The Bible talks a lot about unity. Marriage between a man and a woman is one of the earliest examples of two people coming together. In Genesis 2:24, it says, "That's why a man leaves his parents and marries his wife, and the two of them become one flesh." From there, the Bible shows several other ways that God's heart is shown through unity.
Unity among Christians
Paul, the apostle, wrote many letters in the New Testament that talk about how Christians should be united. He tells people in the church to love each other, think the same way, and have the same goals and beliefs as they face persecution and other outside pressures. Philippians 2:2 is an example of Paul's call for unity: "Then make my joy full by being of the same mind, having the same love, and being one in spirit and mind" (see also 2 Corinthians 13:11).
When the believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer," that was a great example of unity in the early church (Acts 2:42). "All the believers were together and had everything in common" at this time (Acts 2:44). Later, when there was a severe famine in the church in Judea, the church in Antioch sent a gift to help (Acts 11:27–30). "How nice and good it is when God's people get along and live together!" (Psalm 133:1).
Unity In the Church
The Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6:4. It says, "Hear, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." There is unity in the Godhead. Later, when Jesus said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), He put even more emphasis on the unity of the Godhead.
After Jesus went to heaven to be with the Father, Paul told the church about the Trinity, which means that there are three equal parts of God. "Because of him, we both have access to the Father through the same Spirit," he says (Ephesians 2:18). The Holy Spirit brings Christians together, gives them hope, and links them to Christ and the Father. The church should reflect the unity of the Godhead: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." There is one body and one Spirit, just like when you were called, you were called to one hope. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all (Ephesians 4:3–6).
Unity in Christ
When a sinner accepts the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and gets eternal life in return, this is another important way that the Bible shows unity. Jesus said, "My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; no one can take them from my Father's hand" (John 10:29). From the moment a person becomes a Christian, he or she is promised salvation for all time.
Unity makes a believer want to do more to honour Christ. Ephesians 4:15–16 says, "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every way the mature body of him who is the head, which is Christ. From him, the whole body, held together by all its ligaments, grows and gets stronger in love as each part does its job." Christ being the head and believers being parts of a single body is the best way to show unity.
Jesus' command to "remain in me, as I also remain in you" is another example of how we are one with Christ. No branch can make fruit on its own; it needs to stay attached to the vine. You can't bear fruit either unless you stay in me" (John 15:4). Peter said that we are connected to Christ in God's final building project. Jesus is the Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6–7), and "when you come to him, the living Stone, you, too, are being built into a spiritual house like living stones" (1 Peter 2:4–5). Unity with Christ is important for a believer's service to God to go well.
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