-Preached at Waynesboro Bible Church, Waynesboro, Ga. July 14, 1996-

Text: "Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sons of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..." (Eph. 4:13).

Perhaps it was Steve Green, the popular Christian recording artist who popularized the current battle cry among Evangelicals

"Let the walls come down?" But, the effort being made to join hands

with Roman Catholics, and Mormons etc., is simply the latest ecumenical fraud. The Lord has laid down in the Bible the terms of fellowship, and the time for unity; and the cry to "let the walls come down" is not the voice of God.

The Apostle John and the Apostle Paul speak of unity; and, "in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, shall every word be established"

(II Cor. 13:1). Note, first, the writings of John.

In the 17th chapter of John’s Gospel, the Apostle records the great prayer of Jesus. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (17:11). Note the words again; "...that they may be one as we are." This is the unity of likeness; NOT the unity of equality. It speaks of the unity of will, of affection, and of understanding: hence, a unity of likeness. It speaks of abiding together, of cleaving together in one spirit; of having the same desires and interest. This is a unity of likeness, not a unity of equality.

Jesus continued: "...Neither pray I for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (20-23).

Cardinal Christian doctrine is the essential ingredient of Christian unity. Consider the words of the Apostle— "...truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ"—and tell me what kind of fellowship can exist between those who believe in the Father and in the Son, and those who say the accept the Father but reject His Son? Although Christians do not have the same degree of understanding, yet, all Christians believe salvation is by Christ alone. All believe salvation is by grace, and that a man is accepted by God through an act o God’s grace; and not by the keeping of the law. Tell me, then, what fellowship can there be between Christians and Roman Catholics who are taught church traditions are more relevant than the Bible? And that men are saved by their works? Agreement with cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith is essential for fellowship to be Christian.

Doctrinal faithfulness is the badge of Christian profession. It forms the parameters of Christian fellowship. It acts as a barrier to protect the Church from their common enemy.

When shall these things be? When shall there be true Christian unity?

Even now, there is a kinship, and a fellowship between all true Christians. This is evidenced by the sense of oneness between two strangers whose only apparent similarity is that they are both Christians. They may come from different cultures, and speak different languages, but, they are brought "nigh by the blood of Christ."

But, when shall all believers be made "one?" When all believe who should believe on Jesus (Jn. 17:20); when all believers are brought to perfection and glorified (22,23). Only when they have perfect knowledge shall Christians be made "one."

The Apostle Paul wrote, "And he gave some, apostles; and prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..." (Eph. 4:11-13).

The theme of the book of Ephesians is "The Church;" and, like all the epistles, it is addressed to "the saints." This one is addressed to the saints "Which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1).

The 4th chapter of Ephesians teaches the relevance of the Church, and that the ministry of the Church will be current, first, "till we all come in the unity of the faith;" second, ("till we all come in the unity) of the knowledge of thc Son of God;" third, ("till we all come) unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (13).

The unity spoken of here is the "the unity f the faith." This is "the faith" Jude identified as "once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Unity that is Christian is unity of "the faith." There is only one true faith; and, as Luke wrote, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we mist be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Paul wrote, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10,11). Every attempt to fellowship without regard to the faith "once delivered to the saints" –no matter what people choose to call it, it is but an evil union, a confederacy of evil. Hands that are joined in union contrary "to the faith" are not Godly unions. They are not according to truth; and, therefore, they are not Biblical.

God leads men differently, but it is an act of judgment when He leads men to disregard His Word. He gives to each believer "a measure of faith," and since all believers do not have the same degree of knowledge, wisdom, or understanding; it is certain that God Himself has ordained various denominations. It is not now the will of God that there be unity among Christians.

It is patently absurd to suggest there can be unity in the household of faith even before the return of the Prince of Peace! The present call for unity, and of tearing down the walls of culture and class, of doctrine and denominationalism is simply an attempt to form an alliance between believers and unbelievers; and will shortly result in the formation of a globally-approved religion, a mongrel, pagan faith. The new faith will be base, vile, unclean and cruel.

When the voice of the people cry, "Unity--it is the will of God!" is it not amazing how few stop to ask where in the Bible unity is discussed? The foolish simply respond with spasdic agreement. When will Christian unity emerge? When will saints be united? Note the text --

First, Christians will be united when "we all come in the unity of the faith" (vs. 13a). Note, the Apostle does not say the Church will be united when people unite without regard to "the faith."

Second, Christian unity will result "when we all come in the knowledge of the Son of God" (13b). There can be no unity where there is no fellowship; and Christian fellowship centers on Jesus Christ, for as John wrote, "truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (I Jn 1:3). Therefore, when the Holy Spirit says, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (I Jn. 2:22); how can believers pretend to have Christian fellowship with unbelievers! "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

The Holy Spirit warns, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Cor. 6:14-18).

