One Body and One Spirit

KEY VERSE: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:32

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:1-16

IN EPHESIANS the third chapter, the Apostle Paul brings to the attention of the brethren at Ephesus the astonishing grace bestowed upon him in the revelation that the Gentiles were to be partakers of the unsearchable riches of Christ—that is that they were to be partakers of God’s promise in Christ by the Gospel. This phase of God’s plan had been a mystery, hidden from past ages and only revealed when the Holy Spirit came upon the footstep followers of Jesus at Pentecost and afterward. Previously Paul had stated also that the blood of Christ had removed the middle wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles. “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar’ off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”—Eph. 2:15-19

The apostle continues his admonition concerning the oneness of Jews and Gentiles in the body of Christ: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forebearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”—Eph. 4:1-6

When we consider this advice in the light that it was addressed principally to Gentiles, it becomes more meaningful. They were being accepted into a previously closed arrangement, and these were words of instruction and encouragement. The apostle first instructs them to take particular care that their habitual conduct, in the world and among themselves, be worthy of their high calling. He then exhorts them to behave with humility and self-abasement, without self-preference, boasting, emulation, or contempt of others, but rather they should act with meekness, gentleness, and long-suffering, even when enduring great insults and injuries. They should also have the disposition to forebear one another in love.

The apostle counsels them further that they should studiously and diligently endeavor to establish peace and harmony with each other, according to the teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit. It is the spirit of truth dwelling in all their hearts that unites them as Christians, and it should induce them to live together, as bound in the closest of all relationships—that of the family of God. This condition must prevail even with some differences in sentiment, and the manifold defects which they discern in one another; and would be conscious of in themselves, if they carefully watched their own hearts.

Paul continues, stating that in spite of the previous wide gulf between Gentiles and Jews there is just one church and it is now one body of which every footstep follower of the Lord is a member, whether Jew or Gentile. All the members of the body are called in the one hope—that is, the prospect, if faithful, of being a part of the seed of blessing. (Gal. 3:28,29) They all have one Lord who is head over all. There is only one faith as respect to its author and object, and they all believe the same doctrines in the great essentials of the truth. They are all baptized of the real baptism into Christ’s death. (Rom. 6:3-5) Because of all this, they become sons and worshipers of one God, even the Father of all.

These admonitions, while they were intended for a special situation, are applicable to the church all down through the Gospel Age.

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