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By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
While it is to be deplored that there is ecclesiastical division amongst the churches of Christ throughout the world, who hold to different creeds, and church unity is a thing to be earnestly desired and prayed for, yet such unity must begin with love. If there is such love — which itself is the gift of God — then there is hope that barriers to unity will be overcome in the Lord’s great mercy.
A sermon preached at the opening of the 1816 Synod of the RPCNA by John Black (1768-1849) on Christian Fellowship acknowledges the reality of ecclesiastical barriers to full, unhindered communion, but speaks profoundly of the love of the saints, that basic building block needful for unity. It is worth pondering Black’s words on this point; they are timeless because this essential Biblical truth is timeless.
All real Christians love one another. They all love Christ, and cannot but love all who bear his image. And this is the characteristic mark of all who love him — they have his Father’s name written in their foreheads. All such will delight to mingle their voices, their hearts and affections, in religious exercises. They will speak of Christ — of the wonders of his love, and the wonders of his grace, with pleasure and delight They will join in his praises. They will talk together in recommending him more and more. The theme is inexhaustible. They will unite in addressing him, for they love prayer, and they have one heart. One spirit actuates them.
We must ask ourselves this as we pray for unity among the saints of God: do we love one another? If the answer is yes, the path is laid before us and, by the grace of God — notwithstanding the need for union based on truth and not error — that love will find its outward expression in the unity of the visible church. If the path is to begin somewhere, it must begin with the words of Christ, who said that they will know us to be Christians for our love to one another.
