Relgious Unity

RELGIOUS UNITY

I. Diversity in religion NOT what we always think

A. Can’t just “Let the Bible fall open” and understand (2 Timothy 2:15)

B. BUT, the Bible CAN be understood

II. We RELY on God’s word We are DRAWN by God’s word (John 6:44-45) “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall be all taught of God’. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

III. The BIBLE declares ONE faith (Ephesians 4:4-6) “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.” (Jude 3) “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

IV. ONLY God’s word can INSTRUCT in RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction , for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God my be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

V. BEGINNINGS OF SIN & DIVISION

A. SERPENT planted doubt & desire

1. Doubt in God “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4)

2. Desire to sin “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5)

IV. EXAMPLES OF DIVISION (OPINION) (OPINION) (BIBLE) Garden of Eden Apple Orange “Tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9) Moses & the bush Juniper Mesquite A burning bush (Genesis ch. 3) Nicodemus Fear of Jews Fear of wife Came by night (John 3:2) Mode of baptism Sprinkle Pour Immersion (burial) (Romans 6:4) (Colossians 2:12) Purpose of baptism Example of Jesus Already saved Saves us (Acts 2:38) (Acts 22:16) (Mark 16:16) (1 Peter 3:21)

VII. Religious DIVISION comes from going BEYOND the Bible to man’s OPINION

A. Remember Pauls warning to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:6) “Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written: that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.” (ASV 1901) (1 Corinthians 1:10) “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”