"The Cross And Unity"

August 26, 2020 | By Chuck

There’s so much unrest and disunity in our world today. We regularly see religious, political and racial division. It appears to be a short list to discuss the things we do agree on. I think many are frustrated, discouraged and even angry wondering what we can do about our country’s lack of unity. I’m hoping a quick reminder and trip back to the cross will do us all some good.
The early church struggled with disunity as congregations were often made up of both Jewish and Gentile Christians. The Jews thought they were the elite group and therefore looked down on the Gentile converts to Christ. Some Jewish converts were even teaching their Gentile brothers that they must keep the old law of Moses to truly be justified in Christ. (Gal.5:2-6) Of course, this would and did cause disunity in the Lord’s church. The apostle Paul reminded both groups that because of the cross there is no longer two groups, Jew and Gentile, but only one in Christ. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility”(Eph.2:14-16).
Jesus paid for the unity of all mankind by His blood at the cross. Our past, race and financial status matters none since we are all one in Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”(Gal.3:27-28). I pray that our world will see that true unity is only found at the cross of Christ and through his blood.
Chuck Ball