Unity of the Faith

[HealthAndHappiness]

There will become an ecumenical unity of religions that will worship the dragon. They will be led by the beast and the false prophet .

...All the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:
Revelation 13

Right now the National council of churches look past doctrines and dogmas to unify.
Even Mormons are called Christians since the charlie Kirk murder and the subsequent Mormon church attack. I haven't heard anyone say anything but to condemn that mass murder. Rightly so, but that does not change their polytheistic religion to one of the Bible based churches in the true Jesus Christ. They teach the heresy that Jesus and Satan are brothers.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Wow this is a trip!

 

[Kroogz]

There will become an ecumenical unity of religions that will worship the dragon. They will be led by the beast and the false prophet .

...All the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:
Revelation 13

Right now the National council of churches look past doctrines and dogmas to unify.
Even Mormons are called Christians since the charlie Kirk murder and the subsequent Mormon church attack. I haven't heard anyone say anything but to condemn that mass murder. Rightly so, but that does not change their polytheistic religion to one of the Bible based churches in the true Jesus Christ. They teach the heresy that Jesus and Satan are brothers.

I was instantly teleported back to childhood and He-man and the masters of the universe!

 

[GWH]

The one thing is Christ crucified and resurrected. He is the only way to God.

Yes, also for those unaware of the NT even in some remote corner of the world today,
because a proto-gospel has been proclaimed to everyone under heaven implicitly or in pre-NT foreshadowings
(Col. 1:23, Rom. 10:13-18, Gal. 3:8).

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Even though most religions have at least some truth, there can only be one path that has all truth.

correct ... there is only One Way

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I believe most (if not all) Christian denominations teach the gospel ... that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified for the sin of mankind ... that God raised Him from the dead.

How many denominations preach the gospel ... how many pastors/teachers in the pulpit point to the Lord Jesus Christ (as opposed to themselves or worldly wisdom)?

How many people sitting in the pews of Christian churches actually believe the gospel? We know not all because of what Jesus in Matt 7:22.

Another issue is should a church be considered a "Christian" church if a church does not teach the gospel? I do not believe so.

The scriptures teach “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). This tells me that true religion is objective and is not subjective. All Christian churches may teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, but the problem is they can’t agree on how that faith is made acceptable to God unto salvation.

1 John 1:3 tells us those who have fellowship the the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ will have fellowship with each other.

If the vertical relationship is in alignment ... the horizontal will be in alignment.

We also have the one body described in 1 Cor 12 ... one body, many members ... all members are needful/necessary ... and not all have the same function, but all members are placed within the body as it has pleased God. All members of the body are to have the same care one for another so there is no schism in the body.

You may ask, where can we find this one faith and one baptism? Here is a clue, the new testament says that there is one thing that must take place before we will all come to the unity of the Faith. Find that one thing then perhaps you’ll find that strait and narrow path spoken of by Matthew.

We must follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do not follow Him, we will follow men. When we follow men, 1 Cor 1-3 describes the result ... contentions, carnality, envy, strife, divisions.

Daily study of God's Word ... daily prayer/quiet time with God to develop a close relationship with Him ... fellowship with other believers ... these are things that help us mature so we are not children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine ... speaking the truth in love, growing up into Him in all things.
.

 

[Aaron56]

Just to flavor the pot:

Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

In short: For those in Christ: go to where you are sent, say what you are given to say, do what you are given to do and, this part is especially important, do not concern yourself with the outcome.

 

[lrs68]

Members of the very same doctrine and belief hardly ever see the same Passage of Scripture and explain it identically. More often than none they will be identical on the DBR and differ on Tenants such as Cessation/Continuation, Baptismal Formula, how the Triune ONE MOST HIGH GOD should be explained, and many more interpretations to mention like what is the correct way to Praise and Worship God.

Ultimately speaking, you end up discovering that Members of this Denomination could actually be Members of other Denominations solely based upon individual beliefs and interpretations of the Bible.

So if a Denomination can have Members that vary in beliefs it's possible most Denominations could merge to a happy compromise.

Personally speaking I really only see how one views Praise and Worship should be that most likely would keep everyone separated. And that's funny because when we get to Heaven it's mostly about Praising and Worshipping God.

 

[Ceph]

The problem with religion today is the lack of unity between the different sects. Fom my research I understand that there are over 33,000 Christian denominations and over 4,000 non-Christian religions in the world. My question to you is which path or paths leads to salvation?

Here is my answer:
Even though most religions have at least some truth, there can only be one path that has all truth. The scriptures teach “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). This tells me that true religion is objective and is not subjective. All Christian churches may teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, but the problem is they can’t agree on how that faith is made acceptable to God unto salvation.
You may ask, where can we find this one faith and one baptism? Here is a clue, the new testament says that there is one thing that must take place before we will all come to the unity of the Faith. Find that one thing then perhaps you’ll find that strait and narrow path spoken of by Matthew.

It's Jesus who spoke of the narrow path, and not Matthew.
The way to life is obeying God and walking in the spirit, not serving the flesh.

