Last week in our Bible study (one that I do with three of my grandchildren) the writer of the study (New Testament scholar N.T. (Tom) Wright) noted that Paul was very serious about the unity of the body of Christ. This was, in particular, focused on the letter Paul wrote from confinement to the believers in Ephesus. He (Tom) then noted that in our current state “we have grown accustomed to so many divisions within [Christian denominations]…sometimes the boundaries [of Biblical doctrine] are blurred, and it may be that some have wandered so far off course that their claim of loyalty to Jesus Christ is seriously called into question.” (excerpted)
That reminded me a bit of one of the passages from Thursday’s post regarding the art of negotiation and Abraham’s maturation in his relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth (though not directly from the story of Abraham’s development).
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited, understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (1Tim.6:3-5)
In this passage Paul makes it clear that there are times (as Mr. Wright alluded to) when the doctrine (a word that comes from the Greek “didaskō” = “to teach”) or the teaching does not align with the words of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and that under those circumstances unity must be sacrificed for truth.
This attitude toward false teaching and false doctrine is not isolated with Paul, nor is it so clearly laid out that there is no risk of applying it too broadly (as in the differences surrounding teachings regarding “Baptism” or the “Lord’s Supper” or “Angels” among the body of believers).
The second epistle of Peter, beginning in our chapter 1 verse 16 and running through to 2:22 has some very strong language regarding the judgment that false teachers and prophets will face.
John’s first epistle, in our 2:18 and following also warns of the false teachings of some going so far as to call them out as “antichristos”.
James provides similar warnings (see James 2:18-26).
And so there I found myself pondering. And it seemed to me that just as the teaching around grace is shown to be the balance between the Mosaic Law versus license; there is a similar balance with unity – what is often expressed (nearly 100 times in the New Testament) as “one another” in and among the people of God.
When it comes to this particular “balance” I can easily recognize my tendency to lean toward that of the “law”. I am prone to avoid wandering toward the edge of a doctrine – happy to avoid speculations lest they become vain; whereas others are more inclined to want to explore the edges. Which encouraged me to take the time to dig a bit deeper (if not “wider”) on this idea of unity that can be found in nearly all of Paul’s writings.
Oh, one more quick anecdote to emphasize the point. The details can be found in Acts 15:36-41 and in Acts 13:1-13.
After the events that occurred following the first journey that Saul and Barnabas made; the “council” in Jerusalem regarding the opinion of many of the believing Jews that the Gentiles needed to first come under the law of Moses (becoming circumcised and committed to obedience to “Moses”), and all that came from that; it was decided that they (Saul (now Paul) and Barnabas) should go back to the places they had visited and had proclaimed the word of the Lord.
A point of dissension arose when Barnabas sought to have John Mark go with them again. “But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along” since he had deserted them early in their first journey.
“And there came into being such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations. (Acts 15:39-41)
The word we read as “disagreement” is the word “paroxusmos” which would translate as “provocation”. We get our word “paroxysm” directly from this Greek word; it refers to “a fit, an attack, a sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms- specifically convulsion”. In other words, after all that they went through and which they had united around as regarded not requiring Gentiles to commit to the Law before accepting Jesus as the Anointed One, this seemingly insignificant difference of opinion sundered their relationship! Or was John Mark just the catalyst?
When we look at Paul’s letter to the Galatians, likely written just before they were to go out on their second journey and which contains the details of the events of and leading up to the council in Jerusalem, we may find a more foundational cause. Meaning, John Mark’s abandonment was, in essence, the “external” issue. The more likely cause being:
But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was one who was self-condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came he withdrew and held himself aloof, fearing those from the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how compel you the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Gal.2:11-14)
And so we have in this early incident an example of what Paul believed demarked a doctrine worthy of “dis-unity”.
It should be noted that Paul speaks highly of both John-Mark, in letters written while he was imprisoned in Rome (see Col.4:10, 2Tim.2:4), and of Barnabas (see 1Cor.9:6 – likely written from Ephesus while Paul was there for the two years he taught in the school of Tyrannus).
To me this speaks of the challenges that we have all likely faced in our relationships within the body of Christ; that unity is not easy; in part because unity is not always possible and (as we have seen) sometimes not desirable. But Paul’s writings strongly suggest that it (unity) should be our first principle.
