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UNITAS PER FIDEM—UNITY THROUGH FAITH

Acts 1:13–14

Text

Acts 1:13–14 ESV “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Introduction

The latin phrase unitas per fidem means “unity through faith.” It is what arises out of these two verses—Acts 1:13–14. Unitas means unity or oneness. It is an attribute of God. God is one in an absolute sense, because there is no other God and because the one God is absolute unity incapable of division (Muller et. al.). Per means through or by, like in per se which means by or through itself. Fidem is the accusative case of fides which means faith. It speaks of flying to someone for refuge or a firm persuasion of the truth of God’s revelation or truth itself (rather himself). Specific to saving faith is notitia, assensus, and fiducia. Notitia means knowledge. Assensus means assent or acknowledgement. Fiducia means trust or faithful ,apprehension or  appropriating true knowledge by an act of the will. Thus saving faith is not merely intellectual but also volitional. This is important to understand because it was Roman Catholicism that taught that one must merely know about God and assent to what the church teaches—so one really ends up trusting the church to think for the believer rather than the believer actually trusting the Lord. Some presume they are Christians merely because they know some facts about Jesus and accept them as true from the church. Faith involves personal appropriation of knowledge acknowledged by the church. Just as we are saved through faith, we are unified through faith, and this is what we see in Acts 1:13–14. Unity comes through faith. Faith unified them in place, position, and prayer; and this for the purpose of a successful spiritual conquest. Wherever (personal, home, church, civil spheres) there is not unity in life among God’s people, there is not faith in God’s unity.

Examples

For example if one’s marriage is in discord it is directly related to our view of God. That is, the root of disunity there is caused by a dysfunction of faith. And the solution would be then to tend to one’s relationship with God because as people grow close to God, they become unified with each other. But if one grows close to God and the other does not, the marriage is burdened by disharmony. This same thing can be present in the church as people in the church who are growing may feel burdened by disharmony in the church because of others lacking growth toward God. So, what is the solution? It is to stir up faith in God. This comes by a regular exposure to knowledge of God’s Word, but also a constant challenge to appropriate it in every sphere of life. The only way to increase unity with men is by increasing knowledge and faith in God.

The world says, “we are better together,”  but the truth is that we are better with God, because He is what brings us together. Some say “we are stronger with each other,” but rather, we are stronger with God who makes us humble to love each other genuinely. The world’s version of unity is simply  not the true version.

The Bible commends a unity that comes through faith. Faith can unify people in place, position, and prayer for successful spiritual conquest.

Faith Unified the Church in Place

Verse 13 begins saying, “And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying.” This place is the forerunner to every Christian gathering including our own. J.C. Ryle writes,

This "upper room," we should remember, was the forerunner of every church and cathedral which has been reared in Christendom within the last eighteen centuries. …Not one can trace its pedigree beyond that little chamber. Here it was that professing Christians, when left alone by their Master, first began to pray together, to worship, and to exhort one another. This room was the cradle of the infant Church of Christ, and the beginning of all our services. From this room the waters of the everlasting gospel first began to flow, which have now spread so widely throughout the world, however adulterated and corrupted they may have been in some ages and in some parts of the earth.

Four previous significant events attend to this Upper Room. There is first the institution of the Lord’s Supper which represents our communion in Christ and the ongoing victory of Christ declared by the church from that point forward (Luke 22:7–13). Second, this room is the place where Jesus repeatedly appeared alive to the disciples (John 20:19ff). Third, this room was the place where the Lord overcame the skepticism of Thomas saying, “Do not be faithless, but believing” (John 20:27 KJV).  And fourthly, this room was the place where he prayed the high priestly prayer (John 17).

Therefore, we see that the early church was unified to be in this place through faith in their communion with the Lord; second through faith in the risen Christ; third through faith that was given by the Lord’s overpowering every hopeless objection to his being alive; and fourth it was in the Upper Room that our Lord prayed for the disciples and all who would come after then to be one or unified together in one body.

The early church gathered here because they were absolutely convinced that they had communion with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Is not that the very thing that has led the way for every assembly of believers in the world to this day and will be forever? How did it happen? How did they all end up in this place? They ended up in that forerunner to our own assembly—the Upper Room—through faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. What then causes us to be in this place today? Is it not faith in our Lord Jesus Christ! Adversely, what causes others to not end up gathering with others in a place of worship today? Is it not lack of faith? The church is unified through or gathered together in specific place through faith. It is not of ourselves, it is gift of God (cf. Eph. 2:8–10). Faith put the church in place! Faith also put the church in position…

Faith Unified the Church in Position

Note the ones mentioned to be staying together in this Upper Room:

Acts 1:13 KJV “where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.”

Peter’s name present and Judas’ name absent is significant. Peter had denied the Lord three times and upon hearing the rooster crow he recalled that the Lord predicted this to be the case, and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61–62). Why is Peter’s name on this list, let alone first mentioned? Is it not because of the gift of faith by our Lord? It was recorded by Luke just before Jesus predicted Peter’s failure that he said these words:

Luke 22:31–32 ESV ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.””

Peter was put in the position as an apostle in the church through faith—faith that Jesus gave and preserved.

John is mentioned second. One notable event for John was that he was together with Peter chosen by our Lord to go prepare the Upper Room (Luke 22:8).

James was with John and Peter on the mountain where our Lord was transfigured (Luke 9:28). James was the brother of John. At one point they asked our Lord if they should tell fire to come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans who did not receive him (Luke 9:54). How did they get in this position? Was it not faith given by the Lord that they appear here in the catalogue in Acts 1:13.

