Unity of the Spirit

“Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the 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 all” (Ephesians 4: 3-6)

Spiritual unity was so much a part of the life and teaching of the early church that the apostle Paul assumed the presence of such unity. In this passage, he instructs us to do everything to keep and preserve the “unity of the Spirit” (v.3).

The assumption appears to be that spiritual unity is the norm within the church when its members live under the control of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is a very serious matter to cause division among God’s people. In fact Paul instructed the church to warn a divisive person twice and then reject him if he does not repent (Titus 3: 9 – 11).
Spiritual unity is the very heart of the Christian faith and the life of Christ’s church. In this letter to the Ephesian church, Paul presents one of the most significant statements on spiritual unity shared anywhere in the Bible. He contends that in the church of Jesus Christ there is only one body one Spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptism, andone God and Father of all.
Paul had a hectic period writing and preaching against divisions in the church caused by invasion of the church by self-seekers who promoted heresy and wrong doctrines. Listen to what Paul had to say to the young church in Corinth bedeviled by disunity, rivalry and strife that resulted over preference for religious leaders based on their assumed superior wisdom:
“Now, I beg you, brothers (and sisters) through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing and that there be no division among you, but that you be perfect and together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who came from Chloe’s house-hold, that there are contentions among you,. Now I mean this that each of you says, “I follow Paul” “I follow Apollos” “I follow Cephas” and “I follow Christ” . Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized into the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1: 10 – 13).
Disunity in the church is more pronounced today than in the early church. While the early church contended mainly with false teachers, syncretism and divisions caused by preference for leaders, the modern church has to contend with problems of denominationism, false teachers, wolves  in sheeps’ clothing, syncretism, modernism, accommodationism etc. These problems have made it difficult for the church to speak with one voice on both religious and contemporary issues.
Jesus knew that for the church to survive and become relevant in the society there must be unity, that explains why he spent the twilight of his earthly ministry praying for the unity of the church.
“…. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are. …. Not for these   only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as   you loved me.” (John 17:11, 20-23).
For our society to become better, Christians should not only pray but put away their differences, unite and speak with one voice (just as Paul urged the church in Corinth many years ago)
Jesus says, this is the only way that the world will know that we belong to Him and that He has sent us.
Have a fruitful week as you live and work in harmony and peace with your fellow believers.

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
S. Igein Isemede