The Oneness of the Body of Christ as Reality and Fact vs. The Oneness of the Churches in Practice and Application

 

The Oneness of the Body of Christ as Reality and Fact vs. The Oneness of the Churches in Practice and Application

Matt. 18:19 "Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens."

Acts 1:14 "These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." 

Aspect	The Oneness of the Body of Christ as Reality and Fact	The Oneness of the Churches in Practice and Application (One Accord)
Meaning	1. The organic oneness belonging to the Body 2. An objective fact 3. Exists for reality and factuality	1. The practice belonging to the churches 2. A subjective experience 3. Exists for practice and application
Distinction	1. Emphasizes "one Body and one Spirit" (Eph. 4:4) 2. Is an accomplished fact 3. The Body is one, whether viewed locally or universally 4. Accomplished through the Lord Jesus' prayer and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost 5. Exists as the foundation for reality	1. Emphasizes "two agree on earth" (Matt. 18:19) 2. Is a daily experience that needs to be practiced 3. The church is one universally but many locally 4. Needs to be practiced by believers in daily and church life 5. Is the application and expression of oneness
Examples	1. All Christians indwelt by the same Spirit 2. Sharing the same life in Christ 3. Belonging to one Body in salvation 4. The position of unity believers have in Christ 5. The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost establishing the reality of oneness	1. Prayer meetings in one accord 2. The coordination and cooperation among saints in life 3. Fellowship and acceptance among local churches 4. Harmony in church decisions 5. Reaching consensus amid different opinions
Application	1. Recognizing and respecting the fact of organic oneness 2. Holding the ground of "one Body, one Spirit, one hope" 3. Rejecting any thought or behavior that divides the Body 4. Accepting all genuine believers as members of the Body of Christ 5. Respecting Christ as the Head of the Body	1. Practicing harmonious prayer 2. Eliminating differences among the saints 3. Building the same understanding, intention, and goal 4. Forgetting external differences such as race and color 5. Practicing mutual love and acceptance
Interrelationship	1. Is the foundation and source of one accord 2. Provides the legitimacy and necessity for practicing oneness 3. Without the factual oneness, the practical oneness loses its foundation 4. Like the root of a tree (hidden but crucial)	1. Is the practical application of the oneness of the Body of Christ 2. Makes the abstract oneness concrete and experiential 3. Without one accord, the factual oneness is not real to us 4. Like the branches and fruit of a tree (visible expression)
Relevant Scripture Verses	Eph. 4:4-6 "One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." John 17:11 "Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, that they may be one even as We are." John 17:21-23 "That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us..." 1 Cor. 12:13 "For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit."	Phil. 2:2 "Make my joy full, that you think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing." Acts 2:46 "And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of their food with exultation and simplicity of heart." Rom. 15:5-6 "Now the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind toward one another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

Conclusion:

From the perspective of the Bible, there is a profound distinction and connection between the oneness of the Body of Christ and the oneness of the churches in practice. The oneness of the Body of Christ is organic and factual, while the oneness of the churches is practical and applicational (one accord).

Notable points:

1.      The oneness of the Body is an accomplished fact through the Lord Jesus' prayer (John 17) and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

2.      The oneness of the churches (one accord) needs to be practiced in our daily life, especially manifested in praying with one accord (Matthew 18).

3.      If we only have the reality of the Body's oneness without the present practice of one accord, then this oneness is "objective and abstract, not real to us."

4.      Conversely, the practice of one accord must be built upon the fact of the common life. Without the same understanding, intention, purpose, and goal, true one accord cannot be practiced.

These two aspects of oneness complement each other: the oneness of the Body is the foundation, and one accord is the expression; the oneness of the Body is the fact, and one accord is the practice. Both are indispensable and together constitute the complete revelation of oneness in the Bible.

 

*Please refer to the April 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training General Topic: One Accord and the Vital Aspects of Acts Chapter 2: One Accord