![]() It’s easy to see that each of us is his or her own person-one will, one body, and one soul-one entity. But before understanding the parts of the whole, we need to understand the full function and origin of the whole-the one singular unit. Paul exhorts them to maintain this unity due to the many parts of that body. The Greek definition uses the word ligament (the translation of ‘bond’ in verse 3) to refer to the special tissue that wraps about the bones so that the joint can smoothly function as one. The definition or understanding of unity, however, reaches beyond its singularity, for there is a hint that there are parts to that oneness. ![]() Paul clearly expresses this oneness in its following context, where he mentions “one” seven times, seven being the number of completeness. The unity of the church stems from her calling by one Lord through the one redemptive work of Christ to form the one body of Christ. The Webster states that unity is “The state of being one oneness.” Each of us, through language or the study of mathematics, understands the difference between singular-one, and plurality-more than one. “Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Main Point: As believers, we have an important calling from God to preserve the Spirit’s unity. Verse one holds the charge or call, while verse two provides the means to bring peace, and verse three, the purpose or goal of being a peacemaker.Īlthough we could comment on the unity of the society and family, we will mainly consider God’s people-those with a special calling of God to preserve the unity of the Spirit (4:1). We want to consider the true nature of unity and how to preserve it.īefore focusing on Ephesians 4:3, I’ll briefly introduce its context to show the importance of the Spirit’s unity to our lives and decisions. Unity is not just assembling together or even passing a budget. ![]() What is unity? Sometimes, we allow the physical appearance of meeting together to disguise the lack of genuine unity. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30) “ 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. However, when Paul spoke to the elders of the church for the last time, the apostle pleaded with them to stay alert from the oncoming attacks against the church. The Apostle Paul tackles this problem of disunity here in Ephesians 4, even though there is no reference to divisions in the church at Ephesus. ![]() Different factions in the church are common all around the world. (Eph 4:1-6)ĭivisions and splits have threatened the worldwide church from its inception right to the present day. ![]() 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Bucknell on July, 10, 2020 Ephesians 4:3 The Unity of the Spiritġ Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ![]()
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