The word or phrase most often used in the New Testament to describe our endeavor to work together for the purposes of God is found in the Greek word “allēlōn” which is a reciprocal pronoun typically translated “one another” and used some 100 times. This is the word used in at least seven of Paul’s epistle directed at the people of God congregating in the various cities and regions where Paul served.
In light of the source (NT Wright’s Bible Study on the book of “Ephesians”) of the decision to pursue this topic, I will begin be reviewing what Paul had to say to them about unity. It will be seen that Paul uses in his letter to them another term – unique to this letter in the New Testament – which is often translated “unity”: “henotes” which is an adjective form of the word for the prime number “one” (“hen”) – so, “oneness”.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another (“allēlōn”) in love, being diligent to preserve the unity (“henotes”) of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One (“hen”) body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one immersion, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (Eph.4:1-8)
It is important that we remember that this is a letter to all of those who gather together in Ephesus, and that Paul knew many of these believers firsthand!
Paul, one sent by the Messiah Jesus with a message and a mission, by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and faithful to the Messiah Jesus:” (Eph.1:1)
Paul is imploring “you all” to walk in a worthy manner in alignment with their calling, as those called out. All of the saints in Ephesus are being implored by Paul to walk in a certain way, a way that includes specific instructions for interacting with one another with the diligent desire to maintain “oneness” (that comes – can only come – from the Spirit) by being committed to living peaceably.
What Paul provides next is, in my opinion, the non-negotiables of doctrines. He is appealing to those in Ephesus to be unified by the only means possible: the Spirit of God. In the next breath he lists what the Spirit of God has defined as that to which and by Whom we are to be in oneness. The universal body of believers in the one Spirit (as fulfilled by the calling out and adding in); one Lord and Master in Whom we have been immersed and have placed our confidence; one God – the Father and Maker and Maintainer of all that is and was and ever will be!
Paul then separates this “oneness” aspect – our unity as the body of believers – from the individual aspect. Yes we are all “one” in Christ Jesus; but we are also “each one” given a measure of the fulness of Christ. A measure that is unique in our unity to perform the work of serving one another so that we might all attain to the unity (“allēlōn”): 1) of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God; 2) to a mature man (the word is “anēr” and it speaks of a close bond, often translated as husband or brother); 3) to the measure of the stature that belongs to the fulness of the Anointed One.
(I expect you noticed that I rolled past a list of some of the gifts that have been given to the body. I did so not because they are unimportant, but because this is just one of numerous lists of giftings that are described as having the same overall purpose as do these here. And since others have chosen to exalt this list to a level that defies the structure Jesus promised He was building, I have chosen to draw our attention to what these gifts (and the others – as we will soon see) are given to do for the entirety of the body.)
Paul then gives one of his typically complex statements:
As a result [of the giving of gifts that enable the saints to do the work of building up the body], we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine/teaching, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all things into Him Who is the Head, Christ, from Whom the whole body [all of us], being fitted and held together through every joint of supply, according to the working in measure of each individual part, causing the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Eph.4:14-16)
The working parts here are each and every one that make up the “one another” AND the relationships (the joints – or joining) of the each one with the other ones that make up the body. By so doing the body becomes wise and discerning and healthy and enabled to perform that very task that they (we) were called to perform.
So here we have a template of unity/one another-ing that is enabled by giftings that are sourced out of the love of the Father as shared among the people – all of which results in godliness and the fulfillment of the destiny to which we have been called (both individually and corporately)!
Paul goes on in this letter to further define and describe the elements identified above, but for sake of time we will move to the next (or, chronologically the first) example found in Galatians, in our chapters 5 and 6.
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (“allēlōn”). For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Brethren, even if a person is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of the Messiah. (Gal.5:13-6:2)
In this, Paul’s first letter, his “one another” focus centers more on the fruit, the outworking, of the Spirit of God in the lives of believers. Noting that the Spirit and the desires of the flesh are in a bare knuckles fight for the soul of a person. The passions and desires of the flesh – those things that cause us to want to do even what we know is not aligned with how God made us – will disenable us from being able to do the things that the Spirit of God will, by God’s design, produce in us if we will simply yield to His leading.
This dynamic, as with the passage above, is founded on the love of God and our willingness to allow that love to be manifest in our interactions with one another. Accepting the love of God will produce in us…love! Along with 8 other attributes that Paul notes here. All of which are the result of our surrender to God and which, as such, are not subject to any man induced law.
