Have you ever wondered why even the best teams sometimes lose? Think about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. They were the best basketball players in the world, yet they lost a scrimmage game to a group of college players. How did that happen? It wasn’t because they lacked talent; it was because they weren’t playing as a team. Once they started working together, they dominated and won Olympic gold. This story has a powerful lesson for us as Christians: unity is essential.
Just like the Dream Team, the Church is called to work together to share the message of Jesus. But too often, we let differences divide us—whether it’s personal opinions, different ways of doing things, or even small disagreements about our faith. One of the biggest things that can divide us is politics. In every church, people are divided over which political party or leader they support. But the apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians that our loyalty should be to Jesus above all else.
Paul addressed the divided church in Corinth in the opening of his letter in 1 Corinthians 1:4–16. He urges them here to focus on Christ instead of human leaders. He asked, “Has Christ been divided? Was I crucified for you?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). By asking these questions, Paul made it clear how silly their divisions were. Unity isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a sign that the church is living out the Gospel.
So, how can we experience the unity that Paul talks about? By focusing on who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Jesus is our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. Each of these titles has the power to unite us.
Jesus as Our Savior: Paul reminds the Corinthians of the grace given through Jesus Christ. Salvation, which only comes through Christ, is the foundation on which all believers experience their greatest grace. When we all become aware of the grace of our salvation—Jesus as our Savior—we become unified. We become less focused on what we believe to be right and wrong and more focused on Jesus saving us from our sin.
Jesus as Our Sanctifier: Paul speaks of how Jesus confirms us and keeps us until the end. Sanctification is the process of being made holy, and Jesus is the one who does it. When we fully surrender every part of our lives to Him, we begin to have the mind of Christ, and that’s when we’ll experience true unity.
Jesus as Our Healer: Paul teaches that Jesus completes us. That word carries the meaning of "restores us" and "mends us," He heals us. In our relationships, we may encounter brokenness caused by division or misunderstanding. It is essential to seek Jesus for healing, both individually and collectively. Only He can mend the wounds and restore us to wholeness. Let's commit to praying for one another, being agents of healing in our community, and addressing conflicts with love and grace.
Jesus as Our Coming King: Paul urges the Corinthians to stop aligning themselves with earthly leaders and focus solely on Christ. Jesus is our King, and He gives us the mission of spreading His message of salvation. When we preach the cross and the empty tomb, we’re also preaching that Jesus is coming back, and when He does, He will unify us like no human leader ever could.
Taking the Next Step
So, what can you do to experience this unity in Christ? Instead of choosing to be divided over human leaders or political parties, rally around Jesus who is our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. One thing that we all have in common is that we’ve been saved from the wrong that we do by the same Savior. Let’s rally around Him.
Ask yourself: Are you aligning with human leaders more than with Christ? Are you letting political or personal differences separate you from other believers? Let’s hold one another accountable to Jesus alone, who unites us, and reflect His love and grace as we await His return.