Strength for Today

Some churches have the word UNITED on the name of their church. What does that mean? Usually it means that they are united within that particular denomination (although often there is a lot of disunity going on within that church: nationally, regionally, and even locally). But God's ideal for the church is still that it be united. "Here there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all" (Col. 3:11 ESV). God intended for the church to be united regardless of nationality, race, and economic status. "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 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 no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26-28 ESV). God never intended for there to be a Jewish church, a Gentile church, a slave church, a free church, a male church, a female church. Our position in Christ is the key to being a united church. We are one "in Christ" regardless of our nationality, race, or sex. Putting our faith in Christ means that we trust Him to be the head of His church. Being baptized into Christ means that we have died to our old way of life -- including selfish desires. Putting on Christ means that we will think, feel, and act like Jesus does in every situation. This is what it means when the Bible says "Christ is all and in all." Christ is eternally united with His Father and His church should be fraternally united with all their brothers and sisters who are truly "in Christ." We are all one in Christ Jesus. This is the true "united church."