For the Galatians, Paul’s template notes that unity/oneness comes by the indwelling of the Spirit which is caused by the Love of God and then produces the love of God in His people (among the other aspects of the Spirit of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). Which then – as he declares to those in Ephesus – will result in godliness in our daily walk and interactions with one another.
Chronologically, the next passage would be that from Paul’s first letter to those in Thessalonica. Having preached to them midway through his second journey with Silas and Timothy. The general doctrinal theme was the concerns over the resurrection at Jesus’ return (though much of what is written is of a less doctrinal, more personal nature).
Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. (1Thess.3:11-4:12)
This aligns closer to what Paul wrote to the Galatians – which makes sense from a sequencing perspective. What we see in these two early letters are a focus on the basics of the good news message. Though the Judaizers and the Jews were causing significant trouble over the declaration of Jesus as the Messiah, there was, as of yet, little in the way of false teaching that was hindering the people of God outside of that. Most of the content is commending them for their correct understanding and the proper results that it was producing – such as their abounding love for one another.
So here we see a simplified process flow: unity/one another that is sourced from the abounding love of God and that results in sanctification and the avoidance of lust and fornication and other forms of impurity.
The next two passages would also have been written before the letter to those in Ephesus – and quite likely at around the same time as each other. There is a previous post that touches on the background of the letter to the Romans, so I will start there but will refrain from reiterating the details already covered. This would likely be the first letter in the series of three (of which the template for Ephesus was our first reviewed sample) where Paul specifically links the oneness and one another-ing to the variety of gifts that have been given for the sake of the daily maturation of the people of God. The variations of the gifts in these two, plus what we will see next to those in Corinth, proves (or at least strongly suggests) that it is the operation of whatever gifts and graces have been given that facilitates the goal of oneness through the love of God.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if declaring the word of the Lord before, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Love without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. (Romans 12:1-13)
The language here is more explicit than what Paul will use with those in Ephesus as regards the variations of gifts – though he will hone the point even sharper in what we will read next in his letter to those in Corinth. The differences of function should be, well, obvious. Hands don’t do what ribs do – making neither one better or worse than the other or than any other “member” of the body – just different.
Here Paul begins by noting our motivation for walking in the gifts He has given: it is our reasonable response to all that He has done for us! That he follows that up with the exhortation to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (by means of the washing of the water with the word of God – Eph.5:26) versus being shaped by the world in which we live, leads to a practical humility. And then he proclaimed our oneness and our inherent diversity!
He finishes that portion with clear and encouraging declarations of what can be expected when the Body is functioning as designed! And then he goes into some fairly specific instructions for those who live in Rome – the seat of the government. (And though those statements are valuable, for purposes of focus, we will move past them and pick up with Paul’s additional, more or less general admonitions focused on the unity of the people of God.)
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:8-14)
Paul had invoked the loving of one’s neighbor as oneself to the Galatians – this is the practical fulfillment of all of the rules and regulations that Moses was given; and was declared as the New Commandment of the New Covenant given by Jesus the night before His sacrifice.
He finishes this passage by noting our motivation…time is passing – our ultimate transformation and restoration are nearer now than they were. So we should avoid the deeds and desires of the flesh and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!
In our first letter to those in Corinth we find Paul’s other epistle that specifically ties the love of God, which inspires our “oneness” to a variety of giftings that produce in the believers a true godliness. As we will see, Paul goes wider in his explanation both of the diversity of the individual members of the Body as well as the implications of love within it. Likely this expansion was, at least in part, due to the need to correct some of the teachings that Apollos brought that were not fully founded on the covenants of God and the promises of the New Covenant in particular.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another declaring the will of God, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has set some in the congregations, first ones sent on a mission, second those who declare the will of God, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of languages. All are not ones sent on a mission, are they? All are not those who declare the will of God, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not works of power, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with unknown languages, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But be zealous for the more abundant gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak with the languages of men and of messengers, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of declaring the will of God before in time and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of declaring the will of God before in time, they will be done away; if there are unknown languages, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we declare the will of God before in time in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Cor.12:4-13:13)
Paul invokes the triune Titles of God at the outset. Varieties of gifts from the One Spirit. Varieties of the ways of serving from the One Lord. Varieties of energy/operation from the One God and Father! And so just as God is One, we too are intended to be in “oneness” – and yet He works through and in us uniquely for the common good of all!
