That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Himself, the God of patience and comfort, grants His people to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus, so that together with united thought, belief and judgment and with united voice, speech and praise they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. This oneness is according to Christ and after His pattern, as He is one with the Father, gathering His people into unity of the faith as one body under one Head. It comes through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope, as the strong bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, please the neighbor for his good to edification, and receive one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It requires complete self-surrender and daily humbling of heart, yielding differences to be of one judgment in order and union with the body, and sanctified speech that speaks kindly and tenderly, refuses faultfinding, criticism and retaliation, and confesses wrong. Such love and unity put believers in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer, testify with convicting power that God sent Jesus to save sinners, and press them together with united purpose and united speech to resist Satan and move forward from success to success in missionary work.
Gift of United Praise
The God of patience and comfort grants believers to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus, so that together with one mind and one mouth they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. That likemindedness is united thought and united voice offered together in honor of God, and it is lived out by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It comes through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope, as the strong bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, please the neighbor for his good to build him up and edify him, and follow Christ who did not please Himself but bore reproach. In practice it means being of the same mind toward each other, not minding high things but keeping fellowship with people of low estate, and not being wise in self-conceit. Toward a tried and tempted brother it requires giving account to God rather than judging, putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in his way, making room for him, giving earnest interest to lift him above thinking of himself, being pitiful, courteous, kind and patient, speaking tenderly, correcting errors without mocking infirmity or weakness, and practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help those who need help, which God observes and blesses.
With one mind means united thought, belief, and judgment, and with one mouth means united voice, speech, praise, worship, and action, all directed together to glorifying God the Father. This unity is according to Christ Jesus and belongs with receiving one another as Christ received them, bearing with one another in love, putting self aside to reflect Christ, and sharing both belief and action. It requires yielding differing opinions and differences of opinion to join together in the faith and join the body in one judgment. It means loving one another rather than showing animosity, living in humility and harmony, while criticism and faultfinding are contrary to it.
This unity is according to Christ and after His pattern, as Christ is one with the Father, leading out a people into unity of the faith to be one as He is one with the Father and to be one body under one Head. That oneness comes by bearing the infirmities of the weak and not pleasing self, by pleasing the neighbor for his good to edification after the example of Christ who pleased not Himself, and by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It exists in believing and speaking the same things in peace and harmony, in unity in faith and practice and in judgment and understanding of truth, and it grows only in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the divine Spirit, so that the more fully believers receive that enlightenment the more they harmonize in understanding truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and live in peace and harmony. Such love and Christian unity gives believers confidence in one another, puts them in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer for His disciples to be united as one body under one Head in Christian fellowship and love, and testifies with convicting power to the world that God sent Jesus to save sinners and that the Word of God is the safe rule of life. This Spirit-given condition was seen after Christ's resurrection and ascension when believers were of one heart and one mind in union, and even the difference over circumcision and receiving uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled so that through the Spirit they were perfectly joined together, and this will always be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
The verse states the order and standard God intends for the church, placing His commandment-keeping people under obligation to Him and amenable to Him to be of one mind rather than of half a dozen different minds or a great variety of minds. This unity in mind and speech is a New Testament standard for the church, and spiritual gifts were given to help bring it about, while creating divisions and distracting minds works against the order God intends. When the Holy Spirit abides in their hearts they love one another instead of showing animosity, criticism, faultfinding, backbiting, and differences, humbling their hearts daily, seeking new conversion, and living in harmony, humility, and love. As they perfect holy characters through the merits of Christ, look unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, and become changed into His image, they stand on vantage ground without fault before Him, the salvation of God is revealed through them, and unbelievers see that God's Word means something and are converted. With one mind calls for sanctified brain-power and with one mouth calls for sanctified talent of speech, and only when mind and speech are sanctified is a person fitted for service. The united praise joins believers from every nation in one harmonious brotherhood in Christ, where national prejudices and jealousies are broken down and the gospel joins them together in glorifying God with one mind and united speech.
Path to Christian Unity
The path to with-one-mind, with-one-mouth praise runs through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope. The strong are to bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, each to please his neighbor for his good to build him up and edify him. The pattern is Christ, who did not please Himself but bore reproach, emptied Himself, and came to seek and save the lost.
