One Heart and One Soul

“Now 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)

     The early church understood the idea of unity very well. It was obviously something they struggled with as time went on, we can read about that struggle in the letters.  This massive group of baptized believers was meeting without an issue of discord. They simply were ONE.  They understood that they were of one body, one Spirit, one calling, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Eph. 4:4-6).


    How do we know this? In Acts 2 we are on the first day of the week and we have a group of believers, 3,000 to be exact, baptized (Acts 2:41). Also in Acts 2 we see them continue steadfastly in apostles doctrine, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).  Now this same group shows us a statement of unity by being together and having all things in common (Acts 2:44-45). This same unity continues even when the body grows.  In Acts 4:32 the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Acts 5:12 they are all in one accord on Solomon’s Porch.   Acts 11:26 they assembled together for a whole year. We learn that according with Acts 2 and Acts 20:7 they meet on the first day of the week. 


     In this context we have seen the word preached and the gospel obeyed. We see the believers living faithfully, serving, and giving.  We see the multitude grow. Everything was done together. It was a chain reaction that could not be stopped. The word spread like wild fire even in the face of persecution (Acts 8:1-4).  You see all the letters are written to churches who all started there in the book of Acts. They all learned and were taught the same things. There was no cultural understanding in any letter. Just like there was none there in Acts. It’s all a woven time line. The Gospels, Acts, and the letters are all tied together. Amazing! What an incredible thought that there were thousands of believers, believing and teaching the same thing. That’s where it all started.  Yet without the unity of the body it could have easily fallen apart.


     Think for a moment that which held the body together was the inspired word of which they obeyed (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2; Acts 2:37-47). That is what created the fellowship they had (1 John 1:1-10). Their unity was bound in the fact they were in one accord by the word and Christ, they were one body (1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 4:4-6). If they had not had that unity there would have been no benevolence going on. (See “The Unselfish Heart and Liberal Hands”). So our binding tie is Christ and His word. The perfect God inspired word (2 Tim. 3:16-17). They same word they heard and obeyed.  So what can we say then? Unity is crucial.

      Unity is an inherent effect of being immersed into Christ’s authority by the waters of baptism (Acts 2:37-41; Rom. 6:1-6; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14). If this new body of Christ was not unified the whole thing would have crashed. Christ unifies us, if we keep His commandments (Matt. 28:18-20; 1 John 2:3-6).  He wanted us to be united (John 17:20-26) in Him. This is only if we did all He commanded. We were baptized into one body (1 Cor. 12:12-14).  If you also note in John 17:23 this unity shows the world who and what we are.


    To think if the body of the early church had been torn by divisions, strife, turmoil, bickering, envy and jealousy, it would have made very little impact upon the community in which it was in. The same goes for us. Yes! That’s the right thought. We should not be torn apart and should avoid lighting a forest fire of disorder in any way. Yes!  A simple word of gossip or a simple false thought or ill statement can cause such a chain reaction. Many places could attest to their struggle in the local community to such actions. 

     If the early church had the turmoil and strife that the church presents today it would have fallen to its knees. Now it did have its issues we see those in the letters. They were also dealt with and put away. They also did not sacrifice any piece of the word to qualify any one person or persons for any reason. For if they did they would be destroying the one thing of which brought them together. The same goes for us.  We must do the same.

     Let us look at a unified body. There is one body with many parts. Each part is important and has its function (1 Cor. 12:12-31). We all have a different function and must excel in that (Romans 12:3-8). We see that when each part does its work effectively the body grows. The body will grow in maturity and in number. Also note the unity in the faith. This body is unified.  As you are the elect, called, be as Christ desires you to be in the body of which you were called. Do all, weather word or deed, in the name of Lord Jesus (Col. 3:12-17). We must all be about the work of the Lord (James 2:14-26). Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, as you have always obeyed, for it is God who works to will and for His good pleasure in you (Phil. 2:12-13). Work and do without grumbling or complaining so you may be faultless (Phil. 2:14-16).

    This unified body was not torn apart and did not tolerate such behavior. (See “Sin! So That Grace May Abound?”) This behavior as we see today destroys the church. The unity in the body, bound in Christ and His word, grows the church (Eph. 5:23). So when we see Acts 4:32 do we have this unity in our body? Are each of us seeking to be unified as a body in the word? Are we behaving like the unified body of Christ? What can you do to change it? What can you do to be unified in the body? What can you do to support and encourage such unity?

 

(See "Fellowship or Relationship?")