of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” In the space of these six short verses, Paul makes two important but seemingly contradicting points – Christian unity takes effort and Christian unity is already ours!
How does one “walk in a manner worthy of your call- ing” as a Christian? Well, one way according to Paul is to seek to maintain unity with other believers. Hope- fully those young missionaries sought that unity that evening through confession and granting forgiveness to one another. And then hopefully they have continued to strive for that unity by developing the very character traits and fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists here: humil- ity and gentleness, patience and forbearance, and all in love! There is a progression in these that is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling Christians that makes the goal of unity far more attainable. Think about it – isn’t it hard to get sideways with the one who is always humble and gentle with you and then patiently deals with you and tolerates your quirks and irritating behaviors? It is even harder when you too are seeking to be this way with them! Calvin once wrote, “by laying aside haughtiness and
a desire of pleasing ourselves, we shall become humble and gentle.” And when we become humble and gentle, it is easier to be patient and forbear with others, and as we both do, to express Christian unity! What might happen in those situations in which it is so easy to get at odds with a brother or sister in Christ, if we were to remind ourselves of who we are – sinners saved by grace – and ask ourselves, do I deserve to get MY way? What might happen if we think of ourselves this way and then think of others as who they are in Christ? To think more highly of them than we do of ourselves? That’s humility brothers and sisters. And such humility leads to gentle dealings with others. And when you deal gently with one you see as clothed in Christ’s righteous- ness, you’ll be patient and will much more easily put up with their shortcomings and aggravations. And what if they are striving to do the exact same with you? Such is Spirit-enabled walking in a manner worthy of your calling aiming at the essential unity! It takes ef- fort and thought and prayer and Spirit-dependence. But isn’t it worth it?
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
I believe we know those words don’t we my fellow ARPs? This beautiful, essential unity takes effort. Paul says more. It is also really and truly ours! “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called
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to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
When we get at odds with other Christians then
we are at odds with what we actually already have in Christ. This pursuit of unity is like all other aspects of in union with Christ. We are seeking in our subjective experience what we are declared objectively to be in Je- sus. Paul gives us seven great common possessions that all Christians have. Imagine trying to stay upset and at odds with a brother in Christ as you pray through each of these!
• Dear Lord, he and I are both parts of the one body of Christ. Is it good when the hand attacks the ear?
• Father, the Holy Spirit who indwells me abides in him as well – the very same Spirit!
• My God, he and I both have that same great hope that our bodies will be resurrected when Christ returns to be united with our souls to live together in perpetual praise of you!
• Oh LORD, you are his LORD, his King, his Savior too – not just mine!
• Father, we profess and possess the same holy faith, like Christians have since the days of the Apostles!
our hearts and off our tongues.
• And Lord, he and I have both been marked by you with the outward waters of baptism signifying the same baptism that is ours in Christ – our identities are both bound up in Him through baptism.
any longer. You are our Father – Father to both of us!
Stand amazed brothers and sisters, we share all seven of these in common and the more we share in common these seven great commonalities do their work on your temptation to get sideways with other Christians! Unity takes effort and unity is already ours. Strive to be in your experience what you and I are in Christ. After all, isn’t He worth it? Isn’t He praying that we be and that we exhibit it? And doesn’t the watching world need to see it?
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me (John 17:20-21).
Rev. Lee Shelnutt is Team Leader of the Barnabas Ministry with World Witness. The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
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