Keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace..
Eph. 4:3
other translations
being eager to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (WEB)
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace. (WBS)
in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit. (WEY)
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
the peace; (YLT)
"The unity of the Spirit"
signifies that secret bond of divine union which knits
together all the living members of Christ’s mystical body,
not only to Him as their risen Head, but to each other also
by virtue of the same indwelling Spirit.
It is, therefore, not a
mere unity of opinion, of church membership, of outward
profession, or any mere external bond; for all these may
subsist in the highest degree, and yet there be no spiritual
union. The word translated "unity" means literally
"oneness," and therefore implies that oneness of the faith,
hope, and love which pervades every member of the mystical
body. It is, therefore, called "the oneness of the Spirit,"
that is, that oneness of heart and soul, love and affection,
of which the Holy Ghost is the sole and immediate author.
This oneness of Spirit is, so to speak, kept together and
maintained in its place by "the bond of peace," which is
oneness of spirit; but when "the bond of peace" is twined
round it, it is not only preserved from outward assaults,
but, like the blood within the artery, or like the marrow
within the spine, is free to move and act. As, therefore,
this, "oneness of spirit" can only be maintained in living
exercise as surrounded by "the bond of peace," the Apostle
bids us to endeavour "to keep" it within this bond. It is in
itself a thing so tender, and yet so essential to the
comfort of the church, that we should never, so to speak,
take that bond off which preserves it uninjured.
By "peace," therefore, we
may understand not only peace of conscience, peace with God
through the atoning blood of the Lamb, but peace also with
the brethren. In other words, a quiet, peaceable,
affectionate, and loving spirit manifested to the people of
God, and especially to those with whom we are brought into
church fellowship, is indispensable to the lively
maintenance of spiritual union. It is true that spiritual
union, once felt, can never be utterly lost; but it may be
sadly weakened. Next then to our own soul’s peace and
establishment in the truths of the gospel, next to our own
union with Christ, as sensibly realized and spiritually
maintained, should we seek to keep up oneness of Spirit with
the saints of God; and so far as we aim at this by showing a
quiet, peaceable, and affectionate spirit, do we fulfill the
apostolic injunction, and "endeavour," for we cannot always
or often succeed, "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace."
J.C. Philpot
THE UNITY OF THE
SPIRIT- WHAT IS IT?
By Charles Welch
First, let it be marked, that the Holy Spirit has differentiated
between the unity which we are to KEEP, and the unity which we
are to SEEK.
Eph. 4. 3. " Endeavouring to KEEP the unity of the spirit
in the bonds of the peace.
Eph. 1. 13, " TILL WE ALL COME unto the unity of the
faith."
This order is Divine ; but man has thought fit to attempt to
revise God's order, and says, " When you agree with me as to '
fundamentals' (as if all truth were not fundamental) we can then
have ' fellowship ' and keep the unity of the spirit." This is
practically the position of the majority of believers who have
had any concern about this subject. The others, alas! seem to
care nothing about " the unity of the spirit " at all, and -o to
the other extreme, making a wholesale jumble of creed and
practice, "agreeing to differ," and raising above their
rubbish-heap of traditions and mangled Scriptures the words "All
one in Christ," etc.
What is "the unity of the spirit " ? Has the Lord told us?
It is evident we shall not be able to keep a unity
unless we know what it is; but shall probably become a prey to
some stronger will of one who will give us his opinion as a
standard. God has not left us without teaching on this important
matter, for verses 4-6 are GOD'S OWN DEFINITION of what the
unity of the spirit is.
The passage reads like this : " Endeavouring to keep the unity
of the spirit in the bond of the peace (then add. mentally, "
which unity consists of the following "), One Body, One Spirit,
etc."
These seven constituents of true Scriptural unity are arranged
in perfect and beautiful order. The fact of there being seven
tells us that we have here spiritual perfection, and the balance
of each part fully explains the Lord's mind as to this wonderful
unity.
They are arranged as follows --
A | ONE Body,
B | ONE Spirit,
C | ONE Hope,
D | ONE LORD,
C | ONE Faith,
B | ONE Baptism,
A | ONE God and Father.
It will be seen that the great centre is Christ as LORD --that
is, Christ, not as the " Man of Galilee," nor as the
Nazarene," nor by any of the blasphemous titles whereby "
Socialists " and would-be world -improvers, " universal
brotherhood," advocates and " peace and safety " preachers
dishonour Him. - No, not Christ as the " Son of man," or even
"Jesus" ; but Christ in Resurrection GLORY ; not Christ after
the flesh-Christ Head of the NEW CREATION-'THIS ONE is the
centre, the pivot, around whose glorious, PERSON the other
elements of true unity are grouped.
Round this central Lord we find the other six placed in perfect
correspondence.
Corresponding with the One Body or Family we have the One God
and Father (A and A).
Corresponding with the One Spirit we have the One Baptism (B and
B).
Corresponding with the One Hope. we have the One Faith (C arid
C).
Christ is the centre of true unity, and, apart from HIM, faith
and nape are without foundation, and the body itself is dead.
Just as in the temple : " Every whit of it uttereth glory " ; so
here, every part of this seven-fold unity speaks of
RESURRECTION.
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