Unity In DiversitySample

3. – UNITY IN THE FAITH (CREED)

Andrew woke up one day to find out that he had some worrying symptoms. He spoke to some friends about it and realized that they were all having the same problem. So, they went to the doctor. This doctor had taken care of people in the same situation, and so he knew exactly what to do. The surprise came when Andrew and his friends started arguing about the best pills and the best way to recover. That argument led them away from the realization that the one who could cure them was right there.

Ephesians 4 addresses the unity of Jesus’ followers. One of the aspects of that unity is faith. But what is this one faith? I think the author’s focus in verse 13 gives us a clue: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” The true unity in faith is in the person of Jesus. The unity of the faith is in the God we put our faith in. However many important doctrines there may be, I think we will all agree that, when we meet in Jesus, we all manage to be united. When we meet in the God who became man to communicate with us (to the point of entrusting His revelation to a book written by men – the Bible) we can accept the challenge to be united. If God became one with us, we can be one with other people. Even though medicines and rest may be important, the doctor is the one we need. In the same way, the challenge to us is that our faith is grounded solely on the one we need: God himself.

Paul continues: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:14-16)

The challenge for us is to discern where our faith is: in God, or in doctrines that, even though they may be important, aren’t God?

Pedro Wagner

Thanksgiving

· Thank you because you invite us to a faith that is centred in You alone.

· Thank you because there is no salvation anywhere else beyond Your Son Jesus.

· Thank you because we have a Saviour who invites us to grow to be like Him.

Confession

· Forgive us for trusting more in certain doctrines than in you, forgetting that You are our only Redeemer. (Suggestion: think of doctrines you defend the most earnestly and discern if your faith depends more on the truth of those doctrines than on God).

Requests

· Give us the courage to raise You up above anything else.

· Help us to be people who are well grounded in our faith in Jesus Christ.