v Living
in love and unity. This pursuit
touches on the others, but also receives special attention for believers. The new command Jesus gave His disciples in
John 13:34 was given so that you love one another. The Corinthian church had issues of disunity,
and thus we find twice strong exhortations from Paul. Now I plead with you brethren by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10). The underlined terms are supplied by the
translators, indicating that each statement is part of a description of unity,
a unity that goes far beyond the just being in the same “organization.” But God composed the body, having given
greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no
schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for
one another (1 Cor. 12:25). John
gives another reason for writing the first epistle: we declare to you that
you also may have fellowship with us (1 John 1:3).
v Being
sound in doctrine. The words Jesus
spoke to his disciples the night He was betrayed were spoken so that
you should not be made to stumble (Jn. 16:1).
o One
of the strongest passages placing this pursuit before the local church
is found in Eph. 4:11-16 which so clearly describes the structure of
the Church. When the men Christ gives to
the church do their ministries, and the members engage in the ministry for which
they have been equipped, we see this goal is accomplished: that
we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting (v14). It is important
to note that this doctrinal solidarity is not the end of the process. The further result of sound doctrine among
the believers is that they grow together in unity (v15-16).
o In
Colossians 4:4 Paul’s words are designed lest anyone should
deceive you with persuasive words.
o Paul
sent Timothy to Ephesus and charged him to remain there that
you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3). Elders in a church have this same purpose
according to Titus 1:9: they are to hold fast the faithful word as he has
been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict
those who contradict. Titus was to rebuke the Cretan believers sharply that
they may be sound in the faith (1:13).
o Peter
tells believers at the end of his second epistle to beware lest you also
fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked
(2 Peter 3:17).
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