One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
There is one God who is Father of all His people. He is supreme over all, He works through all willing workers, and He dwells by His Spirit in the hearts of all believers. This is the climax of the sevenfold oneness of body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God, calling all to walk worthy in lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in peace. That shared sonship makes believers one family and one body, so though they differ in character, mind, and gifts, none is complete alone but each supplies what is lacking in another without rivalry or ruling over conscience. When they live in this love and harmony, their unity witnesses that God sent Christ and loves them as He loves His Son, giving power to the church to convert souls.
Meaning of the Words
There is one God who is Father of all, over all His people and His church. That oneness belongs with one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Above all means He is supreme and sovereign over all, over His whole people.
Through all means He is active, working through all His people and through willing workers to build up His work. In you all means He is present in all and dwells in all believers, in their hearts by His Spirit.
Place in Ephesians
There is a sevenfold oneness, one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all, working through all, and present in all, and the last is the climax and ground of all the rest. This shared Fatherhood is the reason the people in every church are to come into unity, for they share one body, Spirit, Lord, faith, and hope. God is the one Father over His whole people, supreme above them, active through them, and dwelling in them. Believers are to keep this sevenfold unity, with grace given to each according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The verse belongs to the appeal to walk worthy of the calling with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is the work to be done in every church, showing the power of truth through Christlike meekness, patience, and love. Love is the law of the kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness, and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. All belong to the one Father, and this shared relation grounds the unity Christians preserve through humility, patience, love, and peace, with each worker having a distinct task and no one complete in himself.
The verse stands with the giving of grace to each according to the measure of Christ's gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and edifying the body until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son unto full stature in Christ. The oneness of the Father is part of the unity of the church, which the spiritual gifts are given to secure. His manner of working requires a variety of gifts and many agencies, with every gift acknowledged as essential to success and no spiritual gift to be lost, while those laying the foundation are His husbandry and building, to be broadminded with quick perceptive faculties, holding will in abeyance and standing ready to understand the ways and will of their Leader. No single worker is the whole body, and no one may disparage another's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from the treasure house, but those in responsible positions must wisely improve their own gifts while respecting every gift bestowed on different members. This oneness requires keeping the unity of the Spirit while carrying the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness instead of persecution, with ministers examining their own hearts.
The chapter is to be read to hearers and impressed upon minds, read most solemnly, because its instruction means much. The verse is positive and decided instruction giving abundance of light and grace, to be read, received, studied, and put into practice, requiring thorough and complete work with no half-way effort to bring unity into the church among professing Christians. It embraces much and requires continual learning, for in the school of Christ no one is ever graduated but must learn line upon line and precept upon precept, beginning to understand the requirements, gaining true knowledge in becoming acquainted with God and in being brought into sacred nearness to Him in the work of saving souls, falling far short of the high standard yet reaching forward constantly for more wisdom and grace and a fuller understanding. Its teaching confronts hard-spiritedness as strange to the working of the Holy Spirit and calls for great reformation in lives, in words and works and spiritual understanding, learning daily to breathe heaven's atmosphere.
Oneness of Believers
There is one God and Father over all, working through all and present in all, and this shared relation is the ground and reason why God's people in every church are to come into unity. With Him there is one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith and one baptism, and believers are to walk worthy of that calling in all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. Their harmony despite differing dispositions is a witness that God sent Christ to save sinners, for their characters and wills are to be brought into harmony with Christ, while the spiritual gifts are given to secure this unity of the church and allow different people and gifts to serve together.
Believers are one family, one body and one church under one heavenly Father, animated by one interest and guided by one Spirit. They are God's little children under His training, having one God and one Saviour, with one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to bring unity into their ranks. Their shared faith and hope of immortality should bind them together in close, tender fellowship and brotherly love, so that workers for Christ live in unity and treat one another as brethren with confidence and care. This requires thankfulness to God for His manifold mercies and kindness to one another, and no longer remaining on low spiritual ground subject to Satan's plans, suggestions and devisings, but living by faith that works by love and purifies the soul in thorough transformation of character, working out salvation with fear and trembling as God works within to will and to do His good pleasure. German and Danish and Swedish believers therefore have no good reason for failing to act in harmony in the publishing work.
