* TRUE UNITY*by C. R. Stam

* TRUE UNITY*
* by C. R. Stam*


There are many unions all over the world, but in only one place is true
unity to be found: in the Lord Jesus Christ. The children of fallen Adam
have always been divided. Adam's first two children could not get along
together. One killed the other. And now that the race has multiplied
there are about three billion separate, individual wills in the world.
Some of Adam's children try to get along together amicably and enjoy
some measure of success, but this always takes effort. It does not come
naturally. Even the dearest lovers must be prepared to yield to each
other's wishes frequently to get along well together. There is no true
unity in this world.

But where Adam's children have been divided by sin, they may be saved
and truly united in Christ. As Christ became one with us when He died
our death (the wages of sin) at Calvary, so we may become one with Him
as in faith we acknowledge that that death was not His but ours. This is
what the Apostle referred to when he asked:

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into His death?" (Rom. 6:3).

This verse does not refer to water baptism, for no one can be baptized
into Christ -- become one with Him -- by a physical ceremony. The only
way to become one with Him is to accept by faith the fact that He died
our death on the cross. The meeting place must always be Calvary. And as
we acknowledge His death as ours and become one with Him, we
automatically become one with each other.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (I Cor. 12:13).

Unity in Christ is not something for which Christians are to strive. It
is a fact of grace to be recognized and enjoyed by faith. True believers
in and out of all denominations have been baptized into one body,
whether or not they recognize this.

Now it is for us to appropriate and enjoy this unity in Christ,
"endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph.
4:3) i.e., seeking to experience the unity which the Spirit has made.
Only those who have been baptized into Christ by faith can appreciate
the blessed oneness which believers may enjoy.

* If you knew what God had planned for you, *
*your knees would buckle *
*your heart would skip*
* and your mind do summersaults! *
*By Diane *

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*