The brotherhood of every believer

 

The Brotherhood of every believer (Galatians 3:26-29)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

The remedy for human enmity and separation is unity through faith in Jesus Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

Unifying Christian Characteristics

1. Universal headship of the same Lord: Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

2. Birthed of the same spiritual father Jesus Christ (Isaiah (9:6, Luke 3:16)

3. Sealed by the same Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13)

4. The Spirit proceeds from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:26

5. Conformed to the uniformity of holiness (Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 5:27)

6. Cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7)

7. Made into a common inheritance according to God’s will (Ephesians 1:11)

8. Mingled together by prayer (Ephesians 1:16)

9. Held together by love (Ephesians 4:15-16)

10. Co-heirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18)

11. Priesthood of every believer (Revelation 1:6)

12. Destined for glory in Christ (Romans 8:30)

13. God placed everyone in subjection to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 15:27))

14. Blessed alongside Christ Jesus in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:5-6, Romans 6:1-11)

15. No longer under the law but under grace (Romans 8:2)

Barriers to Christian Unity

1. denying that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:3)

2. false doctrines (1 John 4:1-6)

3. teaching traditions of man rather than doctrine (Mark 7:7)

4. abandonment of God’s word among his people (2 Timothy 3:16)

5. unbelief (Hebrews 3:12)

6. not gathering (Hebrews 10:25)

7. anti-Christ leadership or usurpers of Christ’s authority on earth (Mathew 23:9)

8. gossip and backbiting (Galatians 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:13)

9. praying to idols (1 Timothy 2:5)

10. mysticism and Gnosticism (Galatians 1:6-9, Jude 1:8)

11. lack of church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:13)

12. selfish use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14: 1-5)

13. factions and favoritism (1 Corinthians 1:11-13)

14. lack of preaching (2 Timothy 4:2)

15. lack of living out our faith (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)