Third, Christian unity will result when "we all come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (13c). Does the Reader know a perfect man? Does he know anyone who has achieved perfect understanding, and a state of moral perfection? Until such time, Christian unity will be unattainable; and every purported achievement of it will be a counterfeit, a sham, and a lie.

But a host within the contemporary church are willing to pay upwards of $55 to attend a Promise Keepers rally where they can hold hands with Roman Catholics, Mormons, etc.; and are ready to acknowledge them to be Christian brethren --but it is a lie.

At what price are contemporary "saints" willing to have "unity?" It appears as though the hoi polloi are unwilling to wait for true unity, and are rather willing to forge a fabricated unity -a unity of their making, but not the unity of God’s making. Unable to wait on the Lord, they will have their unity NOW, although it be a disgrace, a pretense, and sin.

--FRANK MESSER FELLOWS (1916-1996)-

It is hard to imagine that hours before our tract The Resurrection of the Dead appeared in the Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal on July 23^rd, my father suffered a ruptured aneurysm. In the providence of God, he had a hole in his esophagus that allowed him to live until the 29th of July.

First, I am grateful to the Lord that my father did not vegetate.

He had possession of his mind, and walked on his own. Second, I am grateful to the Lord that the hospital sent him home. If at all possible, people ought to be allowed to die with their family rather

than in the midst of strangers. Third, I am grateful the hospital sent

him home because if he had remained there, the hospital staff would have had to try "heroic" means to keep him alive. People ought to be allowed to die, although we would have no tolerance for the likes of Jack Kervorkian.

Reader—I never heard my father curse or swear, or talk in a vulgar manner. To my knowledge, he never drank or smoked. But, the righteousness men acknowledge is not the righteousness God acknowledges. Men look on the outward appearance; the Lord looks on the heart. Righteousness to me is a righteousness of doing; with God, righteousness is believing.

In conversion, the great work effected is the change in man’s will. Much of today’s religion exalts Jesus as Lord while having no beneficial effect on men’s characters. How foolish it is for men to call Jesus "Lord," who have no intentions to do the things that He says. Reader, are you a true Christian? "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Gal. 2:21). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and though shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Many thanks to those of you who have switched long distance telephone service from pro-homosexual AT&T, and have signed with Lifeline-a company owned by Christians, that sends hundreds of thousands of dollars each month to Christian organizations. If you have asked that 10% of your bill be given to help publish The Angelus, we are especially grateful.

Lifeline, a division of AmeriVision, is available to businesses as well. While Lifeline offers average savings of 4-8%, while guaranteeing the same quality service, and offers a free 100% digital fiber optic Travel Card; I, for one, would be willing to accept inferior service, and pay more rather than to knowingly support the sodomite lobby.

Would you be willing to try their service fur 90 days? Call (800) 800-7550; or Write: AmeriVision, P.O. Box 7735, Moore, Oklahoma 73153-1735. Ask that 10% of your bill be given to help publish The Angelus. It will cost you nothing.

FROM Mississippi State Penitentiary: "...Oh! I read your book God Hath Spoken. I really liked that book. It is full of great information. I understand many, many things in it. I like the way you explain things. I can follow what you are getting at without getting lost...." Editor’s Note: Truth is simple; but do not let that deceive you. It is Error that is complicated.

 from The Wallbuilder Report (Winter 1996, by David Barton. P.O. Box 397, Aledo, Texas 76008):

Roger, Sherman - "I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him" (Signer of the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States).

John Witherspoon—"I shall now entreat...you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ, for ‘there is no salvation in any other’ (Acts 4:12).... If you are not clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness, you must forever perish" (Signer of the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights).

Benjamin Rush- "My only hope of salvation is in the infinite transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!" (Signer of the Declaration of Independence)

John Quincy Adams- "My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away ...the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted, and at others countenances His disciples in asserting that He was God."

It is a grief, not a joy to have to expose the weaknesses of other. It is absolutely necessary, although we anger family members, and alienate dearest friends. And, it is only by the grace of God that any of us continues faithful to the Lord.

Last week, I received a financial appeal from the Christian Coalition. On the outside of the envelope were the words, "In Solidarity With Pope John Paul II." On the inside was a card that read, "Pope John Paul II concluded his ‘Gospel of Life’ encyclical with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. That prayer is on the back of this card. Please pray it every day."

I am through with the Christian Coalition. Like all charismatics, they are leading people back to Rome. No, thank you. "I cannot go with you to Hell. I mean with Jesus Christ to dwell."

First, Christians must not pray to Mary, "for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). Second, Catholics, like other heathen folk believe they shall be heard for their much speaking. "Fare thee well."