All are called to unify on the proper basis, for as members of the body of Christ all are animated by the same Spirit and the same hope, and by meekness and gentleness and forbearance and love they exemplify the character of Christ and manifest the power of the truth. Every institution established in the interests of the work must take heed to this oneness and bring it into practical life in unity without rivalry or striving for first place. Divisions, contention, rivalry, and striving for first place dishonor the religion of Christ before the world, weaken God's people, greatly retard the progress of the Lord's work, and give occasion to the enemies of truth to justify their course. Unity of mind and faith strengthens God's people, and when God receives all the glory and His commandments are kept, believers love one another as Christ loved them, so that abiding love binds their hearts together and makes their petitions one; by contrast division and mutual faultfinding hinder the work of the Spirit, while genuine love among them shows the world God's goodness. Disunion is nourished when a spirit to watch and accuse is cherished rather than to build up, and this command was not for Paul's day alone but comes down to believers now who must preserve unity in the bonds of peace.
True unity stands only on pure, elevating, ennobling truth set in sharp contrast to false, misleading doctrines, and on obedience, not on unity in wrong practices. God calls sin and impenitence by the right name and does not cover wrongdoing with untempered mortar. Receiving human commandments for doctrines, receiving unconverted people into the church, baptizing candidates without full instruction in the meaning and solemnity of baptism, and leading men differing in opinion so that members enter into controversy all break that unity. The verse belongs to the warning that every soul must take to have the churches set in order, to close the door of unbelief, and to make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, because Satan's seducing power will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived.
Churches must be so organized that they can carry out and enforce order, or they will have nothing to hope for and must scatter into fragments. Ministers of God are to unitedly take their position and maintain it with decision, so a uniting influence comes upon the flock, separating bars are broken to fragments, and hearts flow together and unite like drops of water. When this unity exists, there is power and strength in the ranks of Sabbath-keepers far exceeding anything yet witnessed. Their unity in one body and one faith in the church on earth can symbolize the church in heaven, while division works against God's plan for the church.
Diversity and Cooperation
Though people are not molded alike in character, with different minds and different elements of character, just as no two leaves in nature are alike and angels differ in qualifications and ministry, all are to be united under the one Father who is supreme over all, working through all, and present in all. This shared relation to God grounds the unity believers are to preserve through humility, patience, love, and peace, while allowing different people and gifts to serve together. That unity meets every emergency in every kind of labor, with truth speaking its own language through a diversity of gifts, all essential and all working to one end, the expression of the mind and will of God through the perfection of the saints and the perfection of His church. His work is carried out through different people and gifts joined as members of the body of Christ, bringing together men of different minds so they counsel with and assist one another.
No one person is complete in himself, is the whole body, or is fitted to bear the burden of the work alone or manage everything. Each worker has a distinct task, and His manner of working requires a variety of gifts and many agencies, with every gift acknowledged as essential to success and no spiritual gift to be lost. Those laying the foundation are His husbandry and His building, called to be broadminded with quick, perceptive faculties, holding their own will in abeyance and standing ready as minutemen to understand the ways and will of their Leader, for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body until all come in unity of the faith to a perfect man. No single worker may disparage another person's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from the treasure house, but those in responsible positions must exercise prudence and discretion to wisely improve their own gifts while respecting every gift bestowed on different members, since grace is given to every believer according to the measure of His gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and building up the body until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son to full stature.
What is lacking in one person's experience, plans, ideas, and judgment is supplied by another, so that the church can be completed in unity. Those who profess the truth should unite in church life, sharing one faith and interest and strengthening and helping one another, working with them and bearing with them as Christ has borne with them. Differences are not a reason to separate, for servants may have different minds, characters, and gifts yet are to share the spirit of Christ and work together in harmony, each subduing personal traits and softening temperament so believers can help one another through faith and sanctification of the truth. United in this way, believers have their strong unchristlike traits of character softened, subdued and purified as they unite their weakness to His strength by dying to self and living to Christ, and they unite one with another in order to be one with Christ in God.
