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"...so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith."  Ephesians 4:12-13
 

 

Four Biblical "Unities"

This might surprise some, but the unity for which our Lord prayed in John 17:21 is already in existence among those who are truly His. Let me explain what I mean.

In Scripture several types of unity are seen. There is unity between Christ and God: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30). There is the unity that exists between Christ and His people: "I in them." (John 17:23). Then there is the unity of the faith spoken of in today's text. This unity, we must notice, is something that we are instructed to move towards 'until we all reach unity in the faith." Though it does not exist at present in some parts of the Church, we are encouraged to reach it.

There is another unity, however, of which Paul speaks in today's reading -the unity of the Spirit. "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (v.3) The unity being spoken about here is a spiritual unity- the kind of unity our Lord was thinking about in His prayer in John 17. The moment we enter the Church we become part of a Body that is united by the power and energy of the Holy Spirit. Our task then is not to 'make' unity, but simply to maintain it. It is a unity of people who have become spiritual- who are born again. We belong to Christ and we realise that because of this we belong to everyone else who belongs to Christ.

A world of difference exists between this kind of internal unity and the external unity so often spoken of in Christian circles. True unity, as I said yesterday, is exposed from within, not imposed from without. Take it from me: the closer the Church gets to Christ, the less we will talk about unity and the more we will see of it.

O God, forgive us that often we are more eager to discover what denomination a person belongs to than we are to rejoice in the fact that they are our brother or sister. Shake us out of these carnal attitudes we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Today's devotion taken from: "Every Day with Jesus" Sat 22 April written by Selwyn Hughes

Get your copy of the latest "Every Day with Jesus" from the Church in the Market Place office.

 

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