“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).
“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed” (Amos 3:3)?
“I do not pray for these (the apostles, hf) 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 You; that they all may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you have sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).
“And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common” (Acts 4:32).
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:4-5).
“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16).
“Now I urge you, brethren, note (mark, KJV, ASV) those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10).
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches [local congregations, hf] of the saints” (I Corinthians 14:33).
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and you all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
“[F]ulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).
“Nevertheless, to the degree we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind” (Philippians 3:16).
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (I Peter 3:8).
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).
(Note: All citations from the New King James Version of the Bible).
(Because of the holidays, there will be no “Hugh’s News & Views” next week. I take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. We will return on January 1, 2019, D.V.).
Hugh Fulford