Trinity 17 2019

Ephesians 4:1-6

October 13, 2019

Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID

There is some discord in our country. It sure would be nice to say that it wasn’t so in the Church, but we all know better as well.  Divisions in the church, which should not be, are here. We have church after church, denominations abound.  Yet, we still confess in the Creed that we believe in “one holy, Christian and apostolic Church.” In the original words, the Creed speaks of the church as Catholic, meaning “universal”, those throughout all time and throughout the world who believe and confess in Jesus Christ. The church is one – the only community in which there is salvation, for it is the gathering of all who believe in Jesus, who comes to His people in His Word and Sacraments.

The unity of the Church is a fact. St. Paul doesn’t say there ought to be unity, but that there is.  The unity of Christ’s church isn’t based on us, it is based on Christ.  Our efforts do not create the Church, nor sustain the Church.  We don’t gather together each Sunday as like minded individuals who share the same beliefs and values, rather we are called, gathered, enlightened, sanctified, and kept with Christ in the one truth faith by the Holy Spirit. As Christians we ought to share the goals of the faithful confession of the truth of Divine doctrine, of God’s Word, consensus in that truth, and peace in the Church; in that order. There can be no peace where there is no consensus in doctrine. And there is no true consensus in doctrine unless all believe, teach, and confess the same thing, that is the true faith of Christ.

St. Paul gives seven bases of and for this unity: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. As we are all members of one mystical body and have one divine Spirit, as well have one hope in our common eternal home, one Lord and Master whom we serve, one saving truth on which we live; as we all had the same baptismal water poured on us and the same cross impressed upon our heads and hearts; as we are all children of one Father, who is watching over us all, we must cultivate every grace of humility toward those who are so united with us in Christ. 

In this way, St. Paul shows and teaches what the true Christian Church is and how we are to recognize it. Namely, that there is not more than one Church or people of God on earth, which has the same faith, Baptism, the same confession of God the Father and of Christ, to which they hold and remain.

Let me be clear though. I am not saying that only Lutherans go to heaven.  What I am saying is that “the Church is the congregation of saints in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered.  For the true unity of the church it is enough to agree about the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments” (AC VII). These are the marks of the true church on earth.  And this Church alone is called Christ’s body, which Christ renews, sanctifies, and governs by His Spirit (Ap VII). Whoever wants to be saved must be found in this Church and incorporated into it. Outside of the Church, which is only to say outside of Christ, there is no salvation. Because it is only in the Church where the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation is delivered to sinners by means of Absolution and the Sacraments.

As a Christian, our highest duty is “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…”  The unity of the church can only be realized in the bond of peace as we bear with one another in love, with all humility and gentleness.  We must guard ourselves against spiritual arrogance and not deem ourselves worthy to sit with Christ in and of ourselves. We cannot rely upon our own works, our own wisdom, our own efforts to create or maintain the unity. Jesus never demands something of us that He does not first do for us.  Elsewhere, St. Paul explains a little more, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is your in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the image of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:5-11).

Jesus now works in the believer for the sake of the Church’s unity.  We should pray for our fellow Christians and work with them whenever possible to advance the Gospel. We should seek to prevent and heal sinful divisions when are where we can.  We should lament disunity and engage in conversation based on God’s Word with the sincere hope that we can be reconciled. We should ask God to heal the divisions that exist.

It is not honest, nor safe, nor good therefore to pretend or act as if divisions don’t matter. “For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Cor 11:19). These divisions, while sad, make clear who was following the Word of God and who is not. It is a grave sin to cause, foster, or rejoice in divisions within the church, for it is a sin against Christ Himself.  What God has joined together, let not man separate. To cut the body of Christ apart is not to make two bodies any more than the sword of Solomon could make two children out of one.  But it does hurt the body, it grieves the Lord, and it is sin. We are called to unity, a unity based on Christ and His Word. At the same time, we can’t pretend that differences and divisions don’t exist and don’t matter, and we should not give a false witness of unity where unity on the Word doesn’t exist.

Therefore, this unity of the Church exists, is found in, is strengthened by, is dependent upon Christ and Christ alone.