THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.
Ephesians 4:1-6.
Our unity is based in the unity of all three Persons of the Godhead (EPHESIANS 4:4-5).
EPHESIANS 4:1. We are asked to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” How do we do that?
EPHESIANS 4:2. “With all lowliness” = humility. Like the humility of Jesus (cf. Philippians 2:5-8).
“and meekness.” Meekness is not weakness, but the gentleness of the strong (cf. Matthew 11:29).
“with longsuffering” = patience. Patient even with annoying people. “forbearing one another.” Mutual tolerance.
How can we possibly do this? “in love.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
EPHESIANS 4:3. “Endeavouring” has a certain eagerness about it: a purposefulness. We are not being asked to create a unity - it already exists as “the unity of the Spirit” – but to “keep” it, maintain it. “in the bond of peace.”
What is that? Christ Himself is our peace, who has broken down the middle wall between us (cf. Ephesians 2:13-14).
EPHESIANS 4:4. “There is one body, and one Spirit.” In other words, there is only one Holy Spirit, who has created the church as one body. “even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”
EPHESIANS 4:5. There is only one Lord (Jesus), so there is but one hope of our calling, one faith, one baptism (cf. Romans 6:3).
EPHESIANS 4:6. Those who are born again have but one God and Father, because we are all members of the same family.
