Jesus Prayed for Unity

Did you know Jesus prayed for unity in the church body?  He did and today there are seemingly thousands of church bodies across the country and world.  Many of these organizations are not part of the Lord’s church body.  Why is that?

Unity in the church body

In Acts 2:41, when the three thousand souls were baptized and added to the church, which church did they belong to?

Friends, that is the question for today!

Let us go back 2,000 years to that Day on Pentecost that we read about in Acts Chapter 2.  After hearing the apostle Peter preach to them (Jews), the text tells us they were “pricked in their heart” or “cut to the heart”. This means they realized their error and were remorseful.  However, they had to do something about, so they asked Peter and the other apostles that were there, “Men and brethren, what shall we do”. Peter told them they had to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

As we read further, we see three thousand desired to be baptized and were so on that day. 

When they came up out of the water, what would they have said if someone standing by asked them, “what church do you belong to?”  What would they have said?

What congregation do you belong to?

Would they have said, “I am a Baptist” or “I am a Methodist” or “I am a Catholic”, I think not and why not, because those church organizations did not exist.  Why did they not exist? because when these souls were baptized there was only one church body – the Lord’s church, the one bought with his shed blood on the cross.  Let us read, Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.” 

Baptism on Pentecost

There is One church

There is one body!  That means there is one church, not many churches.

Jesus in John 17:20-21, prayed that there would be unity. He said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus called for believers to be ONE in unity. 

What church do you belong to and are you a member of the body that the Lord established on earth?  When did your congregation begin? Was it on the Day of Pentecost or some other period in history?

Friends, it is vitally important to your salvation that you belong to the correct church body.  You cannot say I belong to the New York Yankees baseball team when you play for the LA Dodgers.  You are not on the correct team to say that.  It is the same with the Lord’s church, you need to be on the correct team. Your congregation should look like the church of that first century church.  How does that look?  It is very simple,

The head of your church must be the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who purchased it with his blood.  In John 14:6, Jesus said: “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Only those who are baptized into the Lord’s church are members of the one church that He purchased with His blood.

If you interested in visiting us to learn more about God, the bible and your salvation, we are located in Grove City, Ohio which is just outside of Columbus.

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GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

YOU MUST HEAR THE TRUE WORD OF GOD

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE TRUE SON OF GOD

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

YOU MUST CONFESS YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

“You must, confess that Jesus is Lord. He is Lord whether you confess it or not, but it is unto your salvation that you must acknowledge His deity and His ownership” (Romans 10:9-10).

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

YOU MUST BE BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION

“Be baptized for the remission of sins, ‘Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” (Acts 2:38)

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galations 3:27)

YOU MUST LIVE A FAITHFUL LIFE UNTO DEATH

“Live a faithful Christian life in the fellowship of God’s people “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

If you have any questions about the plan of salvation or your own state, contact us at the address, phone number of email below and we will be happy ot talk to you.

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