Andrew was Peter’s brother. Little mention is made by Luke of Andrew, other than that fact (Luke 6:14). This is the first four.

Philip leads the second list of four that includes Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew.

James the son of Alphaeus leads the final group of four. He is followed by Simon the Zealot. The description of Simon as a Zealot probably serves a two-fold purpose. First to distinguish him from Simon Peter. Second to highlight one in the group likely at one time associated with the Zealots, a political group described as follows:

At the time of Christ, the name “Zealots” was applied to a party among the Jews, half religious and half political, founded by Judas the Galilean (Acts 5:37). These undertook to punish without trial those guilty of violating Jewish practices, under which pretext they themselves committed the greatest excesses of crime. (NT Word Study Dictionary)

How did such a person end up in the list and be given such a high position of apostle? Only through faith.

Judas the son of James is last on the list. He is clearly distinguished from the one missing name Judas Iscariot for obvious reasons. But why this Judas here and given this position? Can it be anything but through faith that this group of apostles was now unified? And if this group of apostles holding such high office in the church can be unified though they were not too long before this meeting arguing about who was the greatest (Luke 22:24), then is there not hope that faith can unify any in all positions of great leadership in the church!

Faith Unified the Church in Prayer

In v.14, we read,

Acts 1:14 ESV “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Prayer is their addressing God in worship (some add supplications, so it may include the broad aspect of worship that involves men addressing God). Be that as it may, Luke speaks of prayer throughout his gospel. It was prayer that was heard when Zechariah received word that he would have a son named John (1:13). It was prayer that Anna gave herself to night and day in the temple (2:37). It was prayer that Jesus gave himself to all night on the mountain (6:12). It was prayer that Jesus said his house was made for, though it was made a den of thieves in his day (19:46). It was prayer that Jesus devoted himself to even when his disciples had failed to do so and rather slept (22:45). Now, these are “devoting themselves to prayer.”

For the Jews, prayer is used to speak of a place of prayer (Acts 16:13, 16).  Lydia was found by a river praying where they were unable to have a synagogue (NT Word Study Dictionary). It is reminiscent for the Jews times in Babylon where they longed for their land to be restored. Now, the early church is here praying in preparation for a great conquest of taking the world with Christ’s Spirit.

Prayer of the early church is qualified by five things here: (1) one accord; (2) devoting; (3) with the women; (4) Mary the mother of Jesus; (5) and his brothers.

So, first we see that prayer happening here is preceded by “all these with one accord.” One accord means unanimous. Those in the high calling of apostles are all agreed here with all the others present. Only faith can do that!

Then they are “devoting” themselves to prayer. Devotion here means to endure or persevere. This too points also the fact that only faith that can do this!

Then they are praying with the women; Calvin translates their wives (cf. 1 Cor 9:5). Wives makes sense because they were “staying” in this room together (v.13a). But it may have included the list in Luke 8 which reads,

Luke 8:2–3 ESV “and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”

The women being present is noteworthy. There is no dividing up the body here. There are the apostles, the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the brothers—all in the same position when it comes to worship. They are all the ones praying, and none of them are being prayed to. One has said a totalitarian state doesn’t really care for you to pray for them; they rather want you to pray to them! But here none are being prayed to, but they are praying unto the Lord! And this includes…

Mary the mother of Jesus who is also there, and notably not holding any apostolic office.

In addition are the “brothers” who may include the sisters as well (cf. ESV footnote 3). Nonetheless, the inclusion of the Lord’s brothers is significant as they were not too long before told they were not truly his brothers unless they listened to his Word (Luke 8:19–21). Well, what can make that happen? What can make any of this happen? Only faith. Only faith can unify such a group to come together and pray to God, and not demand others pray to them.

Conclusion

What then could take such a group and unify them in place, position, and prayer except faith. As the church matured, Jesus is said to have given apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers for this very purpose, that they may attain the unity of the faith! It is by faith and for faith. But be sure Christian unity only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we grow closer to God, it is these who will grow closer together. Wherever we experience disunity, we should ask ourselves if we are trusting in God who cannot be divided? We should ask ourselves if our relationship with God is the number one priority in our lives. Where we have disunity in our homes, we should be asking the same questions of our family members concerning their walk with God, and our walk with God. Is it because we are not growing closer to God? Is it because we are not unanimous about God, who is incapable of division, that we are not spending time in the same room together? Going to church together? Is there any sense of superiority in the home that only the children need this? Or do mother and father become like children in faith with their children and all positions and ranks fall away when they pray together? Are they praying together? If you are not praying together as a family, is it because you are not unanimous about God? (repetition intended) Is it because you have given up on prayer because it was difficult? That is not the attitude the church has here. They are enduring in prayer! Are the women and men, the boys and the girls, the mothers and the fathers all praying to God or is there a dysfunction where one is demanding to be prayed to more or less? Well what could be the reason for any of these dysfunctions? It is lack of faith. If faith unifies the church in place, position, and prayer, then aren’t dysfunctions in these areas a lack of faith? Do you have faith? Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. Where you fail in your faith, remember these apostles and those gathered with them who at one time failed greatly. Remember Mary was simply chosen to conceive Christ. Remember some like the brothers did not believe in  Jesus while he was with them on earth before the resurrection. But because faith is a gift, one may hope that this work that is not of yourselves may be given today, if you will but look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Where your failures and faithlessness is great, remember the Truth of God’s Word is stronger still! Amen.