A Study On Biblical Signposts On Unity

Some Definitions: What Is Unity?

Unity according to dictionaries and encyclopaedia can be defined in all of the following ways.

Unity - The origin of the word components uni-, un- is Latin meaning one, single; a word element for number 1

1. The state of being one; oneness.

2. A whole or totality as when combining all its parts into one; or the combining or joining of separate things
or entities to form one unit.
3. The state or fact of being united or combined into one, as with the parts of a whole; unification.
4. Absence of diversity; unvaried, or uniform in character.
5. Oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as with a number of people; a concord, harmony, or agreement
6. In mathematics, the number "one"; a quantity regarded as one.
7. In literature and art, a relation of all the parts or elements of a work constituting a harmonious whole and
producing a single general effect.
8. One of the three principles of dramatic structure (the three unities) derived from Aristotelian aesthetics
and formalized in the neoclassic canon in which a play is required to represent action as taking place in one
day (unity of time), as occurring within one place (unity of place), and as having a single plot with a
beginning, middle, and end (unity of action).

Source http://wordinfo.info

Some Synonyms for unity (noun - Wholeness)

agreement integrity unification confederation consonance

consensus peace accord consent entity
harmony solidarity alliance concurrence federation
identity unanimity combination concord homogeneity
oneness synthesis coadunation indivisibility soleness
union rapport uniformity totality sameness
homogeneousness individuality integral integrality interconnection
singularity singleness undividedness unison

With this foundation understanding about unity what can we learn from the Bible and as such God about unity that
can make a difference in our manner of living as believers?

The Bible is a wisdom book and as Apostle Paul emphasised in his letter to Timothy that

“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 may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” – 1 Timothy 3
verses 16 & 17.

It’s important we go back there as believers to learn all what the Lord wants us to know about any issue that
relates to our wellbeing as his church, his people and as individuals that are subject to his authority in His kingdom
1st Signpost: The Unity/ Oneness of God - One God/ One Name/One Saviour/ One Father /One
Baptism/ One Church
1. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26 & 27).
2. The Lord our God is one Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4); (Mark 12:29)
3. God is one (Job 23:13); (Mark 12:32); (Rom. 3:30); (Galatians 3:20)
4. There is one God (1 Timothy 2:5)
5. The Lord will be one and his name one (Zechariah 14:9)
6. There is no God but one (1 Corinthians 8:4)
7. Even the demons believe there is one God (James 2:19)
8. By one Spirit we were all baptised into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).
9. The only true God (John 17:3); the only God (John 5:44); (1 Timothy 1:17); (Jude 25)
10. The only wise God (Romans 16:27); the only ruler (1 Timothy 6:15)
11. His name alone is exalted (Psalm 148:13)
12. Your name alone we keep in remembrance (Isaiah 26:13)
13. They served the Lord alone (1 Samuel 7:4)
14. I have trodden the wine press alone (Isaiah 63:3)
15. There was no one to help (Isaiah 63:5)
16. The Lord alone guided him (Deuteronomy 32:12)
17. Worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:10); (Luke 4:8);
18. Who can forgive sins but God alone? (Luke 5:21).
19. That they may be one even as we are one (John 17:22)
20. Before Me, no god was formed, and none will come after Me I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Saviour but
Me. (Isaiah 43:10 & 11)
21. “Thus says the LORD, ..: "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me” (Isaiah 44:6); (Isaiah
48:12);…Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any”. (Isaiah 44:8)
22. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God (Rev. 1:8); I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and
the end (Rev. 21:6); (Rev. 22:13); I am the first and the last (Rev. 1:17); (Rev. 2:8); (Rev. 22:13);
23. John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
24. John 20:28 - And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
25. Acts 7:59 - And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
26. 1 Timothy 3:16 - “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory”.
27. Colossians 1:16 – “ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, … all things were created by him, and for him”:
28. Colossians 2:9 - In him all the fullness of God dwells in a body
29. 2_Peter 1:1 - by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ
30. Acts 2:38 - repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ
31. Acts 19:5 - they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus
32. I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel (Ezek. 39:29); I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28-9)
(Acts 2:17-18)
33. You are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16)
ONE FATHER (fatherhood implies relationship and a connection with others)
34. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:5, 6)
35. One God the Father and one Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6)
36. I and the Father are one (John 10:30)
37. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
38. John 5:18 - “he called God his Father, making himself equal with God
39. Matthew 28:19 - “make disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”
40. God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts (Gal. 4:6); the Spirit of your Father (Matt. 10:20)
The Manifestations of Unity In Biblical Times
1. In Agreements/ Covenants/ Oaths/ Bonds – Hebrews 6:16
 All covenants are made by mutual agreements and those involved vow to keep the agreement perpetual. It’s
built on trust and unity of purpose and benefits
 All Feasts are for everyone’s participations, communal in nature – Those choosing not to be involved are
excommunicated (cut off from the people). No room for exceptions.
 Most communities are knitted together by covenants that are renewed perpetually. It was important that all
know and understand the terms of these unifying covenants. It was a matter of life and deaths to everyone
2. In Actions
 the people answered with one voice (Exod. 24:3)
 all Israel were of one mind to make David king (1_Chr. 12:38)
 the labourers agreed on a denarius a day (Matt. 20:2); (Matt. 20:13)
3. In Prayer
 if two agree about anything they ask (Matt. 18:19)
 Faith comes by taking hold of God’s word. Agreeing or consenting to God’s word also means walking with
God. Enoch walked with God. He was in harmony with God – Hebrews 11:5
 How could one chase 1000 and two put 10,000 to flight unless the Lord had given them up (Deut. 32:30)
4. Good & Bad Unity – Determined by the purpose of covenanting or coming together. Is it to uphold God’s
word or for selfish reasons. This is only discerned by words and actions

