Christian unity is often misunderstood, in my opinion. Unity does not say, "Why can't we just get along?" Unity says, "When we don't get along, we are still together because we are bound to something greater than us."
I use the word "bound" quite literally. Consider Eph. 4:3: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
"Unity of the Spirit" is not unity within the Spirit; this same chapter goes on to say there is only one Spirit. "Unity" is literally "agreement" or "unanimity", meaning that we have a unanimous agreement with the Spirit of God. this is a believer's contract with the Holy Spirit.
"In the bond of peace" refers to a binding together with peace that is like the sinews that bind muscle to bone and make togetherness and function possible in the human body. The Spirit's contract is to be kept in the bonds of love, fellowship, togetherness, brotherhood, and all things that lead to peace.
There are no lone wolf Christ-followers. My personal covenant with Christ is demonstrated in my peaceable attachment to the Body of Christ. The Spirit contract leads to right relationship with all of God's other children. "By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," John 13:35.
There are consequences in our relationships for breaking the Spirit contract. More to come.
(Blue Letter Bible. "Paul's Epistle - Ephesians 4:3 - (KJV - King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 10 Dec 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=4&t=KJV >)
copyright December 10, 2010 by Glen Gaugh
I use the word "bound" quite literally. Consider Eph. 4:3: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
"Unity of the Spirit" is not unity within the Spirit; this same chapter goes on to say there is only one Spirit. "Unity" is literally "agreement" or "unanimity", meaning that we have a unanimous agreement with the Spirit of God. this is a believer's contract with the Holy Spirit.
"In the bond of peace" refers to a binding together with peace that is like the sinews that bind muscle to bone and make togetherness and function possible in the human body. The Spirit's contract is to be kept in the bonds of love, fellowship, togetherness, brotherhood, and all things that lead to peace.
There are no lone wolf Christ-followers. My personal covenant with Christ is demonstrated in my peaceable attachment to the Body of Christ. The Spirit contract leads to right relationship with all of God's other children. "By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," John 13:35.
There are consequences in our relationships for breaking the Spirit contract. More to come.
(Blue Letter Bible. "Paul's Epistle - Ephesians 4:3 - (KJV - King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 10 Dec 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Eph&c=4&t=KJV >)
copyright December 10, 2010 by Glen Gaugh
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