Prerequisites for unity
Philippians 2:1-2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
The church is the same
Churches have not changed much in 2,000 years – the call to unity in these verses is as needed now as it was then and always will be. In these verses there are four prerequisites for unity.
Consolation in Christ
The word “consolations” is translated elsewhere as exhortation and means calling near; entreaty; consolation, encouragement; that which affords comfort or refreshment. We are told to come together and encourage one another especially as we see the last days approaching (Heb. 10:25). We are told to exhort one another daily so that we might not become hard hearted (Heb 3:13). Paul says that we are to comfort one another together (1 Thes 5:11) and this would imply that we meet together for fellowship, worship and study of His word. In verse three of the text passage, Paul narrows down the problem of some disunity – pride (Phil 2:3). Solomon tells us that it is through pride that contentions come (Prov. 13:10). James says that strife comes from the heart (Jam 3:4).
Comfort of love
Comfort can also mean encourage but it literally means persuasive address and implies a “tender act of incentive”. Paul is saying to the believers, “if there are any tender acts of incentive or persuasiveness in us, we are to share them with others so that they can continue on in their Christian walk. Various passages speak of the love we are to have one toward another and the encouragement that goes with it (Psa 133:1; Eph 4:32; Col 2:2; 1 Jn 4:7, 8). The love necessary to love one another is given to us by God through His Spirit (Ro 5:5) because we are not all very lovable at times.
Fellowship of the Spirit
Believers come from various backgrounds, ethnicities and personalities and these often prevent some from having the fellowship that God desires among His children. But the same Spirit is given to all of us and therefore, we should be able to have fellowship with others of like faith. Through the Spirit’s empowering, our spirits can be molded into Christ’s likeness enabling us to live in unity with other believers.
Bowels and mercies
In the west we also associate the heart with affections and feelings, but in the east it is associated with the middle of the body. They feel that the most violent or intense emotions originate in the bowels. Mercies here is longings; yearnings for pity. In Matthew 18:33, Jesus tells the story of one who did not have mercy on his fellow servant and chastens him for it (Matt 18:33) telling him he should have had mercy because he was shown pity. If Christians would have tender compassion on one another, most divisions would cease to exist.
The four prerequisites for unity then are Christ-like humility; Spirit produced agape love, a yielding of the will of each believer to the Spirit and tenderheartedness toward one another. Then others will know we are His disciples (Jn 13:35).