Good Unity
 Jehoida’s covenant - Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they
should be the Lord’s people… (2 Chronicles 23:16-21)
 Josiah’s covenant - The king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small. And he read in their hearing all
the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 Then the king stood
in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and
His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that
were written in this book. 32 And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So
the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
 Caleb & Joshua agreed with God ‘s word – Numbers 14:6-9 - But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; …. Only do not rebel
against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they[c] are our bread; their protection has departed
from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
 The church for Dorcas – United to seek Peter to intervene. Dorcas was a disciple full of good works (Acts
9:36); raised from the dead by Peter (Acts 9:37-42)
 The Church for Peter - Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by
the church. (Acts 12:5)

Bad Unity
 The Tower of Babel – And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the
heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
…And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin
to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them… So the Lord scattered them abroad
from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.” (Genesis 11:4, 6, 8)
 Moses & Aaron Accusers – “Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And
what is Aaron that you complain against him?” (Numbers 16:11)
 Israel with the Gibeonites - Israel made a covenant with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:6); (Joshua 9:11); (Joshua
9:15); (2 Samuel 21:2)
  Daniel’s Accusers - All are agreed to make a statute forbidding prayer except to the king (Daniel 6:7); they
came by agreement to the king (Daniel 6:6); (Daniel 6:15); they came by agreement and found Daniel making
petition (Daniel 6:11);
 Ananias and Sapphira - Why have you agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? (Acts 5:9)
 Bond To Kill Paul - And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an
oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty
who had formed this conspiracy.

The Way of Good Unity

We must find and secure the following signposts in our churches and personal relationships for us to have and
enjoy a consistent atmosphere of unity for the Holy Spirit to move among us as Psalm 133 illustrates

1. The Signpost of Truth - The Way of Truth (Believing & Obeying the truth gives one vision, direction and
purpose). When we love and speak the truth in love we will not break fellowship - 1 Peter 1:22, Ephesians
4:15

2. The Signpost of Grace - Way of Grace (Outpouring of grace for all needs resulting in God’s presence for
testimonies) – Acts 5:12, Acts 11:23; Acts 15:25, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 9:8 & Hebrews 13:9

3. The Signpost of Love – Way of Love (Togetherness, Bonding, Fellowship, Brotherhood, Communion, Believe
is created in one another as we have one mind & heart) – Acts 2:46, Acts 4:32, 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians
3:17; 4:16 & John 17:22-24. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous- 1 Peter 3:8

4. The Signpost of Humility – Way of Humbleness (Open door for God’s grace – 1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6). We
know how to bear one another’s burdens. Philippians 2:1-4 -