That likemindedness according to Christ is lived out by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It means being of the same mind toward each other, bearing with one another in love, not minding high things but keeping fellowship with people of low estate, not being wise in self-conceit, putting self aside to reflect Christ, being followers of God as dear children and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself.
It requires yielding differences of opinion to join the body in one judgment, coming into union with the body with one mind and one judgment as Christ leads out a people into unity of the faith. Order and union with the body must be kept, all new ideas submitted to thorough investigation and decision by the body, what has weight adopted and what has not rejected. Preachers and people are not at liberty to express their own independent views apart from the body or to advocate new views on their own responsibility, nor to be original, fanatical, and fanciful in interpreting Scripture, since independent conflicting teaching produces confusion and jangled feelings rather than one-minded praise.
The inward cost is complete self-surrender, falling on the Rock to be broken of self-sufficiency, overcoming hereditary and cultivated faults of character, humbling the heart daily, seeking new conversion, and drawing near to brethren in respect, love, and confidence rather than suspicion. Where the Holy Spirit abides in the heart, believers love one another instead of showing animosity, criticism, faultfinding, backbiting, and differences, and live in harmony, humility, and love.
That oneness speaks in sanctified speech, with lips guarded from guile and tongues guarded from unadvised and provoking words. Believers speak kindly and tenderly to one another, speak good of another when it can be reported, speak pleasant words, rejoice not in iniquity but in the truth, and cleanse speech from faultfinding, criticism, contention, and murmuring. They refuse to listen when others begin to speak of someone's sins, turn a deaf ear to criticism, never retaliate when spoken to harshly but answer provocation with silence, confess personal wrongs and pray for forgiveness, and keep the eye fixed on Jesus who does not find fault but shows perils to deliver from them, for a quarrelsome and faultfinding disposition must be put away and confessed because it will never enter the city of God.
Toward a tried and tempted brother this means giving account to God rather than judging, putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in his way, making room for him, and giving earnest interest to lift him above thinking of himself. It means being pitiful, courteous, kind, and patient, speaking tenderly, correcting errors without mocking infirmity or weakness, bearing with one another, practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help those who need help, putting away all of self to receive all of Christ, and becoming doers of the Word and not hearers only, which God observes and blesses.
Such unity grows only in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and the more fully that enlightenment is received the more believers harmonize in understanding truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and believe and speak the same things in peace and harmony. It calls for strict honesty bringing no false principles into dealings with others, holding correct principles at any cost, working the works of God, and following what makes for peace and edification so as to be acceptable to God and approved by men. It lets light shine in appeals and warnings, economizes means to help the cause of truth instead of spending on self-indulgence and useless ornaments, values the Word of God above pictures and ornaments, and leads others heavenward by holy example.
Witness and Forward Mission
Love and Christian unity give believers confidence in one another and place them in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer for His disciples to be united as one body under one Head in Christian fellowship and love. That oneness in faith and practice, in judgment and understanding of truth, exists in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the divine Spirit, so that the more fully that enlightenment is received the more believers harmonize in truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and believe and speak the same things in peace and harmony. Their love and unity then testify with convicting power to the world that God sent Jesus to save sinners and that the Word of God is the safe rule of life.
This Spirit-given condition was seen after Christ's resurrection and ascension when believers were all of one heart and one mind and union prevailed. Even the difference over circumcision and receiving uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled, so that through the Spirit they were perfectly joined together. Such a state is and always will be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
As believers perfect holy characters through the merits of Christ, look unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, and are changed into His image, they stand on vantage ground without fault before Him. The salvation of God is then revealed through them, and unbelievers see that God's Word means something and are converted.
Strict unity is necessary and must be labored for earnestly, for it belongs to the order God intends for the church, while creating divisions and distracting minds works against it. In times of peril, temptation, despondency, and discouragement, those preparing for the Lord's coming must press together with united purpose and united speech in giving glory to God, to resist Satan's power and to work together in missionary effort. This readiness is not gained in a moment but through vigilant waiting and watching joined with earnest work. Where this unity exists the church moves forward from success to success while the different branches of God's cause do their share in completing the great work ahead.
