by Mark Mayberry
Synopsis: The biblical Godhead includes a plurality of Beings (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) united in perfect Oneness. Believers should aspire to similar unity of aim, a collective recognition of authority, and comparable agreement in action. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Ps.133:1).
On the night of His betrayal, Jesus prayed that all His followers would be one (John 17:20-21). Paul pleaded with the Corinthian disciples that they be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10). The saints at Ephesus were exhorted to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Unity among God's people is a highly valued commodity (Ps. 133:1-3).
Nevertheless, the question remains; "How can unity be achieved?" There are only two alternatives: We can achieve unity based on truth, or we can reach an agreement based on error.
Error has a way of disguising itself and its consequences. Despite appearances to the contrary, unity based on error can never lead to truth or true unity. Agreement based on error is a false unity—without depth or worth, fraudulent, artificial, and unreal.
The prophet Amos asked, "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3). The answer to this rhetorical question is obviously, "No!" The only way we can walk with another person is if we agree with him. The only way we can walk with God is if we conform to His will.
The Bible says, "Noah walked with God." How so? He was just (Gen. 6:9), obedient (Gen. 6:22), and filled with faith (Heb. 11:7). His life was in agreement with the will of God.
No unity can exist between truth and error: They have no shared basis of agreement, but are entirely different, leading in opposite directions (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Unity with God is based on our willingness to walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7). Solidarity with brethren is based on our mutual acceptance of the truth (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 John 1:3).
To achieve unity, we must accept the Bible as God's pattern (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This was true in both the Old and New Testaments (Exod. 25:40; 2 Tim. 1:13). In writing to the Romans, Paul said, "You became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed" (Rom. 6:17-18). The Greek word tupos, here translated "form," appears sixteen times in the New Testament and carries the idea of a pattern:
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form (tupos) of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Rom. 6:17-18).
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern (tupos) you have in us (Phil. 3:17).
BDAG suggests the following shades of meaning: "(1) a mark made as the result of a blow or pressure, mark, trace; (2) embodiment of characteristics or function of a model, copy, image… (4) a kind, class, or thing that suggests a model or pattern, form, figure, pattern… (6) an archetype serving as a model, type, pattern, model."
Louw and Nida define tupos as "a visual form designed to be imitated or copied" (58.58). Under the heading of "Form," W.E. Vine describes it as, "The representation or pattern of anything… The metaphor is that of a cast or frame into which molten material is poured so as to take its shape. The gospel is the mold; those who are obedient to its teachings become conformed to Christ, whom it presents" (Vine, 251).
God is consistent in His dealings with humanity. He expected Israel to remain faithful to the pattern (Isa. 8:19-20; Jer. 6:16), and demands the same of us (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11). In the spirit of Isaiah, let us turn to the law and the testimony for our authority in religion. In the spirit of Jeremiah, let us seek the old paths, the good ways of God. By walking therein, we will find rest to our souls.
To achieve unity, we must understand the Bible as God's pattern. Sacred Scripture repeatedly affirms that we can understand its message. As Jesus refuted the error of the scribes and Pharisees regarding the washing of hands, He said, "Hear and understand…" (Matt. 15:10-11). His words will judge us on the last day (John 12:48). This necessarily infers that man can comprehend the teaching of Christ; otherwise, His judgment would be unjust.
The apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit to reveal the hidden wisdom of God (1 Cor. 2:6-16). Paul affirms that we can know the mystery of Christ, which was made known by divine revelation (Eph. 3:1-5). Through the gift of divine inspiration, he had a perfect understanding of God's will. Christians today do not enjoy that same measure of the Holy Spirit as did the inspired apostles and prophets. Nevertheless, we can have the same understanding as Paul. When we read what he wrote, we can understand as he understood.
Later in the same epistle, the holy apostle said, "do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17). The Greek word that is here translated "understand" literally means "to put together." As we are filled with teaching of the Holy Spirit, we put things together in our mind (Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16). For those who faithfully apply themselves to the word of God, diligence leads to knowledge, and knowledge leads to proper understanding and application.
True unity comes when we accept the truth. False unity comes when we accept error. The solution to religious disputes must not be, "Let us agree to disagree." Rather the solution to doctrinal disagreement must always be, "What saith the Scriptures?" (Rom. 4:2-3; 11:2-5; Gal. 4:28-31).
When questioned about spiritual truth, Jesus often replied, "Have you not read…?" He asked this question when the Pharisees attacked Him for allowing His disciples to pluck the heads of grain on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8). He answered in this manner when they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matt. 19:3-6). He asked this question when refuting the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection (Matt. 22:23-34; Mark 12:18-27). He did this in applying the parable of the unjust vinedressers (Mark 12:1-12). In other words, we should turn to the pages of divine revelation for spiritual guidance.
Certain attitudes and actions help our understanding of God's word: Shunning evil leads to understanding (Job 28:28), as does striving after knowledge (Prov. 9:10). Obedience leads to understanding (Ps. 111:10); so also does diligence (Prov. 2:3-5) and desire (John 7:17). Transformation and renewal lead to understanding (Rom. 12:2), as does spiritual-mindedness (1 Cor. 2:14-16).
In contrast, some attitudes hinder our understanding of God's word. Jesus spoke in parables so that those who were dull of heart would not comprehend (Matt. 13:10-16). Kinship with the devil keeps rebellious men from understanding, believing, and accepting the truth (John 8:43-45). Sin destroys our spiritual perceptiveness (Rom. 3:9-12; 1 Cor. 2:14). Worldliness hardens the heart (Eph. 4:17-19).
When do we have a hard time understanding the truth? When we have some priority other than simply obeying God's word. If we are trying to maintain fellowship with a person who teaches error, we may have a tough time deciding who is a false teacher. If we are trying to justify an unscriptural marriage, we may convince ourselves that the New Testament teaching on that subject is just too challenging to comprehend.
Nevertheless, the Bible is clear on the matter of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. The same is true about social drinking, dancing, immodest dress, etc.
We can understand God's word if we have the mind of Christ. It all depends upon our attitude. However, if we are trying to justify some sinful or questionable practice, we will often be unable to comprehend the simple teaching of God's word as it relates to that issue.
To achieve unity, we must conform to the Bible as God's pattern. God predestined that the saved be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29). In other words, we must think like Christ, talk like Christ, and act like Christ.
Those who put on the Lord Jesus Christ walk properly and make no provision to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 13:13-14). Those who turn to the Lord, and with an unveiled face, behold His glory revealed upon the pages of Scripture, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:16-18). Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). Therefore, we must conform our hearts and lives to the word of God (Rom. 6:17-18).
How will we seek to achieve unity? Our answer will reflect our attitude toward truth. Those who love the truth will seek unity based on truth. It is imperative that we love the truth (Prov. 23:23; John 8:32). Those who do not share this attitude jeopardize their souls (Rom. 2:8-10; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).
Why is genuine unity such a scarce commodity? Why is religious division so prevalent? The answer is simple: Many do not accept the Bible as a revelation of God's truth, make no effort to understand the truth, and refuse to conform their lives to the truth.
Therefore, to achieve unity with God and His people, we must accept the Bible as the divine pattern, attain an accurate understanding of its teaching, and be conformed to the pattern revealed therein.
BDAG = Bauer, Walter, Frederick W. Danker, William Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996.
Author Bio: Mark and Sherelyn have labored with the Adoue Street church of Christ in Alvin, TX since 1998, where he serves as the evangelist and an elder. The church website is ascoc.org. His Bible study website is markmayberry.net. He can be reached at mark@truthpublications.com.
