By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
Apostle Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth is instructive to all the churches in all generations, throughout the world. He emphasised the priority of scriptural, perpetual and profitable unity in Christ’s Church. He stressed that this must be at the forefront of all our decisions and aspirations as believers in Christ, and members in His church.

He desires that Christians do not lose sight of the fact that there is a price to pay if we are to attain and maintain our commitment to unity in Christ.

In fact, unity in the church demands a price. For the love of Christ, the progress of the church and to fulfill our purpose of being in the church, we pay the price of commitment to unity in Christ. As members of the body of Christ, we must ensure that “there be no divisions among (brethren).”

Believers’ unity is based on the Scriptures. We need to make effort “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” for the progress of the gospel. Unfortunately, many ‘Christians’ go through life, but do not make deliberate effort to pay any price to achieve unity in the church. If the church cooperates and coordinates like one body with one Spirit dwelling in us, we will have the same hope of getting to heaven. The essence of our unity is for every believer in the church to become “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Such unity can only prevail among sanctified members and ministers of the church. Believers with the same purpose, indwelt by Christ and the same Spirit, and controlled by the same Scripture cannot be divided. Christ wants us to be sanctified, so that, “(we) all may be one.” He did not pray for our sanctification, so, we would overlook sin, evil or false doctrine; but they (we) should be united on the Scripture and the Spirit. Just as God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are united; the Lord wants us to have real unity that pervades everything. He seeks to achieve the perfect unity of mind among believers, for His own sake.

The Lord wants believers and His ministers to have the “mind of Christ.” The proof that we are truly converted is that, wherever we are as believers, we “speak the same thing” and are “perfectly joined together…” The joining brings perfection and helps us to perfect the saints in the church. Those who have the mind of Christ possess perfect unity, which affects how they speak, act and live their lives. One who has the mind of Christ who “made himself of no reputation,” will not give room to pride in his heart. He will not do what those who do not know Christ practice, in pursuit of reputation, honour or recognition.

Further reading (King James Version): 1 Corinthians 1:10-25; 1 Corinthians 1:10. Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 1:27; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 Corinthians 13:8. 1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17:17,21-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; Acts 2:1,46; Philippians 2:2-5. 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:16; Romans 12:2,16; 15:5,6; Philippians 2:5-8; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 3:15,16; 1 Peter 3:8-12. 1 Corinthians 1:11-18. 1 Corinthians 1:11-13; Proverbs 13:10; Titus 3:9; 1 Corinthians 3:3-9; 2 Corinthians 12:20,21. 1 Corinthians 1:14-17a; Matthew 28:19,20; John 4:1-3,41,42; Acts 26:14-22; 14:21-23. 1 Corinthians 1:17,18; Philippians 3:17-19; Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 2:3-8. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 2:16-22; Colossians 1:20-23; 2:13-15; Galatians 6:14-16. 1 Corinthians 1:19-22; 3:19-21a; Isaiah 29:14-16; Jeremiah 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8. 1 Corinthians 1:18,23-25; 2:2,5,7-10; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 13:4.