God Himself, the God of patience and comfort, grants His people to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus, so that together with united thought, belief and judgment and with united voice, speech and praise they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. This oneness is according to Christ and after His pattern, as He is one with the Father, gathering His people into unity of the faith as one body under one Head. It comes through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope, as the strong bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, please the neighbor for his good to edification, and receive one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It requires complete self-surrender and daily humbling of heart, yielding differences to be of one judgment in order and union with the body, and sanctified speech that speaks kindly and tenderly, refuses faultfinding, criticism and retaliation, and confesses wrong. Such love and unity put believers in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer, testify with convicting power that God sent Jesus to save sinners, and press them together with united purpose and united speech to resist Satan and move forward from success to success in missionary work.
Gift of United Praise
The God of patience and comfort grants believers to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus, so that together with one mind and one mouth they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. That likemindedness is united thought and united voice offered together in honor of God, and it is lived out by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It comes through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope, as the strong bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, please the neighbor for his good to build him up and edify him, and follow Christ who did not please Himself but bore reproach. In practice it means being of the same mind toward each other, not minding high things but keeping fellowship with people of low estate, and not being wise in self-conceit. Toward a tried and tempted brother it requires giving account to God rather than judging, putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in his way, making room for him, giving earnest interest to lift him above thinking of himself, being pitiful, courteous, kind and patient, speaking tenderly, correcting errors without mocking infirmity or weakness, and practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help those who need help, which God observes and blesses.
With one mind means united thought, belief, and judgment, and with one mouth means united voice, speech, praise, worship, and action, all directed together to glorifying God the Father. This unity is according to Christ Jesus and belongs with receiving one another as Christ received them, bearing with one another in love, putting self aside to reflect Christ, and sharing both belief and action. It requires yielding differing opinions and differences of opinion to join together in the faith and join the body in one judgment. It means loving one another rather than showing animosity, living in humility and harmony, while criticism and faultfinding are contrary to it.
This unity is according to Christ and after His pattern, as Christ is one with the Father, leading out a people into unity of the faith to be one as He is one with the Father and to be one body under one Head. That oneness comes by bearing the infirmities of the weak and not pleasing self, by pleasing the neighbor for his good to edification after the example of Christ who pleased not Himself, and by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It exists in believing and speaking the same things in peace and harmony, in unity in faith and practice and in judgment and understanding of truth, and it grows only in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the divine Spirit, so that the more fully believers receive that enlightenment the more they harmonize in understanding truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and live in peace and harmony. Such love and Christian unity gives believers confidence in one another, puts them in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer for His disciples to be united as one body under one Head in Christian fellowship and love, and testifies with convicting power to the world that God sent Jesus to save sinners and that the Word of God is the safe rule of life. This Spirit-given condition was seen after Christ's resurrection and ascension when believers were of one heart and one mind in union, and even the difference over circumcision and receiving uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled so that through the Spirit they were perfectly joined together, and this will always be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
The verse states the order and standard God intends for the church, placing His commandment-keeping people under obligation to Him and amenable to Him to be of one mind rather than of half a dozen different minds or a great variety of minds. This unity in mind and speech is a New Testament standard for the church, and spiritual gifts were given to help bring it about, while creating divisions and distracting minds works against the order God intends. When the Holy Spirit abides in their hearts they love one another instead of showing animosity, criticism, faultfinding, backbiting, and differences, humbling their hearts daily, seeking new conversion, and living in harmony, humility, and love. As they perfect holy characters through the merits of Christ, look unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, and become changed into His image, they stand on vantage ground without fault before Him, the salvation of God is revealed through them, and unbelievers see that God's Word means something and are converted. With one mind calls for sanctified brain-power and with one mouth calls for sanctified talent of speech, and only when mind and speech are sanctified is a person fitted for service. The united praise joins believers from every nation in one harmonious brotherhood in Christ, where national prejudices and jealousies are broken down and the gospel joins them together in glorifying God with one mind and united speech.
Path to Christian Unity
The path to with-one-mind, with-one-mouth praise runs through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving hope. The strong are to bear the infirmities of the weak instead of pleasing themselves, each to please his neighbor for his good to build him up and edify him. The pattern is Christ, who did not please Himself but bore reproach, emptied Himself, and came to seek and save the lost.
