The Road to Unity

The Christian’s Joy                                             “The Road to Unity”                                                                 Phil. 2:1-4   Through Harmony (vv. 1-2)    Eph. 4:1b-3  … urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.   Col. 3:12; Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, This is to be the life of a body of believers, it’s our default setting      Acts 2:46) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,    One Children of one family -- one Father --John 20:17 Disciples in one school -- one teacher -- John 13:13–35 Sheep in one flock -- one shepherd -- John 10:16 Members of one body -- one head -- Eph. 4:15 Stones in one building -- one foundation -- 1 Peter 2:3, 1 Cor. 3:11–12   Ro. 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.   Through Humility (vv. 3-4)    1 Cor. 6:9-11 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 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.                                                        Ro. 15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.   Humility is a precious Christian quality -   God loves to bless humility (Isa. 66:2; Mt. 5:3,5  Pro. 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Grace: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Ja. 4:6 -              Exaltation in due time: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Pet. 5:6 -              Guidance: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psa. 25:9