Randy DeCarlo

Unity is a huge subject. Volumes could be written on this subject. Can you imagine what the apostles thought when JESUS told them to preach the Gospel to ALL NATIONS! They had grown up and learned many prejudices. They say some Jews were so strict that they would not walk on Samaritan soil. There was hatred between the Romans and the Jews. Jewish law said that they were not allowed to enter a Gentiles home. The mindset of Jewish people was that they were GOD'S CHOSEN people. And in spite of all this JESUS told them to preach to ALL NATIONS. To EVERY CREATURE! They must have been shocked by this command! When Peter had to cross cultural and racial lines he had a major vision and angels were involved. God knew the difficulty for people to be free from all the division and racism. Peter went to Cornelius and preached JESUS only because God did a major miracle so he would really know that this was God's Will ! And then later on Peter would not sit with the Gentiles when his Jewish comrades were around because he feared what they would think! ACTS 10: 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Then when Peter went back to Jerusalem the apostles they confronted him because Peter had actually broken Jewish law. Peter explained to them the miracle that took place and explained God sent him there. Acts 11:1-3 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. Unity is a tough long process. Even when we know it is required by God it takes much time to get rooted in our hearts. I believe the challenge today is denominational prejudices that divide the body of Christ. There still are race and cultural issues but many denominations teach against even entering other denominations churches. God has called Pastors and teachers to different denominations and He has anointed them. Because of media and communication being so invasive every denomination seems to be invading each others territory. The bible shows a clear distinction between the Jewish church and the Gentile church. The were different and had different Pastors etc. to teach and bring them to maturity. When Paul was going to Jerusalem he told Timothy that he needed to be circumcised to be accepted. Yet Paul taught that circumcision meant nothing. This shows a deep respect from Paul towards churches were he was not called to Pastor. Paul knew that God had Pastors and leaders that he would use to take this church on their journey. When men from the Jewish church crossed these lines it caused a huge debate and it was clear that these men were not called to teach the Gentile church. Later on when the same happened Paul went as far as saying it was another gospel. A false gospel, even though it was from Christians. We must respect other ministries and know our calling. SO, A BIG PART OF UNITY IS TO "NOT TEACHING WHERE WE ARE NOT CALLED." THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF DIVISION IN THE CHURCH!

The foundation of salvation is: Luke 10:25-28 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. Anything we do to be saved must accomplish LOVING GOD with our WHOLE HEART. Baptism was a place to DIE(to your will and to dedicate your life to serving GOD) It is a dedication to LOVE GOD with your whole life! Accepting JESUS as LORD and SAVIOR involves the same principle. This is a decision that a person commits to. Infants cannot make this decision. The children's parents were the children's covering for salvation until they were old enough and became responsible for their own decision to dedicate their life to Christ. I believe it was at 13 years old when a Jewish child became accountable to the law.

There is one way to be saved. From the beginning of the Old Testament and up until today. It has never changed. The way it is done has changed in different eras. But the principle has never changed. Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: The reason the bible says that Baptism remits sins is because it was the cultural way to "Call on the Name of the LORD". Peter's message in Acts 2 was: "Whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be saved" (Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ) This was Peter text that he preached from. Next Peter taught that JESUS was LORD! When people asked what to do Peter explained to them to be baptized in JESUS name. This way how they called on the name of the LORD! Acts 22:16 confirms that Baptism was "Calling on the name of the LORD and would wash away sins. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. PAUL also confirmed this in Romans 10:9-13 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The thief on the Cross confessed JESUS as LORD and was saved. I believe God does not care as much about how we confess Him as LORD but that it comes from the heart! The sinners prayer will accomplish the same thing as Baptism in JESUS name if it is the Spirit moving and the confession is from the heart!