The Unity of the Spirit
Tom Ballinger
It seems that the current topic in
Christian or religious circles revolves around an attempt to create Christian unity.
Meetings and councils of various denominations are held promoting the idea of unity.
Doctrinal ideas are what has separated the various sects. However, the doctrinal
differences which separate them are very seldom understood by the mass of their adherents.
These doctrinal differences will never be resolved into a common doctrine and any unity
which might be attained will be at the cost of the surrender of what fragments of
Scriptural truth the denominations possess. The drive for unity only highlights the total
disregard which religion has for the Scriptures.
It is apparent that there is a wide departure from faith in
Christ Jesus based upon Scriptural truth. Instead of faith in the Word of God, religion
has substituted a philosophy vaguely based on Scripture. Those who are striving for a
religious unity evidently are unaware that the Lord has created a unity, a unity of the
Spirit which believers are instructed to keep.
Religious unity is based on the idea that the special
interpretations and methods of the great denominations can now be dispensed within the
light of modern thought. Doctrine is at a discount. Fundamentalism is really little more
than traditionalism, based largely on creeds and the theology of hymn writers.
The moment man makes a unity he breaks the one which was
established for this dispensation. The unity of the Spirit is the only unity that is to be
kept. It is our sacred duty to do so. But in order to keep the unity, it is essential that
we understand what it is. This study, by God's grace, hopefully can be used to bring believers to a better understanding
of the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of peace.
“I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One
Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:1-6)
These verses begin the practical
section of the Ephesian Epistle. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are the doctrinal section of the
epistle. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 are the practical section.
After the Apostle Paul explains the grand and glorious doctrinal
truths of the Mystery (Chapters 1-3), he opens the fourth
chapter with, "I therefore". That is to say, in view of all that had been said
in the doctrinal section, he therefore beseeches the saints to "walk worthy of the
vocation" wherewith they had been
called.
The word "vocation" carries with it the idea of
employment and calling. The life’s work (i.e. employment) of the member of the Church
which is His Body is that of walking worthy. The ones who have been membered into the Body
have as their full-time responsibility a life that is equivalent to the call of grace.
In Scripture the word "walk" has the meaning, "to
live, to act, or behave" (Webster’s 1828). The actions, conduct or behavior of
the believer is to be worthy or equivalent of the calling.
The Bible refers to this "worthy walk" as the
believer’s "vocation". Vocation is certainly in contrast to the word
"avocation". Avocation is generally used for the smaller affairs of life, or
occasional calls which summons a person to leave his ordinary or principal business
(Webster’s 1828).
Therefore the principal business of the believer is to
"walk worthy". It is not his avocation but rather his vocation. The
believer’s full time responsibility is to conduct his life in harmony with his
calling. What follows in Ephesians 4:2-6 is the principal characteristics of the worthy
walk for the member of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head. This is three-fold:
1. With lowliness and meekness
2. Forbearing one another in love
3. Keeping the unity of the Spirit
LOWLINESS AND MEEKNESS
This study is to be devoted to the
unity of the Spirit. However, it should be pointed out that in order to keep the unity of
the Spirit", the believer should not display arrogance or haughtiness of mind. This
would not be in keeping with the worthy walk. Spiritual graciousness is necessary before
it is possible to keep the unity of the Spirit.
"With all lowliness and meekness," (Eph. 4:2)
There is the ever-present danger for those who have had the
"eyes of their understanding enlightened" to become proud or perhaps even
boastful because of their inclusion into the calling of the Mystery. The member of the
Church is beseeched to manifest the virtues of lowliness and meekness. This comes first.
The idea of lowliness and meekness can be traced out in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the Apostle Paul.
Matthew 11:29 is noted, for there the Lord says, "I am
meek, and lowly in heart". Paul says in Philippians 2 as he
speaks of the humility of Christ, that He made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant, and “humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross “(Phil.2 :8).
Acts 20:19 informs us that Paul served the Lord “with all humility of
mind”. In fact, a study of Paul’s life reveals humility personified.
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