1 Corinthians 1:10—
Now I beg you, brothers, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1:19—
For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
2:4—
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.
Romans 8:1—
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; Because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.

 

[Truthfinder12]

Love the pushback—thank you for engaging so directly.

1) “Which path leads to salvation?”
Not “those who interpret like me,” but the Person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. Scripture is explicit:

• Jesus only: “I am the way… no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
• No other name: “There is none other name… whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• The apostolic gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor 15:1–4).
• How we receive it: “By grace… through faith… not of works” (Eph 2:8–9); “Believe… and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31; Rom 10:9–13).

So the “path” is Christ alone, received by grace through faith—not a denomination, tribe, or my personal spin.

2) Ephesians 4 and unity
I agree leadership is central—but notice the flow:

• Christ gives leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers) “for the equipping of the saints” (Eph 4:11–12).
• The goal of that equipping is “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God… so that we are no longer children, tossed… by every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:13–14).

In other words, authority serves truth; it doesn’t create the truth. Leaders equip the church to grow into unity in the apostolic gospel (the faith), measured by knowledge of the Son, maturity, and stability in sound doctrine (Eph 4:13–16). That’s the same safeguarding Paul gives in Gal 1:6–9—any “gospel” other than the apostolic one is out of bounds, no matter who preaches it.

Bottom line

• Salvation’s path = Jesus Christ crucified and risen, received by grace through faith.
• Ephesians 4 = Christ-given leaders who equip the body into that doctrinal and relational unity—unity in truth, not merely unity under authority.

Grace and peace—grateful for the sharpening.

LightBearer316 you are the first one to reply to my reply. Though we don’t see eye to eye your answers have been awesome, so thanks again!
I have been beating around the bush but since you’re the first one to figure out my clue, I’ll just come out and say how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience.
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ. They are appointed to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

 

[LightBearer316]

LightBearer316 you are the first one to reply to my reply. Though we don’t see eye to eye your answers have been awesome, so thanks again!
I have been beating around the bush but since you’re the first one to figure out my clue, I’ll just come out and say how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience.
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ. They are appointed to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

Appreciate the kind words and the thoughtful distinctions. I’d only offer this clarification: authority in Scripture always serves the gospel—it never replaces it. The apostles preached repentance and faith in Christ’s finished work, but the saving power rested in Christ Himself, not in the human office that preached Him.

Even when Paul spoke of his own apostolic calling, he made it clear:

“We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Cor 4:5).
“Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor 1:17).​

Ephesians 2:8–10 shows that salvation is by grace through faith, created “unto good works,” not through human authorization. Leaders equip the saints (Eph 4:11–13), but only the crucified and risen Jesus saves. Our unity and endurance come from Him, not from any line of succession.

Paul warned about—using Scripture to cloak a hierarchy that replaces the sufficiency of grace.

Grace and peace—grateful for the sharpening and the chance to keep the focus on Christ alone.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

In short: For those in Christ: go to where you are sent, say what you are given to say, do what you are given to do and, this part is especially important, do not concern yourself with the outcome.

so true ...

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
.

 

[Truthfinder12]

True statement.



And the answer is Rom 10:17 - "Faith" (biblical faith) comes by HEARING, and HEARING by GOD'S WORD. that's to say that Biblical FAITH occurs AS THE RESULT of the HOLY SPIRIT coming to the individual whit CONVICTION OF SIN, without which tere won't be any REAL repentance, or real total reliance of salvation as a result of BIBLICAL FAITH in the SIN OFFERING of Jesus on he cross.

Baptism, in and of itself, saves nobody, but IS what a person who HAS BEEN SAVED by Faith does as a testimony and a symbolic representation of what HAS HAPPENED - i.e. death and burial to "self" and a rising in newness of life in Jesus.

Thanks so much for your response, you bring up some very good points.
I’ve kind of been beating around the bush with hopes that readers would take my clue and do some research on their own. I guess it’s time to answer my own question, where can I find the one faith and one baptism? This is how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience. But if they seek the Church of Jesus Christ and follow the spirit, salvation can be theirs. 1Peter 4:6
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

 

[GWH]

Thanks so much for your response, you bring up some very good points.
I’ve kind of been beating around the bush with hopes that readers would take my clue and do some research on their own. I guess it’s time to answer my own question, where can I find the one faith and one baptism? This is how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience. But if they seek the Church of Jesus Christ and follow the spirit, salvation can be theirs. 1Peter 4:6
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

That is a good collection of Scripture except for the Mark passage, which is not as well attested
and goes on to cite snake handling and drinking poison without harm as signs of faith, too!
(Not a popular denomination :^)

 

[Truthfinder12]

This is a great question and i'm going to be honest with you that you aren't going to find agreement among denominations on the topic of Salvation.
The topic i pointed out asks common agreement on essentials such as Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirt?
What is The Bible? What is Eternity?

So now the question for you is, what level of acceptance are you looking for? 60%? 75%? 100%?