No one should treat his own mind or judgment as the only one God is guiding. Mutual dependence is the law of the universe, for the principles of truth are worked out through different instrumentalities under the one head who works through all and in all to reveal the divine character to the world, therefore lording over the heritage and human kingly authority over fellow workers must be put away, and no man is to be conscience for another. The Lord, not human rulers, is to lead His people, with the Holy Spirit as their chief counselor, and Christ alone is Leader. There is to be harmony in every action with no friction, no jealousy over Paul or Apollos or Cephas, no measuring of brethren by personal ideas, and no quarreling, because Christ abiding in the heart removes strife, and all are to stand under His standard united to strengthen His work in every line, following no human devising and fastening to no human leader, while not dominating or rejecting fellow believers without sufficient cause.
Every institution established in the interests of the work must take heed to this sevenfold oneness of one body and one Spirit and one hope and one Lord and one faith and one baptism and one God and Father, and bring it into practical life in unity without rivalry or striving for first place. The different gifts and lines of missionary work are to blend in unity, not be separated, with their members and agencies cooperating under divine guidance rather than one person ruling as sole head and carrying so many duties that mind and body are worn out. Usefulness and success depend on Christ, who reads hearts and knows motives and purposes, and requires putting away everything that hinders presenting present truth, with success and the bringing of many into light following. This forbids territorial lines in Christ's work and selfish holding of means, requiring a noble spirit of helpfulness, willingness to use the Lord's money where need is greatest, mutual help between fields, and trust that when one place is firmly established it will help build the school and sanitarium and other needs elsewhere.
All who labor in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ under the one Father, so they are to wear Christ's yoke in humility of mind, use their varied gifts to bless humanity, and let every part of the work be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives. Gospel ministers and medical missionary workers must be united, with medical missionaries interested in the work of the conferences and conference workers interested in the work of the medical missionaries, because disunity between them places the worst evil upon the churches. Yet there can be no unity with one who does not stand where he can be a safe leader of the flock, and until he stands in that position he is to receive no support.
Life and Character
Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. That same life reveals courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy, magnifying God's perfect law that converts the soul and making it honorable. Those who obey the commandments and are united in the faith of the Scriptures, bound together as one with lives hid in God, practice the golden rule toward others.
The verse requires examining self and humbling the heart, keeping the way of the Lord and purifying the heart by obedience to the truth, shown in right treatment of brethren. It requires walking humbly with God and practicing His Word in words, in spirit and in action, serving in all lowliness of mind with a humble, contrite spirit, loving brethren and uniting with them rather than choosing one's own society and separating from anyone who will not accept one's ideas and plans. No longer remaining on low spiritual ground subject to Satan's plans, suggestions and devisings, church members are to live by faith that works by love and purifies the soul in thorough transformation of character, working out salvation with fear and trembling as God works within to will and to do His good pleasure.
Those in ministry are to humble themselves in contrition of soul, repent of an uncourteous spirit, and cultivate esteem and confidence in brethren, because two cannot walk together except they be agreed. They are to yoke up with Jesus and cooperate with Him in carrying on the work, receiving pardon and mercy and cleansing of the soul temple so that wrongs are righted and the work is not hindered. Hard-spiritedness is strange to the working of the Holy Spirit, and there must be a great reformation in words and works and spiritual understanding, learning daily to breathe the atmosphere of heaven and to catch the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts. With this belongs being instant in prayer, praying without ceasing, and watching unto prayer when temptation comes through self-confidence, pride, combativeness, discontent, peevishness, evil surmising, and uncharitable thoughts and censure.
