ONENESS?

Together, we celebrate that we have been made one in Christ. And we hope that this first gathering will be the "beginning of many more" which might eventually result in full visible unity—because it is by our unity in love that we show the world that Jesus is God’s Son and the Creator of one new humanity. Do you remember our first gathering? We were a very small group of young'uns in Christ, together. Our time together includes a Bible class or classes focused on the Word, which includes all peoples, a worship service, focused on the unity of the Spirit, and finally an ocassional fellowship meal.

The passage for the , 'ONENESS" theme is Ephesians 4:1-6: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Christ in his death and resurrection destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles (that is to say, all races), creating one new humanity. We ARE one. We must be ONE in CHRIST! The church IS one united body. We have the same calling, the same Savior, the same Spirit, the same hope, the same faith, the same victory, the same identity.

Yet we are human and so our communities face struggles and divisions; we fail to live up to our calling. And so in 4:1-6, Paul calls us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. This is not a passive calling, but an active one, asking us not only to prevent divisions but to seek reconciliation with other believers, to demonstrate the perfect unity Christ created on the cross.

We have a lot of work to do, and it is only by the spirit (humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love) and power of the Spirit that we can be one.

God help us. Really!! God help us!!

Another key verse is Galatians 3:26-29: "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, [AND WE CAN ADD: BLACK NOR WHITE] for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

How's your oneness with your brother in Christ, your sister in Christ, your leaders: ministers, ministry leaders, deacons and elders? Notice the picture above, is your face in the "ONE" along with others, together???