Unity of the Spirit

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace....till we all come in the unity of the faith...unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4.3-13).

The picture in Ephesians 4 is that of Christian growth, from the condition of "babes in Christ" to that of full Christian maturity (but, even so, not the perfection of character which is to be ours beyond the Veil. Eph. 4 has to do entirely with this life and not the next). Right at the outset immature believers are exhorted to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" and an essential part of this "walking worthy" is the "endeavouring" to keep the unity of the Spirit. As a help to our efforts in this connection we are reminded that there is one Body - one Spirit - one hope of our calling - one Lord - one faith - one baptism - one God. In all these we share as brethren, and we all have the same basis upon which we stand. Our abilities may and do differ, and so does our capacity for understanding the deep things of God's Word, and this will in turn affect our understanding of doctrine or modify the viewpoint we take, but "to every one of us is given grace (favour) according to the measure of the gift of Christ". He proportioned his gifts according to our capacity for receiving and making use of them and as we are able to make use of more because of our growth in grace so He gives us more. Thus for the instruction and upbuilding of the one-time "babes" He has given, as the Apostle says here, "helps" of all kinds, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers in order that these same growing Christians, having attained Christian maturity, should come into the unity of the faith and knowledge of Christ and so become what he calls a "perfect (complete) man,...the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ".

Now this unity of faith into which such a mature Christian has entered is not, as so many imagine it to be, merely a unity of assent to various points of doctrine, although an understanding of the great Bible doctrines concerning sin and death, redemption and life, the High Calling and mankind's destiny is a necessary factor in the attainment of that unity. But this unity of the faith is really the final fruitage of which the unity of the Spirit is the original seed. Unity of the Spirit is based upon our fellowship with each other and our belief in Jesus and his words; the unity of the faith is built upon our fellowship with God and our knowledge of him and his laws. The first can be entered into comparatively quickly, so soon as we come into Christ and meet with his people; the second is the result of long years spent in "growing up into him in all things". The one is therefore clearly a development from the other, but even when we have entered into the unity of the faith, and attained the full stature of a man in Christ, we are still like Paul, knowing only in part, seeing as in a glass, darkly. The day has yet to come, and it will not come this side the Veil, when, especially in matters of doctrine, we attain full perfection of understanding. That need not hinder our unity now; in fact, according to Eph. 4, if our unity now is hindered by any such consideration, if we allow ourselves to be carried hither and thither by every "wind of doctrine", never attaining, if we do not play our part in the oneness of the Body, then, implies the Apostle, we are still children. And although in one sense it is as children that we inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, it is not so in this sense. As children in innocence, sincerity, humility, teachableness, yes, but as immature babes as yet unable to manifest the character likeness to Christ which is an indispensable condition, by no means. This life is our training ground and until we have been proved fitted and qualified for the stupendous work of God which awaits all who are called and chosen, but also faithful, we cannot expect to hear the momentous words "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord".