Weave Unity

Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV

Over time as the years pass we often begin to see the importance of a different set of concepts we did not see when we were young.

Unity is one of those concepts.

I remember giving speeches in junior high school. We learned how to make an argument. In high school the challenge was arguing on a debate squad. I thought I knew something about arguing. Then in college Argumentation and Debate I discovered I knew very little. My professor was so off the chart smart that I purchased a hand dictionary so I could look up words that he said.

I thought surely that was my most difficult experience and it surely couldn’t get worse.

Of course, I was wrong.

In Seminary making an argument was called Apologetics. We were trained to defend the Gospel message. That not only included the text, because we were trained to study and understand church history, it also included sharing and defending the Gospel in the modern world.

It wasn’t about defending what he believed.

It was a matter of defending Holy God, the Son, and the Spirit. Notice that Paul’s attitude was affectionate and encouraging but spiritually mature and deeply pastoral (as you would expect an Apostle to be).

In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called 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.”

Paul was a genius among men who spent his early life memorizing the Old Testament text. Hebrew boys in the First Century were not sent to school to learn arithmetic. They were sent to study the Holy text from the Old Testament. They didn’t just study it…they memorized it. Every Hebrew boy memorized as much text as they could master. If they came to a point where they could no longer learn more, they were sent home to study the trade of their father.

Now Paul learned from the most noted rabbis in history. He studied Stoic Philosophy. His teacher was infamous Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin and premier teacher of the Law at the time.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus around 60-62 A.D. from prison. The tone of Paul’s letter was loving and humble, but distinct and precisely to the point. Paul knew how to make an argument. He knew every word of the Old Testament.

Paul understood Unity of the Holy text and the importance of unity to the early church. From prison it’s likely Paul knew he would not travel again to preach the message of Jesus. He probably knew he would not be the one to unify the early church.

We are reminded we are all called to be patient and gentle but we do not come by our own merit. Through God the Spirit we are unified in God. Love is the key. We also do not produce love by our own merit, but rather we rely on God to fill us with Holy love as we accomplish God’s plan in the world. We are not alone.

God IN us is the key to unification.

Deborah

avrazyjourney.com