The Futility Of Ecumenism
The Difference Between Ecumenism & Spiritual Unity
ECUMENISM is the man-made attempt to produce an appearance of unity between the various denominations of the Visible Church by creating a moribund organisation that will go the way of all flesh
SPIRITUAL UNITY is the result of a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to create a living organism - the Body of Christ - which is eternal/not subject to physical disintegration at death.
There Are No Denominations In The Invisible Church of Jesus Christ.
Christian unity is not something we can produce by our own efforts. It is a God-given, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
Our job as Christians, Paul says in EPHESIANS 4:3, is to maintain the unity the Holy Spirit creates through the bond of peace that exists between us.
Christian unity is based on a personal experience of the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in every believer causing us, as Jesus said in JOHN Chapter 3, to be born again from above spiritually.
Prior to this, Paul says, we were enemies of God and outside God’s family. When we become Christians we have peace with God which comes only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The Blood of Christ is the sole basis on which God will forgive my sin, cleanse me of all unrighteousness and reconcile me to Himself.
Conversion Is A Supernatural Event
Conversion involves
both a supernatural work of God’s Spirit to convict me of my sin and my need to be born again
and a human response from me to place my trust in Jesus Christ alone to put me right with God
When I am born again from above by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, I am supernaturally baptised into the supernatural Body of Christ and become a member of God’s family and a co-heir with Christ of God’s promised inheritance - eternal life now and for ever with all its blessings.
Paul says in ROMANS 8: 9 “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, s/he does not belong to Christ.”
In verses 14-16 he adds: All who are led by The Spirit of God are Children of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. and by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Holy Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Ecumenism Can Never Produce Spiritual Children Of God
Ecumenism can never produce spiritual children - only the Holy Spirit can do that as we confess our sins, repent of our rebellion and surrender body, soul and spirit to the LORDship of Christ, When we do that, we become spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ - a bond that nothing in heaven or hell or on earth can break or use to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (ROMANS 8:38-39)
