Even after hearing Jesus pray that His followers “may be one”, it took years, visions, and a Holy Spirit baptism before Peter converted the first Gentile (Jn. 17:22; Acts 10). Even then, Peter later went out-of-step by withdrawing from the Gentiles for fear of others’ reaction (Gal. 2:11-13). He recovered after Paul called him out, eventually advocating for the Gentiles (Gal. 2:14, Acts 15:6-11). This helped lead to the church’s unanimous decision not to burden Gentile believers with Jewish rituals like circumcision (Acts 15:19). As Christianity’s second decade closed, Jesus’ prayer for unity was finally being realized – but it did not end there.
Immediately afterward, Paul circumcised Timothy so he could help deliver the council’s decisions about not needing to be circumcised (Acts 16:3-4)! Personal sacrifice to reach others became a theme of theirs. Paul wrote to Corinth, “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (I Cor. 8:13, 9:22). He urged the disciples in Rome – where Jews had recently returned after being expelled– to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” so they could glorify God “with one voice” (Rom. 14:19,15:6; cf. Acts 18:2). Having dedicated his life to revealing Gentiles were “members of the same body”, Paul knew we must be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 3:4-6, 4:3).
When history shows our world healing after conflict, it has been through Christian leaders working to reunite people. Just look at the decades-long West German reconciliation efforts after World War II or South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission. When we try to end conflict without reconciling – like simply ending a war or passing a bill – problems fester into something worse. Not just with nations, either: our families, workplaces, and churches can suffer long after an argument ends unless we make an ongoing effort to be united.
We can learn so much from the way God brought people as wildly different as Jews and Gentiles together in Christ. Yet, as important as everything the Spirit did to resolve their conflict was, we must also learn from how He continued to work through people like Paul to keep them together over the long run. Their example shows us that true unity is not quick or easy; but if we will keep going, there is no division Christ cannot heal.
Ready to learn from Jesus and His apostles how to be truly united? Check out our sermon series “That They May Be One”.