile world.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16