Tuesday: Unity in One Body
Paul is practical in his inspired words to the Ephesians. The unity that exists between Jews and Gentiles, between people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, is not a myth or simply a theoretical construct; it is a reality that demands us “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph. 4:1, NKJV).
According to Ephesians 4:1-3, in what way are Christians to walk worthy of their calling in Christ?
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
The practical outcome of these virtues and graces in the Christian’s life helps “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3, NKJV). All these attributes are rooted in love (1 Cor. 13:1-7). The active practice of love preserves relationships among brothers and sisters and promotes peace and unity in the Christian community and beyond. Unity in the church manifests God’s love in unique ways that others can witness. The church is called to be such a witness, especially in a time of strife, divisions, and wars.
Read Ephesians 4:4-6. What is one crucial theme in these three verses?
In the first verses of this chapter, Paul expresses his deep interest in the unity of the church. He begins with an exhortation to unity (Eph. 4:1-3) and follows with a list of the seven elements that unite believers (Eph. 4:4-6). Unity is simultaneously something that believers already possess (Eph. 4:4-6), something that must be constantly worked on and maintained (Eph. 4:1-3), and something that is the future goal toward which we strive (Eph. 4:13).
“The apostle exhorts his brethren to manifest in their lives the power of the truth which he had presented to them. By meekness and gentleness, forbearance and love, they were to exemplify the character of Christ and the blessings of His salvation. There is but one body, and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith. As members of the body of Christ all believers are animated by the same spirit and the same hope. Divisions in the church dishonor the religion of Christ before the world and give occasion to the enemies of truth to justify their course. Paul’s instructions were not written alone for the church in his day. God designed that they should be sent down to us. What are we doing to preserve unity in the bonds of peace?” – Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 239.
What choices can you make right now in order to be sure that you are walking “worthy of the calling with which you were called”? |
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What did Jesus do, He treated people with dignity, respect and love, but never compromised on the truth!
And this is where a biblical definition of "truth" is important.
Is "truth" a set of propositions, or is it more personal? Remember that Christ used the summary of "Love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself" (paraphrased) as the two "great commandments." Thus it would seem that any attitude or action that is not in harmony with these "great commandments" is also outside the "truth."
Then there's the question of how to relate to those we judge to be outside "the truth." How did Christ relate to such people?
Our faith is revealed by how we treat those who disagree with or hurt us.
Jesus asked forgiveness for those who were in the process of killing him (Luke 23:34).
Self-renouncing, self-sacrificing, Agape love is the foundation of God's nature and character (1 Jn 4:8; DA 21) and it is also "the (foundational) law of life for heaven and earth" (DA 20).
Because self-renouncing love is foundational, every other aspect of life within the Kingdom of God is derived from and shares that same nature - self-renouncing giving (see DA 20, 21 for a detailed description of this). Every principle or 'law' that constitutes life within the Kingdom of God shares that same essential nature - self-renouncing giving. It is what gives life within the Kingdom of God its eternal nature.
Think about it: self-renouncing giving perpetually contributes to life via a never-ending cycling of giving and giving and giving.... And because it perpetually contributes, that life is eternal. Jesus was illustrating this point to the woman at the well in Jn 4:14.(Contrast this with self-seeking that takes and takes and takes.... Self-seeking drains rather than contributes to life - hence why it "steals, kills and destroys" life and results in Death/non-life: Jn 10:10).
Truth is the descriptive label we give to things that are in fact true/real. Everything within God's Kingdom is true/real - that is why the Kingdom of God is the ONLY viable way of life (hence Jesus declaration in Jn 10:10). So, every aspect of the reality of/within the Kingdom of God is Truth: it is the ONLY way that can possibly work. Therefore, Truth is 'simply' as description of the reality that comprises every facet of "abundant life" (zoe; Jn 10:10).
So, self-renouncing Love is the foundation of everyone and everything that comprises the reality of the Kingdom of God. And Truth is the declaration that this way of life is the only way that is viable.
Consequently, Love and Truth are actually inseparable attributes. It is impossible to have one without the other. If we are grounded in self-renouncing Love, everything else follows: it is all part of an inseparable package! I believe this is why, after describing the unity and diversity of the human body as an analogy for the church as the'body of Christ', Paul could say "and now there remain faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is Love" (1 Cor 13:13).
Col 3:12-14
Love is of God and we show the world we are of God if we love.
Love is a commandment
Love is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
God Loved us, so He came to redeem us.
Love is the key to unity.
Sure! Love is the key! But there are another important words here too, "bonds of peace"!
If we really comprehend this love of God for us we will certainly have peace! We need to deliver ourselves completly to Him. Then we should stay in peace because He is in control, no matter what we are going through. I do not understand all my troubles at once, but hanging to the Lord has helped me to convince my own heart that He knows better!
Troubles stretch me! They serve to bring me down and give me counciousness of my real state. Once we get to learn and control our own internal fights, we have to acquire peace! And nothing is better than trust in God!
Hi. My name is Little Left Toe. I'm very different from all my neighbours but they all love me.
One day as I was walking I was deeply hurt. Immediately the left leg lifted me up and the other strong right leg did the skipping.
The whole body stopped walking and sat down to take care of me. The hands held me and started dressing me up. The eyes came from very far to observe what had happened and when they saw me they shed tears. The mouth also with teeth clenched started making some weird painful sounds.
My immediate neighbours shared the pain with me They agreed to be bandaged together with me. The heel offered to do my part of walking and thus raised me up until I healed.
If yoked with Jesus, who is meek and lowly of heart, all will walk worthy of their calling in Christ. Choosing to openly oppose others is not in harmony with the Lord and reveals a spirit of pride in the soul that remains unconverted to Christ.
The crucial theme is that one knows and follows the will of the Lord, and not their own ideas or reasoning. Unity is not about simply tolerating various ideas of what God's will is, but must be based on knowing and doing the will of God as HE has revealed it to His faithful servants.
We can choose to be yoked with Jesus, our lives surrendered fully to His will and good pleasure.
I agree when you say "The crucial theme is that one knows and follows the will of the Lord, and not their own ideas or reasoning" perfect.
Don't you think it can lead to openly oppose others?.
What is the will of God?
The broadest description of God's will is stated in the last part of 2 Pet 3:9.
God's will is to offer salvation/restoration to everyone who will (a) submit to being saved/restored and (b) co-operate with God's restoration of them by devoting their life to "seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33).
God wants to save, heal and restore all who are willing. And He also invites each person to join with Him in being used of Him to save, heal and restore others via being "light" and "salt" to everyone we interact with in our daily life.
Anything that is in harmony with these principles is in harmony with God's will.
God’s will, with respect to salvation, was definitively revealed by Christ Himself:
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” Jn 6:37,38
Privately to Christ: “This is the Will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” Jn 6:39
To the Public: “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:40). So that those whom the Father gives to Christ, ordained to eternal life (Acts 13:48), may HEAR of their salvation and believe (Eph 1:9,13; 2 Th 2:13,14). The rest have no excuse (Jn 15:21-25; 9:39-41).
Those are the ones, (“any” of you) 2 Pt 3:9 is addressing. We are still here 2,000 yrs later because all of God’s people have not been gathered. Our grand or great grand kids, who may be among those who are of God, are not yet even born. Should they be left out?