Thanks for your response, you bring up some very good points. I guess that I don't expect any agreement among the churches or individuals who haven't been called of God. Hebrews 5:4
This is how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience. But if they seek the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and his church and follow the spirit, salvation can be theirs. 1Peter 4:6
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

 

[Truthfinder12]

I don't even look for or expect unity because I know it will not come until Christ returns and we see him as he is. The best we can do is purify ourselves until that time.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3​

​

The reason there was such unity at the beginning is because there were men who intimately knew Jesus, and thus could teach others through their example who he is. As time passed that revelation drifted away and men became more focused on driving doctrinal stakes in the ground in order to preserve the gospel as best they could. And thank God they did, for without them we wouldn't have what we have, despite it being as imperfect as it is. But be faithful and persevere and God will set everything right in its time.

Thanks for your response, you bring up some very good points.
I’ve kind of been beating around the bush with hopes that readers would take my clue and do some research on their own. I guess it’s time to answer my own question, where can I find the one faith and one baptism? This is how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience. But if they seek the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and his church and follow the spirit, salvation can be theirs. 1Peter 4:6
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim revelation for the church of Jesus Christ and claim authority but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13

 

[DJT_47]

Firstly, to whom was the Ephesian letter written? My take on the Ephesians letter in general, is that it was written to them specifically, as were the other letters similarly written specifically to the respective entities as were addressed, i.e. Corinthians, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, Philippians, Thessalonians. So, the comments therein relate to them and their specific congregation; the body of Christ at Ephesus, although also may have secondary application to others as well, including us today. Having said that, the unity of the faith unto a perfect man (Eph 4:13), is related to and addressing the church at Ephesus. So when we read this today, although it could very well apply universally, it's really applicable to individual congregations such as was the church at Ephesus, and wasn't/isn't necessarily pertaining to the world-wide "Christian" church today including all the various sects that you mentioned exist. This too was the primary reason for the various spiritual gifts, a few of which were mentioned therein by Paul, that were manifested at that time of the early church, to build and edify the local bodies of Christ.

 

[PaulThomson]

The problem with religion today is the lack of unity between the different sects. Fom my research I understand that there are over 33,000 Christian denominations and over 4,000 non-Christian religions in the world. My question to you is which path or paths leads to salvation?

Here is my answer:
Even though most religions have at least some truth, there can only be one path that has all truth. The scriptures teach “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). This tells me that true religion is objective and is not subjective. All Christian churches may teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, but the problem is they can’t agree on how that faith is made acceptable to God unto salvation.
You may ask, where can we find this one faith and one baptism? Here is a clue, the new testament says that there is one thing that must take place before we will all come to the unity of the Faith. Find that one thing then perhaps you’ll find that strait and narrow path spoken of by Matthew.

I regard as a sibling in Christ any individual who is relying on Jesus Christ as Saviour and believes He was raised from the dead to be appointed the King over all mankind and that we should be committed to serving Him as our Lord. I do not require Christ-followers of other sects to agree with me on other doctrinal points to consider them brothers or sisters in Christ. This is how I can demonstrate unity and love in the Holy Spirit.

 

[GWH]

I regard as a sibling in Christ any individual who is relying on Jesus Christ as Saviour and believes He was raised from the dead to be appointed the King over all mankind and that we should be committed to serving Him as our Lord. I do not require Christ-followers of other sects to agree with me on other doctrinal points to consider them brothers or sisters in Christ. This is how I can demonstrate unity and love in the Holy Spirit.

I agree, Bro, although I prefer to say we should love the Lord and gladly reflect His love, because in the kingdom of God the greatest is the servant of all. I elaborate the doctrines implied by this creed by means of five foundational points, which I call the Gospel kerygma or God's requirement for salvation, and the other secondary doctrines I designate by the term didache.

 

[GWH]

That is a good collection of Scripture except for the Mark passage, which is not as well attested
and goes on to cite snake handling and drinking poison without harm as signs of faith, too!
(Not a popular denomination :^)

Here is another good collection of Scriptures on the subject of unity: Rom. 16:17, 1Cor. 1:10, 11:17-19, 12:25, Eph. 4:4.

 

[Truthfinder12]

The one thing is Christ crucified and resurrected. He is the only way to God.

Thanks for your response, I think that everyone on this chat would agree that Christ is the only way to God. The question is how is faith in Christ made acceptable to God unto salvation? That is where we differ.
This is how I see it. When it comes to religion there are three categories:
1. Religious anarchy – these are those who take scripture and come up with their own interpretations. They tend to focus on one scripture and build their entire belief system on that one scripture. They answer to no one and tend to seek convenience. But if they seek the true doctrine of Jesus Christ and his church and follow the spirit, salvation can be theirs. 1Peter 4:6
2. False leaders and teachers - these are those who claim authority and revelation for God’s church but have received none. Matthew 7:15
3. True Leaders and teachers – these are those who are called of God and were given authority by Jesus Christ to:
A. Preach Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by authority and enduring to the end.
B. Keep the people of God united
Ephesians 4:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 13:3, Mark 16:16, Matthew 24:13