One in Christ

One in Christ 

by David Brenneman 

In Heaven all we are are people who are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Our world, in both good intentions and ill will, push people into people groups. 

But what ought Christians believe and behave concerning all this?

While heritage is important...most of what you read in the Bible concerning a family lineage points that out to us all...it's not what's important unto salvation. 

The Earthly line from which you and I came from have nothing to do with the Spiritual world.  Jesus, at the Final Judgment, ONLY separates the sheep from the goats.  Those who have salvation through Himself from those who do not. 

Why oh why do so many Believers jump on a bandwagon to promote that which divides people?  

How are we showing the love of God in Christ Jesus by forming groups based on the physical world that absolutely do not matter in light of eternity?

Satan's the architect of division.  As it's written a house divided cannot stand.  Satan's the infiltrator of the Church to cause divisions and ruin the name of Jesus Christ. 

Satan's the one who pushes race, color or anything else the world values in order to bring about destruction of lives. To separate even intimate friends.  To cause the name of Jesus to be tarnished.

What did Jesus say? Didn't He say, rather specifically, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself"?  Where in this specific statement are so-called Churches coming up with promoting values that force the embracing of race, color, gender onto their congregations?  Simple...it's not of God. 

Paul wrote a very harsh statement and as it IS written in the Word of God, I heartily agree with it. 

"I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:12-26.

Honestly, is the love of Christ revealed in rallies and conventions that promote worldly ideals rather than the Word of God?  Hardly!

Love God with our everything, love others as He first loved us.  Sounds simple enough that a child could understand it.  Wait, isn't that exactly what Jesus also said?  We must come to Him as a child?

The online acceptable division is between Believers and the unbelieving.  In Hell, there are only those who rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Based on what we see of the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, people don't really care about the things this world purports to value.  They just know they are in painful torment and it's never going to get any better. 

The most horrific thing to me is to ever find out that my personal behavior, my way of living life, pushed anyone away from the cross of Jesus Christ.  If by my words, by my actions, I had a hand in someone losing sight of my Savior Jesus Christ, that my Dear Reader, would crush me. 

What about you?  Are you embracing aspects of this life to the detriment of your reputation in Christ Jesus? Are you not valuing your position in Christ as importantly as the Bible says that everyone who is in Christ ought to be?

I don't know about you, but, I don't ever want to stand in the way of someone who needs Jesus.  

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it." 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Are you truly representing Christ or yourself in your walk through this world?  

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  His Kingdom isn't divided. His Kingdom seeks the will of the Father to be done. Which is to seek and save the lost. Period. 

Lastly, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.