I used to notice a very bad character trait in myself. While in church, among God’s people, somewhere in my corrupted heart I would evaluate each person, wondering what level of spiritual growth that person had reached, and decide who would be saved and who would not. And this was very foolish. Fortunately, I did not share my conclusions with anyone, although I greatly wanted to. And many times the Lord showed me that I was wrong in making such judgments, because I judged everyone by myself, relying on what I saw and heard, while He looks upon the heart. How shameful it is to receive such reproofs. But the truth that we are all parts of the body of Christ and constitute one organism, in which every believer has a particular talent, a gift for ministry, and a function, greatly helped me correct this way of thinking. Christ determines a person’s salvation, which is what He is now doing in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
Let us compare this body of Christ with the human body. Which organ in this body is unnecessary? None. And what if something is cut off? If it is not a vital organ, the body will live, but the person will become disabled.
God’s Word says much about professed Christians, and they do exist in this world. Such people are present in every denomination, but this does not mean that the Church has ceased to be the body of Christ.
Faith in Jesus unites all God’s children into one family. It is Christ Who makes all of us brothers and sisters, regardless of race, sex, nationality, age, language, culture, mentality, profession, education, spiritual stage of faith, social standing, or material status. We are all equal in Christ, Who, through the one Spirit, has made us relatives of one another and drawn us to Himself.
But when this organism begins to function, so much friction and so many disagreements arise that one wonders how this structure is still alive and accomplishing anything.
The Lord taught that the tares would always grow together with the wheat until the harvest. Even among His disciples there was Judas, and the other followers were not particularly united either. Yet for three and a half years these disciples received instruction from the best Teacher in the world, and this united them. For example, Simon the Zealot was among them. He belonged to those who hated publicans. Matthew was a publican who, before he was called, collected taxes from his own people for the Roman treasury. And John and his brother were sons of thunder. Jesus united all of them in Himself, while the disciples constantly divided positions among themselves, unwilling to yield to one another.
And what could unite them into one whole? Jesus, truth, and agape love through the Holy Spirit.
At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed His new commandment to love one another three times. And the prophetic distinction of the Church of the last days is that it will keep God’s commandments and have faith in Jesus Christ. The commandment to love one another is also included in this definition along with the other ten commandments. Another distinguishing feature is that these precepts will be written not only on stone or in the Bible, but God Himself will write them with His own hand in my heart and put them into my mind. And I will obey not according to the letter, but according to the Spirit. And this very Spirit of God unites all of us into one organism.
But in every body each organ has its own function. Some people, like the heart, bring life and joy into any community; there are also those who, like hands, do good. There are simply kind members who appear very neutral but work tirelessly. And what are we to do with that part of the body which is located just below the back? It simply shames all of us, and the opening in that part sometimes poisons the atmosphere so badly that it is impossible to breathe. But this is also the body! And if this part becomes sick or is removed, the entire organism will suffer and will understand that we all needed one another.
And how does Jesus look upon all of us? With love and tenderness. Every person is very dear to Him. There are no unnecessary organs in the body of Christ. And the Savior’s final prayer in Gethsemane was for our unity and love.
In what does our unity consist? In faith in and knowledge of the one true God and Jesus Christ, Whom He sent; in Biblical teaching and obedience; in service to the world and to one another; and in love and friendship among ourselves.
Willful interpretation of Holy Scripture and the desire to rule over one another have divided God’s children into different movements, and the movements themselves have divided into many denominations. Today it is not difficult to establish one’s own church with one’s own teaching and constitution and call it Christian. And the world is filled with such organizations, each claiming its own exclusivity and purity. But Jesus looks upon this division with pain. He desires unity, not division. Yet there will be no unity in falsehood and error, except perhaps for a short time in order to fight against the truth. Nothing defiled, abominable, or unclean will ever become part of the body of Christ; like a cancerous tumor, it will be mercilessly removed from the organism.
Faith, truth, and love—all of this binds us together into one whole, and we recognize one another. Such unity will form the character of Christ in us and prepare us for the time of sealing. Very soon the time will come when all God’s people will be sifted and purified. God Himself will gather His people into one body from all the ends of the Earth.
We read: ‘There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all’ (Ephesians 4:4–6).
And such an understanding of unity in the body of Christ is a foundation of my faith, and God’s love makes it possible in my life.
Our School of Agape Love has the purpose of revealing the beauty of God’s character, preparing people’s hearts for the restoration of His image in the life of each one of us, bringing all brothers and sisters to unity in faith, truth, and love, and making us fit to receive God’s seal and for Eternal life among holy beings. And all of this is not something separate, but part of God’s common work, which is being carried out by all God’s children throughout the world.
Each of us has different gifts and talents, but we are all children of one Father; we are a family in Jesus; we are relatives.
And God’s love binds all of us into one organism, while the righteousness of Christ, like skin, gathers us into one body and covers us, giving us the proper shape and contours. And the Holy Spirit gives everything the breath of life, love, and the ability to complement one another in labor and ministry. And all of this is to the glory of God.
But soon the time will come when the Lord will return to resurrect all those who constitute His body, transform those who glorify Him in their lives, and take us all to Heaven in order to present us to the Father as His Bride. And there will be a feast, a celebration, and great joy for everyone.
And now the Lord greatly desires all of us to have this spiritual unity and to strive for it in the spirit of love and truth. Falsehood and error will never unite people into a family, except for a short time in the struggle against truth. And this time is approaching. And who will be able to stand?
And what should be done about disagreements in the Church? Love resolves all these matters very quickly and without complications.
Questions for Reflection
Please read Psalm 133:1; Matthew 28:19–20; John 17:20–23; Acts 17:26–27; Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 5:16–17; Galatians 3:27–29; Ephesians 2:13–16; 4:3–6, 11–16; and Colossians 3:10–15 in the light of this chapter. What did you understand from this chapter? What truth will help change our distorted thinking? Is it truly possible to eliminate disagreements? What is important for us to seek in order to be united? Do you think the prophetic message for the last days includes the commandment to love one another? What is the distinguishing feature of unity? How does God produce it in our lives? Why is there no other foundation for the unity of the Church except unity in the knowledge of the one true God? Why can compromise with evil not bring peace? For what purpose will God sift His people? Do you believe that the School of Agape Love helps build up the Body of Christ? What plans does God have for us? Why is it important to remember our place before God and not judge who will be saved?