That likemindedness according to Christ is lived out by receiving one another as Christ received them to the glory of God. It means being of the same mind toward each other, bearing with one another in love, not minding high things but keeping fellowship with people of low estate, not being wise in self-conceit, putting self aside to reflect Christ, being followers of God as dear children and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself.
It requires yielding differences of opinion to join the body in one judgment, coming into union with the body with one mind and one judgment as Christ leads out a people into unity of the faith. Order and union with the body must be kept, all new ideas submitted to thorough investigation and decision by the body, what has weight adopted and what has not rejected. Preachers and people are not at liberty to express their own independent views apart from the body or to advocate new views on their own responsibility, nor to be original, fanatical, and fanciful in interpreting Scripture, since independent conflicting teaching produces confusion and jangled feelings rather than one-minded praise.
The inward cost is complete self-surrender, falling on the Rock to be broken of self-sufficiency, overcoming hereditary and cultivated faults of character, humbling the heart daily, seeking new conversion, and drawing near to brethren in respect, love, and confidence rather than suspicion. Where the Holy Spirit abides in the heart, believers love one another instead of showing animosity, criticism, faultfinding, backbiting, and differences, and live in harmony, humility, and love.
That oneness speaks in sanctified speech, with lips guarded from guile and tongues guarded from unadvised and provoking words. Believers speak kindly and tenderly to one another, speak good of another when it can be reported, speak pleasant words, rejoice not in iniquity but in the truth, and cleanse speech from faultfinding, criticism, contention, and murmuring. They refuse to listen when others begin to speak of someone's sins, turn a deaf ear to criticism, never retaliate when spoken to harshly but answer provocation with silence, confess personal wrongs and pray for forgiveness, and keep the eye fixed on Jesus who does not find fault but shows perils to deliver from them, for a quarrelsome and faultfinding disposition must be put away and confessed because it will never enter the city of God.
Toward a tried and tempted brother this means giving account to God rather than judging, putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in his way, making room for him, and giving earnest interest to lift him above thinking of himself. It means being pitiful, courteous, kind, and patient, speaking tenderly, correcting errors without mocking infirmity or weakness, bearing with one another, practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice to help those who need help, putting away all of self to receive all of Christ, and becoming doers of the Word and not hearers only, which God observes and blesses.
Such unity grows only in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and the more fully that enlightenment is received the more believers harmonize in understanding truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and believe and speak the same things in peace and harmony. It calls for strict honesty bringing no false principles into dealings with others, holding correct principles at any cost, working the works of God, and following what makes for peace and edification so as to be acceptable to God and approved by men. It lets light shine in appeals and warnings, economizes means to help the cause of truth instead of spending on self-indulgence and useless ornaments, values the Word of God above pictures and ornaments, and leads others heavenward by holy example.
Witness and Forward Mission
Love and Christian unity give believers confidence in one another and place them in harmony with heaven in answer to Christ's prayer for His disciples to be united as one body under one Head in Christian fellowship and love. That oneness in faith and practice, in judgment and understanding of truth, exists in proportion to illumination and sanctification by the divine Spirit, so that the more fully that enlightenment is received the more believers harmonize in truth, unite in judgment, trust one another, and believe and speak the same things in peace and harmony. Their love and unity then testify with convicting power to the world that God sent Jesus to save sinners and that the Word of God is the safe rule of life.
This Spirit-given condition was seen after Christ's resurrection and ascension when believers were all of one heart and one mind and union prevailed. Even the difference over circumcision and receiving uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled, so that through the Spirit they were perfectly joined together. Such a state is and always will be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
As believers perfect holy characters through the merits of Christ, look unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, and are changed into His image, they stand on vantage ground without fault before Him. The salvation of God is then revealed through them, and unbelievers see that God's Word means something and are converted.
Strict unity is necessary and must be labored for earnestly, for it belongs to the order God intends for the church, while creating divisions and distracting minds works against it. In times of peril, temptation, despondency, and discouragement, those preparing for the Lord's coming must press together with united purpose and united speech in giving glory to God, to resist Satan's power and to work together in missionary effort. This readiness is not gained in a moment but through vigilant waiting and watching joined with earnest work. Where this unity exists the church moves forward from success to success while the different branches of God's cause do their share in completing the great work ahead.