(BTW - I left in the vast detail because I thought it would be a convenient way for us to access it and to emphasize the variations in how Paul writes about this very same doctrine to differing audiences – as each needed. The metropolitan and pagan nature of the city of Corinth, in which Paul had spent some time, put a specific strain on the people who had accepted their ransom from Christ. In our second letter (which many scholars believe was actually the fourth or even fifth letter specifically written to the believers there) Paul find himself having to address even deeper issues that were brought in from the world.)
Paul reminds them that whatever power or grace or service they may have been given, the operating principle is and always will be the love that comes from and is exemplified by God Himself. And just as he went into great detail describing the functioning of the Body; he takes the time to expand on the nature and impact of the love of God – the More Excellent Way!
What sets this letter apart, along with the detail, is Paul’s expansion on how the godly life is lived within the gathering together of the people of God. He finishes his “teaching” with: “But all things must come about properly and in an orderly manner.”
The last two passages, both written from Rome, round out Paul’s encouragement to the people of God to be in “oneness”, though they are a little less exacting as to their formatting.
His letter to those in Philippi provides these insights:
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philip.2:1-11)
Many see this fellowship in Philippi as the one with the greatest character and which exemplified all that Paul hoped to accomplish in the Lord during his years of service. The overlaying template here is that, as they had experienced, one another-ing produced Christ-likeness and Christ-likeness enabled oneness among the body of believers!
Lastly, Paul’s familiar encouragement to the Colossians:
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things love, which bonds together perfectly. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Col.3:1-17)
Possibly the last of the Pauline epistles to the gatherings in the various cities and regions, this is often thought of as a companion to the letter to Ephesus. The template we see centers them on the Lordship of Jesus and the power and authority that is incumbent with His resurrection – the resurrection in which they have been invited to participate! It is in that state – being resurrected with Christ – that they will find the power to walk in godliness. And it is in the experience of walking in His Life that they will attain to the oneness that God desires for them – epitomized by the love of God that will bond them together perfectly.
I would be remiss if I failed to include a brief passage from the letter to the Hebrews that, within the context of the audience (those of Hebrew heritage who had accepted that Jesus, the Nazarene is their long-awaited Messiah and so the “Greater” law-giver, high priest, sacrifice, atonement, and propitiation Whose blood ransoms and redeems all who call upon His name).
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Here too we see the importance of one another; our need for the variety that is found among the Body. It is sourced by the love of God and will produce in us the drive to produce in one another love and good works.
Oneness – being bound together, focusing on that which every member of the body of Christ brings for the overall good of one another; not expecting one gift or mission or service or energy given from God to be more important than any other in His overall plan of making each of us like-Christ – is a central theme of the New Testament. It is made possible by the love of God, and specifically by our walking in the love of God, demonstrating the fruit of His Spirit.
It is not His intention that we all be like one another; it is His intention that the uniqueness that He has made each of us to be is lived out by the power of His Spirit through the transforming power of His word. And in that is the wonderous reality of that which every joining-together in Him provides for our becoming that which He created us to be. We are told that in the New “the kings of the earth” (us) will bring the glory of our nations (our individuality) into the city/bride/body and share it with one another! (See Rev 21:24-27) I can hardly wait!
This is a great lesson for our specific time and place! It also confirms with God’s word via Paul something I’ve believed ever since first being introduced to Paul’s letters as a teenager…. ‘…making neither one better or worse than the other or than any other “member” of the body – just different.’ This also applies to the husband - wife and male - female relationships. I never could understand why there was such a concentrated attempt to insert hierarchy in ‘value’. It didn’t make sense then. Of course, with hindsight, I can look back to the ‘60s as the modern demarcation between the traditional way of life vs the modern (or Marxist) progressivism we’ve experienced.
We still see it today and our pastor is addressing some of these things in his current messages.
The wonderful thing Paul describes is how each of us individually contributes to the whole when we focus on the common goal. We can see how the evil insidious one has used the same approach in both our church of believers as well as our country. All immigrants came to America and, no matter the various cultural differences, had a common goal…the desire for individual freedom. Then it was perverted to create envy and ‘tribes’ as has happened with the various denominations.
As the church of believers, we must do the same and focus on our Messiah Jesus and the Father whose mercy has given us a future with Him. There can be nothing less in either area. God’s over it ALL. And we will be with Him. Thanks to His love.