Affirmation and Inoculation: Oneness

7/19/2026

Key Terms

  • Affirmation: to agree with the major points
  • Inoculation: correct teaching now that protects from false teaching in the future

[review] What is a Statement of Faith?

A creed (from Latin "credo": "I believe")

Belief vs. Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

- Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Key words across translations:

  • ASSURANCE, CONVICTION
  • CERTAINTY, PROOF
  • SUBSTANCE, EVIDENCE

[review] Our Goal

To know what we believe and why we believe it

but 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; yet do it with gentleness and respect

- 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

[additionally]: To respond by living out what we believe

EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 7: The Church

"We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer."

Oneness

What is meant by “oneness”?

Oneness is more than mere unity.

Oneness — Passages

Read:

  • Romans 12
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
  • 1 Corinthians 12
  • Ephesians 4
  • Philippians 2:1-11
  • John 17

Discuss

Passages:

  • Ephesians 4:1-16
  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
  • Romans 12:1-8

List the items that make believers one (the things we have in common).

List the items that differ.

Discuss

There exist many divisions between believers.

What are the things that divide believers from one another?

Division

God hates division.

Read:

  • Proverbs 6:16-19
  • Galatians 5:19-21

Division — the Exception, Not the Rule

Division should be the exception, not the rule among God’s people.

Contentions

  • 1 Corinthians 11:16 — The churches have no custom of being contentious.
  • Jude 1:3 — Contend for the faith (delivered by the apostles)

[If time] Look also at the qualifications for elders:

  • 1 Timothy 3
  • Titus 1

Inoculation

What should we see in the church rather than division?

Read:

  • Philippians 2:1-8; 4:8
  • 2 Timothy 2:22-26
  • Colossians 3:11b-17
  • Ephesians 4:1-6
  • Galatians 5:22-26
  • Romans 12:9-16

Key Takeaways

Oneness is more than mere unity — believers are one in Christ by the Spirit.

God hates division; contentiousness is not the custom of the churches.

What we contend for is the faith delivered by the apostles — not our preferences.

In the church we should see humility, love, peace, and the fruit of the Spirit rather than division.