“To Be One in Jesus Christ” should Be One of the Fundamental Christian Doctrine
Foreword:
We Christians generally know and accept that “Righteousness Through Faith” is one of the fundamental Christian doctrine . It is also one basic truth in the Bible.
“Righteousness Through Faith” is directly mentioned in ROMANS and GALATIANS. It is included in the teaching of LORD Jesus Christ, and the verses frequently cited are in the first several chapters of JOHN.
Besides the basic truth of “Righteousness Through Faith” , what else do the other parts of the Bible talk about?
The last and longest prayer of LORD Jesus Christ is: All the disciples and believers may be one in Christ. (JOHN 17)
In EPHESIANS, it directly mentioned “One in Christ”. And this whole letter is about the truth of “to Be One in Christ”, with subtitles (New International Version) listed as the following:
“Spiritual Blessings in Christ” ; “Made Alive in Christ”; “One in Christ”; “Unity in the Body of Christ”; “Living as Children of Light”.
In ROMANS and GALATIANS, right after talking about the basic truth of “Righteousness Through Faith” , it is immediately followed by the topics on living in accordance with the Spirit to be a saint:
In ROMANS: “Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ”; “Slaves to Righteousness”; “Struggling With Sin”; “Life Through the Spirit”; and so on.
In GALATIANS: “Freedom in Christ”; “Life by the Spirit”; “Doing Good to All”; and so on.
Also in other letters, for examples:
1 CORINTHIANS: When talking about the Spiritual gifts and the church, it refers to “One body, Many Parts” and so on.
PHILIPPIANS: “Imitating Christ's Humility”; “Shining as Stars”; “No Confidence in the Flesh”; and so on.
COLOSSIANS: When talking about “Rules for Holy Living”, it mentioned that we are as members of one body in Christ and so on.
And so on. More verses are listed in the following.
“To Be One in Christ” is the primary theme through the whole New Testament gospel. Large amounts of verses in the Bible, most of the letters, and the teachings of LORD Jesus Christ, are all about through faith to live a holy life, to do good and to do what is just, and also to lead man to righteousness. All of these are done by trusting and depending on LORD, living by Spirit and in Christ.
1. Believing and baptizing in LORD Jesus Christ’ name, We are reborn of water and the Spirit of Jesus Christ to become Christians.
(1)The supremacy of Jesus Christ:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: ... all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (COLOSSIANS 1:15-20)
(2) One baptism and one faith:
“We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (ROMANS 6:2-4)
"You are all sons 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 or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (GALATIANS 3:26-28)
"If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (ROMANS 6:5)
"... since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." (COLOSSIANS 3:9-11)
"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (HEBREWS 9:14-15)
"Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." (1 CORINTHIANS 10:16-17)
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. " (EPHESIANS 2:14-18)
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 JOHN 5:11-12)
2. We are called Christians. That means: with the help from the Spirit of Christ, we follow the example of Jesus Christ; we take off the old selves and clothe ourselves with Christ; we have one Spirit, one mind, one attitude, and one mission as Jesus Christ. We live in accordance with the Spirit to be a saint. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
(1) One Spirit:
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. ... But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ...Because I (Jesus Christ) live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." (JOHN 14:16-20)
"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (ROMANS 8:9-11)
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 CORINTHIANS 2:12)
"After beginning with Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (GALATIANS 3:3)
"But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him." (1 JOHN 2:27)
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (GALATIANS 5:16-17)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18)
"But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." (1 CORINTHIANS 6:17)
"Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 JOHN 3:24)
(2) One mind and one attitude:
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ... he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! ..." (PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11)
"It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 CORINTHIANS 1:30)
"No one who lives in him (Jesus Christ) keeps on sinning." (1 JOHN 3:6)
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (GALATIANS 5:23-26)
"But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 CORINTHIANS 6:11)
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ... And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (COLOSSIANS 3:12-14)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (GALATIANS 5:22)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." (COLOSSIANS 3:15)
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (1 JOHN 1:5-6)
"You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (EPHESIANS 4:20-24)
"But we have the mind of Christ." (1 CORINTHIANS 2:16)
(3) One mission:
"Then Jesus came to them and said,' All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" (MATTHEW 28:18-20)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; that old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21)
"Remain in me (Jesus Christ), and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (JOHN 15:4)
"I (Jesus Christ) am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. " (JOHN 15:5-6)
"That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (EPHESIANS 1:20-23)
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (EPHESIANS 4:11-13)
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-6)
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ... All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11)
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (ROMANS 12:4-5)
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:27)
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body --... and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13)
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ... But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ... As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-20)
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 CORINTHIANS 12:26)
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 TIMOTHY 2:3)
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 CORINTHIANS 1:10)
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (EPHESIANS 4:15-16)
"So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-2)
"Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?" (2 CORINTHIANS 12:18)
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." (EPHESIANS 1:11-14)
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (ROMANS 8:28-30)
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." (2 CORINTHIANS 2:14-16)
(4) To be one in Jesus Christ, we live in Jesus Christ:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (COLOSSIANS 2:6-7)
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in the bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." (COLOSSIANS 2:9-10)
"... your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (COLOSSIANS 3:3-4)
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (HEBREWS 7:25)
"Holy Father, protect them (the disciples) by the power of your name - the name you gave me (Jesus Christ) - so that they may be one as we are one." (JOHN 17:11)
"But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 JOHN 3:2)
"Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them." (1 JOHN 3:24)
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (PHILIPPIANS 1:21)
"Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 CORINTHIANS 13:5)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (GALATIANS 2:20)
"This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (EPHESIANS 3:6)
"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (EPHESIANS 3:12)
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (EPHESIANS 3:16)
"This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." (1 JOHN 2:5-6)
3.“To Be One in Christ” is God’s will for us. “To Be One in Christ” and to be in harmony with Holy God is the eternal life:
"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." (EPHESIANS 4:2-6)
"I (Jesus Christ) pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (JOHN 17:20-23)
"And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 JOHN 5:20)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ROMANS 6:22-23)
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." (ROMANS 2:7)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, ... And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (EPHESIANS 1:3-10)
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (EPHESIANS 2:19-22)
“To Be One in Christ” is God’s will for us. It is the goal of our Christians and the guarantee of the eternal life. It is the primary theme and main contents of the gospel in the Bible. “To Be One in Christ” is a basic truth that every Christian must know. It should be listed as one of the fundamental Christian doctrine together with “Righteousness Through Faith”.
This message is given by Holy Spirit. I am called on to proclaim it. It is beyond my knowledge and scope. It is for building up and cleaning the temple of God.
All praises, thanks and glories be to God!
