Character of Unity
A Sermon on Church Unity from Romans 12:5-6
Originally preached Feb. 4, 1966
Scripture
5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Sermon Description
What guides and keeps a church unified? How can the church encourage unity among its members? In this sermon on Romans 12:5-6 titled “Character of Unity,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains there are two elements to preserving the unity of a church. There is a spiritual unity that can only be brought about the Spirit of God and there is a necessary fundamental agreement of doctrine. While agreeing in the area of doctrine, it is also important to remember that the church body was created for a specific purpose. It ought to function in a living and active way together as many members of one body. The church must be using her gifts otherwise she is failing as a church. Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions the listener to beware of their church falling into two extremes when it comes to being active: on one hand, activism or over busyness tires the body and wears out its members. On the other hand, hyper-paralysis, where the individual members are only worried about themselves, causes the church to be perpetually inactive and unhealthy. The activity of the church must be consistent and in conformity with the mind of the head, which is Christ Jesus, as he instructs in Scripture.
Sermon Breakdown
- The church is meant to be active and living. If it is not active, there is something wrong.
- The activity of the church is Christ's activity, not the church's activity. The church cannot organize a revival or add to its true membership. Only Christ can do that.
- There are two dangers for the church: activism (busyness and forgetting the true nature of the church) and hypochondriasis (excessive self-examination and worrying about one's spiritual state). The true position is to be healthy and responsive to Christ.
- The church's activity should be consistent with Christ's thinking and mind. Examples of violations of this principle include: forcing people to convert at swordpoint, the church starting wars, church-state alliances, and using social entertainment to maintain the church.
- The church is meant to preach the gospel, not just maintain an organization. Revivals come through God, not human effort.
- The church's unity is a living, functioning unity. The church is an organism, not an organization. Its unity must include the mind and thinking.
- The church's activity comes from Christ, the head, not itself. The church must be sensitive and responsive to Christ's leading.
- The value of any individual's contribution is how it benefits the whole church. Individual parts of the body have no meaning on their own.
- Individual Christians should be content with the role Christ has given them in the church. What matters most is Christ's functioning through the whole body, not any individual's exploits.
Sermon Q&A
Questions about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on the Church as the Body of Christ
What is the primary teaching about the church that Lloyd-Jones emphasizes in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the church is the body of Christ—an organic, living unity rather than merely an organizational one. He stresses that "the church is an organism, not an organization." This unity is spiritual in nature, brought about by the Holy Spirit, and includes a unity of mind and doctrine. The church functions as a living body with Christ as the head, where all members are interdependent on one another.
How does Lloyd-Jones differentiate between mechanical and physiological functioning in the church?
Lloyd-Jones makes a critical distinction between mechanical functioning (like a machine) and physiological functioning (like a living body). He explains that a machine is dead and works mechanically, while the body is alive and works physiologically. The church should function physiologically—as a living organism responding to the head (Christ), not mechanically through human-engineered programs and initiatives. He states, "The working of a machine is mechanical, the working of the human body is physiological. And what a difference there is between mechanics and physiology."
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary task of the church?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the primary task of the church is to preach the gospel and make known the good news of salvation. He cites 1 Timothy 3, describing the church as "the pillar and ground of the truth," functioning like a pedestal holding up a notice board before the world. He also references 1 Peter 2:9, saying Christians are chosen "that you may show forth his praises, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
What are the two extreme dangers Lloyd-Jones warns against for church members?
Lloyd-Jones warns against two extremes: 1. Activism - excessive busyness and activity without proper connection to the head. This is "thinking of the church in organizational or mechanical terms and deciding to go out and do things" without Christ's direction. 2. Hypochondriasis - being so preoccupied with one's spiritual health that one does nothing at all. He describes this as "so busy studying his own health that he's got no time to do anything at all," being excessively concerned with correctness and "turning in upon themselves."
How does Lloyd-Jones say the church should properly function in relation to Christ?
Lloyd-Jones teaches that the church should be healthy and responsive to Christ. Members should: 1. Be in communion with Christ that leads to health (sanctification) 2. Maintain sensitivity and responsiveness to the will of the Lord 3. Keep their activities consistent with Christ's mind and character 4. Remember "my kingdom is not of this world" 5. Focus on the whole body more than individual parts 6. Accept their particular role or gift with contentment 7. Understand their interdependence with other members
What historical examples does Lloyd-Jones give of the church violating its proper function?
Lloyd-Jones provides several historical examples: 1. Forcing people to confess Christianity at the point of a sword 2. Starting wars or participating in wars specifically to spread the gospel 3. Alliances between church and state (mentioning Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, the Church of England, and John Knox) 4. Attempting to maintain church life through social entertainment (particularly in the last century) 5. The "institutional Church" movement of the early 20th century
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the ideal relationship between church members?
Lloyd-Jones describes church members as "members one of another," exhibiting interdependence. He explains that parts of the body "cannot function without the head. Neither can they function without one another." Members should recognize that their individual value comes through their contribution to the whole body, not through isolated action. He emphasizes that "the harmony with which they all work together" is essential, and despite differences between members, all are necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
According to Lloyd-Jones, why can't the church organize a revival?
Lloyd-Jones firmly states that "the church can never organize a revival. Never." He explains that while churches can organize activities, a true revival is "a movement of the Spirit" that cannot be manufactured or produced by human effort. He clarifies that the church cannot add to its true membership by human methods because only those who are born again are truly part of the church. The church must wait upon Christ as the head to initiate such movements, being responsive to Him rather than trying to create revival through human schemes.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.