Galatians 3: 27 - 28
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 neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
In the amplified
For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].
It is interesting to note that in the book of John 3: 16 God sent his only begotten Son to save man and whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. In this particular verse God sent his Son to every one of us, He did not specify the people He sent his Son to. In the eyes of God there is no distinction in regard to salvation. We are all one body and he sees us as one.
In the Genesis 1:26 God said something worth checking, He said this “Now let’s make humans who will be like us" therefore, in creation we can say that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all working together as one.
The body of Christ are meant to work together as one accord so that there will be progress and not division. We cannot separate from one another according to the book of 1 Corinthians 12: 12 - 26
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
This proves to us that God who is our creator knows what he is saying we cannot say we have no need for one another and as we do so we are actually deceiving ourselves. Let's imagine for a second that on the day of creation there was no agreement with the trinity/ what would have happened on that day? there will be chaos and everything would have fallen apart. But there was unity and everything came together beautifully.
Unfortunately the church in quote is not working together as we ought to according to God's word. There is not only division in the body of Christ but we are saying to each other we don't we need the foot, the ear, and the eye but this not not what God said, he set each members in the body has he pleased and we are to help each other's gift to grow and then we also become one in the body.
We are one body in Christ.
Looking at the dictionary meaning of Schism it means:
The formal separation of a Church into two Churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.
The body of Christ needs help, we all need the Holy Spirit to help us and to bring us back to that place of unity.
Acts 1: 12 - 14
Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Olive Grove), which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile) away. When they had entered the city, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James. All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Looking at this.
All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
The apostles were of one mind and one purpose together in the upper room with the women and even the mother of Jesus and there was no division among them. They did not say to each other we don't need to have you or you here we are okay to continue without you or Mary since you are the mother of Jesus we don't really need you here don't you think so? NO! the WORD records that there were all together to pray and we can see that afterwards miracles happened wherever they went.
And looking further in Acts 4: 32 - 37
Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all. And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable loving kindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.
Wow! like we said we are in need of the help of the Holy Spirit. This is a wonderful example of what the body of Christ should be like and by following this example there should not be any lack in the body of Christ.
In Acts 5: 1 - 11
This man wanted to bring a division let's check what happened.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
The Holy Spirit had to put a stop to Ananias that wanted to bring a division to the body of Christ that was doing the work of God in one accord so as to encourage the body to continue as one. And when this happened it was not in secret but everybody saw the power of oneness.
And in Acts 12: 5 - 17 Peter was arrested and instead of been divided the Church stood together in prayer.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognised Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
One of the apostles was ministering about the good news and he got arrested by Herod but the other apostles came together again in one accord and prayed until he was released from prison by the angel of God, there was no complaint or division among the apostles all they did was to come together in agreement until they got the answer to their prayer. their constant and perseverance moved the hand of God not their disunity.
We are the body of Christ.
Jesus said this in
John 14: 7 - 11
Jesus’ Oneness with the Father
If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognise clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed].
And in John 17: 6 - 12
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of [f]perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Also in John 17; 20 - 26
Jesus Prays for All Believers
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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
These are examples of what Jesus wants for the body of Christ to be one with each other and then there will be miracles in the body. Jesus and his Father and the Holy Spirit are one and for us to progress we all need to follow their example and come together to be a blessing to each other.
The Body working together will not bring division and because there is no separation the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church according to Matthew 16: 15 - 20 but Satan who is the god of this world in 2 Corinthians 4:4 has blinded the minds of so many in the body of Christ to see the truth of what Jesus says about the body been one.
The book of Ephesians 2: 19 - 22 records this:
Christ Our Cornerstone
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
We are not to be strangers with each other but as one body with Jesus Christ our chief cornerstone we are to grow in Christ as one body and Jesus is building us up because we are part of Him.
We are also to grow together in love in Ephesians 4: 15 - 16
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
We are the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10: 16 - 17
When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.
This proves to us that we are the body of Christ, we are eating from the same body and this is so true because we are actually in Christ and part of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 12:27. The body cannot work together if we decide to go our separate ways. Until Jesus died he was with one accord with his Father and the Holy Spirit and this is why Jesus was successful in his ministry.
Jesus never said any negative word about his father but only words that will bring glory to his Father. And lets remember that we are also to encourage each other so as to grow as one body.We are to love and come together as one body and by this God will be more pleased with his body.
Romans 12:5 says so
so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].
This is saying we are to rely on each other and it also means that we are to work together in expanding the Kingdom of God here on earth, This realm is just to vast that we are called to help each other. One person's success will be his neighbours success and vice versa.
Colossians 1:18 records
He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.
Jesus is the head of the Church and we are his body working together as one with him. Jesus cannot say to his body I don't need you because He works through us according to Ephesians 2:10 that says we are his workmanship and he as prepared beforehand what he wants his body to achieve here on earth.
Remember we are in a spiritual union with Christ the anointed one according to Galatians 3: 27 - 28.
Remain blessed in his presence as we become one with Christ as his body.
