THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS

Unity of believers refers to the oneness of those who have faith in Jesus Christ. The early Christians lived in unity which was demonstrated in the following ways.

• They prayed together
• They shared their meals
• They shared their property
• They met together to receive apostolic
• They celebrated the lords supper 

​The concept of the unity of believers as illustrated in the New Testament 

a) People of God

• The Israelites were chosen people of God bound to him by Sinai covenant.
• In the New Testament, the people of God are those who follow Jesus and his teachings.
• Christians from different background are united with God through Jesus Christ.
• Christians have received God’s mercies through repentance
• Through baptism Christians are set apart and share in the resurrection of Jesus
• Peter refers to Christians as God’s chosen race, a royal priesthood

b) The body of Christ
Paul uses the analogy of human body to demonstrate the unity of believers

• Christians form many parts of the body Christ, each with different functions to perform just as the human body does.
• The believers are the body of the Christ in which everyone should work for the total well being of the church.
• Through baptism, believers become members of one body of Christ.
• Christians share the same rights and privileges as members of one body in Christ.
• Christians should remain united as they deliver different services to the community.
• Paul encourages Christians to have humility gentleness and patience in order to promote unity among them.
• The different gifts should be used to enrich the church and to glorify God.
• Christians share the same rights and privileges as members of one body of Christ
• Christians should not only be concerned with their own welfare but also consider that of others

c) The vine and the branches  
The Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine to teach about the believers union with God

• Jesus is the true vine planted by God.
• Christians are the branches of the vine tree.
• God is the vine dresser from which the universal church grows
• Christians have a responsibility of remaining faithful to Jesus Christ because  they depend on him for spiritual nourishment
• Unfaithful followers of Christ will be punished by God
• Believers must remain united to Christ to bear spiritual fruits, as Christ is the vital vine stem from which his believers draw their life
• Christians are expected to obey God’s commandment and love one another as Christ love them
• The unity in Christ is essential to the life and the well being of the church

d) The church (Ephesians 5: 21 – 32)
Paul illustrates the unity of the church using divine marital relationship

• Just as wives are subjected to their husbands, Christians should be subject to Christ.
• Christians are to be subject to other members by serving them.
• Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is the head of the family.
• Christ loves Christians as husband loves their wives.
• Jesus loves us unconditionally just as husband and wife love each other.

e) The bride

• In the old testament Israel was considered as the bride of God
• Christians should be prepared when Jesus come to take them as his bride
• Just as the bride makes an effort to stay attractive and beautiful to the bridegroom on the marriage on the marriage day  the church should be pure and holy to Christ
• Christians should observe God’s commandments
• Just as the bride vows to stay married to bridegroom till death so are the Christians to Christ 

​Ways in which unity is maintained among Christians today 

• By reading the Bible
• Christians visit the bereaved families and offer material support, prayers e.t.c.
• Unity is experienced when Christians gather to help the needy
• When members of the church pray together
• When members of the church visit the needy orphans and sick people
• Interdenominational prayers are held at the central place for the nation
• Christians invites disadvantaged members to their gatherings 

​Causes of disunity in church today 

• The formation of splinter groups
• Misuse of church funds by management
• Sexual immorality in the church
• Church’s failure to satisfy the spiritual needs of the members
• Differences in practice of baptism
• Different beliefs about the resurrection
• Appointment of women as church leaders
• Tribalism and other forms of discrimination in the church
• False pastors who are after money
• The misunderstanding of the use of spiritual gifts 

​Past KCSE questions on Unity of Believers

1. Explain what the teaching of Jesus about the vine and the branches in John 15:1 – 10 reveals about the unity of believers  (8mks) (2008)
2.  Identify four teachings of saint Paul on the similarities  between the church and husband – wife relationship (8mks ) (2009)
3. Explain the teaching of peter concerning the people of God (6mks) (2010)
4. Identify ways in which the unity of believers is expressed in the concept of the body of Christ (8mks)
5. Outline the new testament teaching of unity of believers as the bride (6mks)
6. In what ways are the people of God described (6mks)