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Unity of The Spirit In The Bond of Peace
Unity of The Spirit In The Bond of Peace
As you read through 1:3-12, notice the pronouns used: in order us, us, we, us, us, we, us, us, we, and we. Then, Paul says ‘YOU ALSO’. My identification is guided by 2:11: ‘you, the Gentiles in the flesh’. I understand this contrast in chapter one to be between the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers. Such contrast continued in the opening of chapter 2 where we again have YOU who were dead in trespasses and sins… and WE TOO.
BOTH Jew and Gentile were dead in sin (2:1-4). BOTH Jew and Gentile are blessed IN CHRIST (1:1-14). Through Christ, BOTH groups are made into ONE (2:14). Yet again, Christ has made the “two into one new man thus establishing peace” (2.:15). In Jesus, WE BOTH are being built TOGETHER into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (2:22).
This ‘mixed body’ of believers is, therefore, to be diligent “to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:3). Paul at that point writes of the oneness that exists: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.
God the father in Jesus through the Spirit has made us ONE. BEING one is our problem and difficulty! The unity of the Spirit has been established and we are instructed to be DILIGENT to PRESERVE it.
Note a ‘few’ times that peace is spoken of in the NT: We are to preserve this bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Being justified, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). We are to live in peace (2Cor. 13:11). We are to follow things that make for peace (Rom. 14:19). We are to strive to be at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18). The peace of God is to rule in our hearts (Col. 3:15). We are commanded to be at peace among ourselves ( 1Thess. 5:13). We are to follow peace with all men (Heb. 12:14). We are to eschew evil, do good, and seek peace (1Pet. 3:11).
Our Lord said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:7). Are you a peacemaker – or a trouble maker?
Hugh DeLong