5. The Signpost of Prayer – Way of Faith in God (Open door to God’s mind - Psalm 32:6; Zephaniah 3:9,
Matthew 7:7, 1 Timothy 2:28, Hebrews 4:16. Reconcile if any have offended us

6. The Signpost of Hope – Way of Expectancy (A lively hope and a rejoicing heart) I Peter 1:3, Romans 12:2 &
Hebrews 6:19

7. The Signpost of Peace – Way of Living (In assurance ) - Malachi 2:6, The bond of peace – Ephesians 4:3;
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God …James
3:17,18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, …

The Reality of Unity

 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3)
 Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:22); (Gen. 5:24);Hebrews 11:5
The Power of Unity is in the mutual agreement/ harmony creating covenantal relationships that makes room for
offenses, dialogue, confrontation, forgiveness and reconciliation. They become promise (covenant) keepers just as
their father in heaven is. Jesus put it this way in Matthew 18:17-19

And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you
like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth
concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

The Voice of Unity is the sword of the Spirit and the love of God in our hearts working in us, thus making God’s
word in our mouth effectual to uphold all things that please God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Hebrews 3:7, 8
The Purpose of Unity is to create integrity, commitment, belonging or identity, growth, prosperity and peace
through the body for God’s kingdom

 Unity of Faith – Ephesians 4:12, 13

 Unity of the Spirit – Ephesians 4:3

The Church – God’s Body Manifesting His Kingdom – The Emblem of Truth, Togetherness, Trust, Tribulation &
Thankfulness
Fellowship is enhanced by our body ministry. Fellowship with God (John 15:5) and one another (Romans 12:10; 2
Peter 1:7; 1 John 3:14, 18, 19)
Fellowship With God: He longs to fellowship with us just as Jesus confirmed in John 17:20-26 & Hebrews 8:10
 For Men - Exodus 34:23 “Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of
Israel. See also Exodus 34:20; Exodus 23:15; Abraham & David - 2 Chronicles 20:7 & James 2:23; Acts 13:22
Believers Activities In The New Testament That Promoted Unity & Continuity
1. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers
(Acts 2:42)
2. Fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7)
3. That you may have fellowship with us (1 John 1:3)
4. The right hand of fellowship (Galatians 2:9)
5. Thankful for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5)
6. You are partakers with me of grace (Philippians. 1:7)
7. That the fellowship of your faith may promote knowledge of the good we have in Christ (Philemon. 6)

We need to be mindful of those activities and relationship killers that cause our covenantal relationships to be
broken down and fix them as they could destroy our faith and unity.

First and Foremost Know Your Enemy:

Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all
disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled
Luke 11:14-23 – The House of God must be one to have an effective fight against her enemies that is focussed

The Bible says our enemy the Devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, whom we must resist. His way is
still to sow tares, deceive believers, accuse the brethren, create distrust, distractions and discords
 The enemy sowed tares (Matt. 13:25) to diminish the power of or break covenant (unity); Every weed
hinders growth and development of the preferred seed
 The enemy is the devil (Matt. 13:39); Get behind me, Satan! (Matt. 16:23); (Mark 8:33)
 An enemy has done this (Matt. 13:28) Agents of the devil (Matthew 10:16; Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29, 2
Corinthians 11:14)
Signposts to Avoid
1. Beware of the Way of Disobedience – Separation of the heart - Titus 1:16, 1 Peter 2:8 & 2 Timothy 3:2
2. Beware of the Way of Discontent - Cain’s spirit Gen. 4:5)/ Itching Ears 2 Timothy 4:3/Not Regarding Authority
Num. 14:36/ Deut. 1:27 & Grumblers - Jude 16
3. Beware of the Way of Distrust/ Double mindedness - Psalm 119:113; Isaiah 31:1; James 1:8, James 4:8
4. Beware of the Way of Disloyalty – 2 Peter 2:10
5. Beware of the Way of Despair – Hebrews 3:12-16
6. Beware of the Way of Disunity/Dissolution – Titus 3:10
7. Beware of the way of Division/ Divorce ( Final Separation of the heart & body) - Ephesians 2:12