Unity

Unity

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 7/5/2026

1 Peter 3:8-15

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Epistle lesson from St. Peter’s first Epistle in the third chapter, with special emphasis on verse eight which reads as follows:

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There is perhaps no word more frequently used in the Church today than the word unity. Nearly everyone says they want it. Church leaders call for it. Congregations long for it. Christians rightly grieve divisions between churches. But before we can pursue unity, we must first ask a much more important question: What is Christian unity?

Our answer cannot come from our feelings, our preferences, or our experiences. It must come from the Word of God. St. Peter helps us address this question: "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." He does not merely say, "Be united." He says, "Have unity of mind." This is not accidental. It tells us exactly what kind of unity the Lord desires for His Church.

Throughout history people have attempted to define unity in many different ways. Some define unity by church government. "If only everyone recognized the same earthly authority, the same bishop, the same patriarch, the same pope, then we would finally be one." But history demonstrates otherwise. Simply placing everyone under one administrative structure has never created genuine unity. Organizations can force conformity, but they cannot produce faith.

Others define unity by worship. "If we all used the same liturgy, the same hymnal, the same ceremonies, then we would be united." Certainly, good liturgy is a blessing. We cherish the Church's historic worship because it faithfully proclaims Christ. But using the same service book does not guarantee the same faith. The Eastern Orthodox churches share ancient liturgies, yet they remain divided among themselves. Even churches that look nearly identical outwardly may confess entirely different doctrines.

Still others define unity by personalities. A gifted preacher gathers thousands. A

charismatic leader builds an impressive following. People become attached to a pastor, a conference speaker, or an internet personality. But pastors retire. They move. They die. And some tragically fall into false doctrine or scandal. If the Church is built upon personalities, then the Church will crumble whenever those personalities fail.

Others define unity by programs. "We all want to reach young families." "We all want active ministries." "We all want to meet people's needs." Those may be worthwhile goals. But programs do not create the Church. Every generation invents new strategies. Every congregation has changing needs. What attracts people today may be forgotten tomorrow. Besides, there is no guarantee that programs can create faith. Further, if unity rests upon programs, then unity disappears whenever the program changes.

So if none of these things define Christian unity, what does? St. Peter gives us the answer: unity of mind. Unity of mind is not simply agreement for agreement's sake. It is not merely getting along. Rather, it is a common confession of the truth. That is, it is a common understanding of who Christ is, a common confession of what He has done, and a common faith concerning how He continues to save sinners today. In other words, Christian unity is doctrinal unity.

The word ‘doctrine’ often receives a bad reputation. People sometimes speak as though doctrine divides while love unites. But Scripture never speaks that way. Doctrine simply means teaching. And Christian teaching is nothing other than the teaching about Christ. What did Jesus accomplish upon the cross? How are sinners justified before God? How does Christ forgive sins today? What is Baptism? What is the Lord's Supper? What is the Office of the Ministry? These are not academic questions. They concern the very way in which Christ delivers salvation. If someone asks, "How does God forgive me?" the answer matters. If someone asks, "Where do I find Christ?" the answer matters. If someone asks, "How do I know my sins are forgiven?" the answer matters. Doctrine is simply the Church faithfully answering those questions according to Holy Scripture.

This is why St. Peter says, "Have unity of mind." Because the Church is only ever united around the truth of Christ. This is exactly what our Lutheran Confessions mean when they speak about the unity of the Church. The Church is not united because everyone belongs to the same earthly organization. The Church is united where the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered. The unity is created by Christ Himself through His Word. That is why we call ourselves Confessional Lutherans.

That title is often misunderstood. It does not mean that we are devoted to Martin Luther. It does not mean we imagine ourselves morally superior. It does not mean we delight in arguing with other Christians. Rather, it means that we publicly confess what Scripture teaches no matter how much it may cost us. We confess Christ. We confess the faith once delivered to the saints. We confess that sinners are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We confess that Christ truly gives His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. We confess that Baptism actually saves because God's Word is joined to the water. We confess that Absolution is Christ Himself speaking forgiveness through His called servant. These are not uniquely Lutheran ideas. They are simply the Scriptures confessed without apology. Our unity is not found in being Lutheran for Lutheranism's sake. Our unity is found in Christ as He is revealed in the Scriptures.

This also explains why there are boundaries between church bodies. Our culture often assumes that boundaries themselves are unloving. But every truth has boundaries. A doctor who refuses to distinguish medicine from poison is not loving. An engineer who refuses to distinguish solid ground from unstable ground is not compassionate. Likewise, the Church distinguishes truth from error because souls are precious. The boundaries of the Church are not established by pride.

They are established by the Word of God. They exist so that Christ's sheep may hear Christ's voice clearly. And those boundaries are never intended to keep repentant sinners away from Christ.

Rather, they exist to keep false teaching away from Christ's sheep.

None of this means Christians become arrogant. Everything else St. Peter says alongside unity of mind excludes the possibility of it. "Have sympathy." "Brotherly love." "A tender heart." "A humble mind." Truth without love becomes pride. Love without truth becomes sentimentality.

Christ gives both. He calls us to confess faithfully while loving genuinely, to speak the truth while showing mercy, and to hold firmly to sound doctrine while remaining humble sinners redeemed entirely by grace.

Then Peter goes even further. "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling." Confessing Christ faithfully often brings opposition. Sometimes that opposition comes from the world. Sometimes, sadly, it even comes from within visible Christianity. But Peter says that Christians are not to answer hostility with hostility. Instead, we bless those who persecute us. We endure. We bear witness.

And why? Because Christ first bore witness for us. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten. Instead, He entrusted Himself to His Father and willingly went to the cross for sinners.

The unity of the Church is ultimately not an idea. It is founded upon the crucified Christ. He is the Rock upon whom the Church is built. Not pastors. Not bishops. Not denominational structures. Not hymnals. Not programs. Christ and His truth alone.

Everything else changes. Pastors come and go. Congregations receive new shepherds. Church leaders rise and fall. Synods grow stronger or weaker. Hymnals are revised. New musical settings are composed. Buildings are renovated. Programs begin and end. Cultures shift. Generations change.

But Christ does not. The Gospel does not. The Scriptures do not. The forgiveness of sins does not. The waters of Baptism still bring new birth because Christ has promised. The words of Absolution still forgive because Christ has promised. The Lord's Supper still gives His true body and blood because Christ has promised. This is the foundation that does not move. And because that foundation cannot move, neither can the Church built upon it.

Finally, Peter tells us: "In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." Notice the center again. We are not obligated to defend your denomination, your pastor, or your traditions as dear as these may be. Defend the hope that is in you.

And what is that hope? Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Jesus Christ forgiving sins through His Word and Sacraments. Jesus Christ who will return to raise our bodies and give everlasting life. That is our confession. That is our unity. That is our hope. Because our unity rests upon Christ Himself, it is stronger than changing leaders, changing fashions, changing programs, changing cultures, and even death itself. Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever giving you the everlasting stability of His saving Gospel.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] 1 Peter 3:8 English Standard Version. All further quotations from the Holy Scriptures are from the ESV.