The Church’s Unity
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
4/23/2017 AM
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Text:
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John 17;
Lord's Day 21
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Psalters: |
349, 24, 133, 370 |
- The idea.
- It is a spiritual unity.
- The one Church consists of all of the elect from the beginning to the end of the world.
- Its unity is expressed in the figures: flock or fold (John 10:16), temple or house (Eph. 2:20-22; I Peter 2:5), body.
- The Church is united by election and by having the same Spirit, Lord, baptism, hope, God and Father (Eph. 4:4-6).
- The unity of the Church is something for which Jesus prayed: “that they may be one, as we are” (John 17:11b).
- The basis and character of the church’s unity.
- Its basis is not found in the Church itself, but outside of it, in Jesus.
- It is the unity of election in Christ, the one and only Head of the Church; “those whom Thou has given Me.”
- It is a unity of life: the one life of the risen Lord pulsates in every member.
- It is a unity accomplished by the one Spirit, Who unites every elect to the one Head (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:3).
- This unity is characterized by a beautiful diversity, not monotonous identity.
- This spiritual unity is established by Christ alone and not by humans.
- We are called to manifest the Church’s unity.
- It is to be manifested through God’s name (John 17:11), i.e., with a unity of truth (objective faith).
- Correctly understand true ecumenicity (Oct. 31, 2010 issue of the S.B.).
- We are explicitly commanded not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25).
- We are to “endeavor (exert every effort) to keep the unity” (Eph. 4:3). We keep the unity of the Spirit by...