The Last Reformation | Page 6

the true relationship of
believers with each other. In order to maintain spiritual relationship
with Christ and his people, the Christian must have an obedient heart
and "walk in the light of the Lord"; but we should always be ready to
extend our fellowship to those whom Christ really receives and
approves.
How prone men have ever been to ignore this simple, divine standard
and set up arbitrary rules of their own by which to measure others! This
wrong tendency combined with the carnal ambitions of men who love
to parade their own unscriptural ideas before the world and gain
adherents has been the real cause of the disunion of Christians. But the
Bible standard is what we are now considering. It teaches that the saved
people were "members one of another" as well as members of Christ;
that they were, in fact, "all one in Christ Jesus."
[Sidenote: Unity a practical reality]
According to the New Testament standard, unity of believers is more
than an invisible, intangible, spiritual fellowship. They are "members
one of another" as well as members of Christ. That unity was designed
to be visible and to form a convincing sign to the world of the mighty
power of Christ. This stands out prominently in that notable prayer of
our Lord recorded in John 17, which was uttered on the most solemn
night of his earthly life. First he prayed for his immediate disciples,
then for all believers, in these words: "Neither pray I for these [twelve]
alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY
BELIEVE _that thou hast sent me_" (verses 20, 21).
Such unity is a real standard. It will convince the world. The practical
force of this last scripture can not be lessened by reference to those
other words of Jesus, "By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one for another" (John 13: 35), for Jesus
taught the inseparable nature of love and unity. Love, as an inward
affection, produces deeds and results, and is measured thereby. Jesus

said, "If a man love me, he will _keep my words_; and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and _make our abode with him_"
(John 14: 23). And just as love to God invariably produces union with
God, so also true love to man will result in unity. "My little children, let
us not love in word, neither in tongue; but _in deed and in truth_" (1
John 3:18). Carnal divisions can not exist where true love reigns.
[Sidenote: Christ died for unity]
For this visible unity Christ prayed--"That they all may be one,... that
the world may believe." More than this, he died that unity might be
effected. John 11:52 clearly shows that one purpose of Christ's death
was that "he should gather together in one the children of God that
were scattered abroad." Therefore unity of believers is a sacred truth
resting on the solid basis of the atonement. That this unity is more than
that general union resulting from the personal attachment of separate
individuals to Christ as a common center, is proved by the fact that it is
designed to gather together in one the scattered children of God. Jesus
himself said, "Other sheep I have [Gentiles], which are not of this
[Jewish] fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and
THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD [flock] AND ONE SHEPHERD"
(John 10:16).
[Sidenote: Jew and Gentile united]
Broadly speaking, there were at that time but two classified divisions of
men--Jews and Gentiles. Jesus predicted that his sheep from both
sections should be brought together into one flock. In the second
chapter of Ephesians, Paul tells us how this was accomplished.
Although "in times past" the Gentiles were "strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world,"
in Christ they were "made nigh by the blood." "For he is our peace,
who hath made both [Jews and Gentiles] ONE, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us ... that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body by the cross" (verses 12-16). Since this glorious
reunion through Christ, the Gentiles "are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of
God." They also "are built upon the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone ... in whom
ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit"
(verses 19-22).
On account of the high standard of unity