Maintain Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace

S. K. Young

The seven important elements mentioned in Ephesians 4:4-6 which make possible the unity of God and men are: one body, one Sprit, one hope, one lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.  Of these seven the "one Spirit" is the unifying force.

Do you recall how people in the post-Deluvian age attempted to build a Tower of Babel with which they would extol their fame? God intervened and diversified their languages (Gen 11: 1 -9 ). Over three thousand years later, on the first Pentecost after Jesus' ascension, the promised Holy Spirit poured down and a new tongue- a spiritual language was given back to the people of God for the one spiritual bond (Acts 2:5-12).  From then on, the Spirit of the Lord has been ruling over His church with the qualities 6f truth and holiness- It has filled the hearts of the believers who have called on his name and sought redemption (Gal 4:4-7, Eph 1:7, Acts 2:38-39).  Through the bond of the Holy Spirit, the assembly is in the same faith and remains in one body (Eph 4:4-13).

The apostle Paul considered the church at Corinth to be spiritually immature, because many people of the church followed the will of men rather than that of God (I Cor 1:10-13).  Jealousy and strife were among them (I Cor 3:1-4).  However, Paul humbly admitted that he was merely a servant of God; and like them, he also belonged to Christ and Christ belongs to God (I Cor 3:5-9, 21-23).

Members of the church must join and be knit together with Christ, the head, Without so doing, none of the members can coordinate and function productively in building the body of Christ (Eph 4:15-16, 5:23; 1 Pet 2:5).  In the church history, a certain Diotrephes in the Third Letter of John exemplifies how personal ambition rejects the authority of church principle and organization.  This Diotrephes liked to "put himself first" (3 Jn 9).  He challenged the spiritual authority of "the elder, " refusing to receive messengers from him and putting "out of the church" those who showed them hospitality (3 Jn 10).  This elder, the apostle John, exhorted him in a letter: "Follow the truth," and "do not imitate evil, but imitate God." (3 Jn 4, 9-12)

That the unity of apostles precedes the unity of members is one of the important teachings in the Church ministry.  In His farewell prayers Jesus prayed for the apostles and believers.  Both for the apostles (Jn 17:11) and for the believers (Jn 17:20-23) Jesus emphasized unity - perfect oneness not only in the relationship between Christ and believers, but also among the believers themselves.  Paul knew very well the divine origin and authority of his apostleship and His gospel (Gal 1:1, 10-12, 15-24, 2:1-14). The Lord Jesus in revelation summoned him to go up to Jerusalem (Gal 2:2-3), although it appeared that the church council it Jerusalem had appointed Paul and Barnabas to make such a trip (Acts 15i 12). In his ministry, Paul knew how to work hand in hand with the other apostles (Gal 2i7-10), and how to respect them for their works, Paul, Apollos, and Peter all worked selflessly for the Lord in one accord (I Cor 16:12, 2 Peter 3:15-16).  They were all spiritual and harbored no arrogance nor self-centeredness.  They showed us how divisions could easily plague the holy work.  The Lord Jesus has taught us that "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  " (Mt 1 1:25) For this reason, each and every one of us must recognize the importance of being in one accord in relation to the Lord's approval and blessing.  Just as the Bible says, "If two or three agree and are gathered in His Name, He will be in their midst." (Mt 18:19-20) Seeing the importance of church unity, Paul pointed out that if believers bite and devour one another, they would consumed themselves (Gal 5:15).

The blood that Jesus shed on the cross has broken down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles (Eph 2:13-22).  All members- Jews or Greeks, high or low, were baptized into one body and all were made to drink of one Spirit (I Cor 12-12-13, 14:26).  In the letter to the Philippians, Paul urges all brethren in Christ to be of the same mind, of the same love, in full accord, and learn how to be humble like Jesus (Phil 2:l -11).  Only unity produces strength and power (Ecc 4:9-12). However, as Christians who have seriously studied tire Bible know that there are as many different doctrines of salvation as there are individually established churches.  These differences, if and sometimes are inappropriately expressed, contribute adversely to the already existing separation among the denominations, How can we, who all profess to be Christians, proclaim the love of Christ if we are not "in full accord and of one mind?" (Phil 2:2) Jesus has broken down the dividing wall between God and man, should His followers erect once again walls among themselves?