One with Christ in God
223
against Himself? Will He give His people success before they sweep
away the rubbish of evil surmising and discord, before the laborers,
with unity of purpose, devote heart and mind and strength to the work
so holy in God’s sight? Union brings strength; disunion, weakness.
United with one another, working together in harmony for the salvation
of men, we shall indeed be “laborers together with God.” Those who
refuse to work in harmony greatly dishonor God. The enemy of souls
delights to see them working at cross purposes with one another. Such
ones need to cultivate brotherly love and tenderness of heart. If they
could draw aside the curtain veiling the future and see the result of
their disunion they would surely be led to repent.
The world is looking with gratification at the disunion amongst
Christians. Infidelity is well pleased. God calls for a change among
His people. Union with Christ and with one another is our only safety
in these last days. Let us not make it possible for Satan to point to
our church members, saying: “Behold how these people, standing
under the banner of Christ, hate one another. We have nothing to fear
from them while they spend more strength fighting one another than
in warfare with my forces.”
[241]
After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples went forth to
proclaim a risen Saviour, their one desire the salvation of souls. They
rejoiced in the sweetness of the communion with saints. They were
tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the
truth’s sake. In their daily association with one another they revealed
the love that Christ had commanded them to reveal. By unselfish
words and deeds they strove to kindle this love in other hearts.
The believers were ever to cherish the love that filled the hearts
of the apostles after the descent of the Holy Spirit. They were to go
forward in willing obedience to the new commandment: “As I have
loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:34
. So closely were
they to be united to Christ that they would be enabled to fulfill His
requirements. The power of a Saviour who could justify them by His
righteousness was to be magnified.
But the early Christians began to look for defects in one another.
Dwelling upon mistakes, giving place to unkind criticism, they lost
sight of the Saviour and of the great love He had revealed for sinners.
They became more strict in regard to outward ceremonies, more par-
ticular about the theory of the faith, more severe in their criticisms.