What Does Unity in the Body of Christ Really Look Like?

For the body to truly become unified, believers must have unity in their hearts. Where the Spirit of God is present, there is unity and the freedom to become the very essence of what God created in the beginning. According to Genesis 1:27, God created man in His own image, both male and female. God, the Father of all, wonderfully created us in unity from the beginning. We are created in His image, male and female together. He then took Adam's rib and formed Eve; this act is what I call unity bound by DNA. In the world, people come together for family events, sporting events, and community events. "They come together and support each other. People unite for different causes, with political, racial, and cultural viewpoints. In this, there is no Holy Spirit where Satan's dominion is, and where people rely on human reasoning and emotion.

The text below is a reflection on the importance of unity within the body of Christ:

 However, when it comes to the body of Christ, there is a crossroads. The Spirit of God cannot operate where there is confusion and division among brethren. The causes of division include the abuse of spiritual gifts and neglecting apostolic truth, love, and Godly standards. Some in the church have been given over to the carnal ways of man, thus dividing the church and hindering the process of becoming.  Therefore, there must be a distinction between the unity of the world and unity in Christ. Unity of the world is based on world views, values, and morals derived from cultures and subcultures. On the other hand, the unity in Christ is beautifully captured in Psalms 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" In the body of Christ, our unity is when we identify as a regenerated person, living by the spirit of God, and resisting lustful desires and the dominion of sin over our lives. We must be fervent in our love for God and others. We must realize the opposition we face together as a body because not everyone is flowing with the mind of Christ. That is why unity is so important.

Unfortunately, nowadays, denomination seems to be more important than the dominion that Christ the Lord has given us. The church is supposed to be the forerunner in this world, to take back dominion and be fruitful and multiply, yet we are divided. As believers, we should know that there is unity in forgiveness, unity of the Spirit, and unity of Faith. In these three things, there is unity in covering a brother or sister in prayer and forgiveness, extending grace and mercy as the Father does for us every day. For us to be one body, we all have to align spiritually and in the word of God.

Let's explore three ways we are called to walk in unity:

Unity in Forgiveness

When we forgive, we make room for God to give us more of his Spirit, allowing us to become the fullness of who he destined us to be and fulfill our purpose. As members of the body of Christ, we have been forgiven and redeemed through his blood. Forgiving others opens the door for us to be in oneness with the Father due to our heart posture. Even when we rebel against God’s will for our lives, forgiveness is there to realign us with him. His mercy enables us to receive and extend forgiveness to one another. In Christ, God's grace is sufficient, and we must understand that through these things, he is bringing us back to unity with him.

Unity of the Spirit

Being unified in the spirit has nothing to do with being human, but has to do with your regenerated man. The only people who can receive this are those who are called and believe the truth of the gospel and have received Christ. This has to be maintained by being rooted in the truth of the word of God and perfected by faith in Jesus. Unity in the Spirit is a continuous walk with God never wavering or doubting what God has spoken unto your life. In communion, we demonstrate a spiritual act of unity with Jesus Christ as lord and savior. We drink the blood (juice), that binds us, cleanses us, and changes our DNA spiritually and the consumption of bread symbolizes the broken body that was hung on the cross for us to be saved. There is a transactional demonstration done in the spirit every time we partake in communion it strengthens us and fortifies us.

Unity of Faith

We should know of and accept the fivefold ministry as a gift to the church for teaching and the body's spiritual maturity. This unity needs to be maintained and perfected by growing in different aspects of Christ. Through this growth, we are filled by the Spirit and have faith in the continuous word of God that eventually brings us into the fullness of who Jesus is eternally. By revealing truth and knowledge of love as we minister to others with scripture, we reject false teachings and stay grounded, not swayed by every doctrine. Our faith must be rooted in the solid rock, which is Jesus, and his faith through us can move mountains. As a body, we have different spiritual gifts and offices that we must maintain and cultivate through the anointing of the Holy Spirit and teachings from true men and women of God. Although we all belong to the same body, our purposes are different in the kingdom of God.

  Remember the following text:

"Come together in unity to overcome worldly opposition and bring souls back to our Father for them to thrive in the purpose of who they are created to be. Just as the physical body should be kept in shape and thrive to live a long healthy life, the body of Christ should be the same way – in sync, a well-oiled machine to complete the work commissioned.

In conclusion, our discernment should show us how important it is for us to be in unity of Faith, Spirit, and Forgiveness. God has shown us through scripture how important it is to him for us to be a unified front in the firstborn of many. Let our hearts and actions be in one accord to accomplish the task that has been given to the church as the working members of the Body of Christ."

Love, Peace and Blessings,

Cheryl Dee