God meets with His people when they gather for worship and dwells in them by His Spirit, so that together they are built as His holy temple. Even the most splendid temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right, so the greatest anxiety must be over spiritual condition, with reverence in coming in and going out of the house of God. Children are to be educated that God meets with His people and taught to direct their thoughts heavenward. Those taught by God are united in spirit and action, with the Holy Spirit binding them together so that satanic powers cannot break their union. Professing Christians who fail to reveal this unity disobey God and make void His law, and no one who fails in this can enter heaven.
The unity of the verse is shown in people who respond to Christ's work: the Holy Spirit dwells in their hearts, their faith works by love and purifies the soul, and Christ's power makes them sons of God. There is one Spirit proceeding from God, dwelling in the hearts of all believers and imparting life-giving power to all, and one faith in the one gospel to be wrought in the mind and revealed in the character, a faith that works by love and purifies the soul and overcomes the world. United with the Source of all power, believers become one with Christ until they are complete in God, with every mind and heart enlarged for the reception of the Holy Spirit. As partakers of the divine nature they escape the corruption in the world through lust, and their consistent Christian lives bear living testimony to the world.
Witness and Mission
Harmony among believers of differing dispositions is a witness that God sent Christ to save sinners, and those united in scriptural faith with lives hid with Christ bear a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son, an influence that bears powerfully upon the unbelieving world. God's plan for keeping unity is so plain and simple that all His children can lay hold of it, appointing the means by which church members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Those so united obey the commandments, practice the golden rule toward others, and as partakers of the divine nature escaped from worldly corruption show consistent lives of courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the perfect law that converts the soul. Appreciating the great gift, they use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience, cooperating as laborers together with the great Master Worker, loving one another as brethren and working together in service through converted, Christlike lives that bring others to Christ.
By meekness and gentleness and forbearance and love believers exemplify the character of Christ and the blessings of His salvation and manifest the power of truth, walking worthy of the calling with lowliness, longsuffering, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That charge was not for Paul's day alone but comes down to believers now, for divisions dishonor Christ's religion before the world and give occasion to enemies of truth to justify their course. Unity under the Spirit gives the church power for God to work through it for the conversion of sinners, while division and mutual faultfinding hinder the Spirit's work and genuine love among believers shows the world God's goodness.
The gospel is to reach all classes, all nations, tongues and peoples, uniting them in one great brotherhood with no separate interests between nationalities. National prejudices and jealousies are broken down when truth is accepted as it is in Jesus, so believers of every nationality blend in Christ with the same mind and judgment, speaking the same things and with one mouth glorifying God. Christ in the German believer recognizes Christ in the French believer, with hearts blended to love as brethren, esteem others better than themselves, and be kind and courteous, meek and lowly, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruit. Because all who believe have one God and Father with one Saviour and one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ bringing unity into their ranks, German and Danish and Swedish believers have no good reason to fail in harmony in the publishing work, but are to be thankful for manifold mercies and kind to one another as God's little children under His training. The same oneness requires carrying the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness with longsuffering and forbearing love instead of persecution, with ministers examining their own hearts and each receiving grace according to Christ's gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and edifying the one body unto full maturity.
Through perfect harmony in doing the Master's will God reveals the wonderful principles of heaven and the one Source from whom all receive power, joy and influence. Workers in heaven and on earth work in harmony as believers draw together in humility and in accord with the Word while sharing the truth, living Christlike lives that love God supremely, love one another, and respect the principles binding the human family. The shared relation to the one Father above all and working through and within all supports unity of purpose and sympathy among workers, so jealousy, envy and strife cease as they focus on saving souls. That oneness forbids garments of heaviness and mistrust and lack of confidence in brethren, forbids hurting souls by gathering thistles and thorns, and requires gathering roses and lilies and expressing their fragrance in words and acts.
There is one God who is Father of all His people. He is supreme over all, He works through all willing workers, and He dwells by His Spirit in the hearts of all believers. This is the climax of the sevenfold oneness of body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God, calling all to walk worthy in lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance in love, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in peace. That shared sonship makes believers one family and one body, so though they differ in character, mind, and gifts, none is complete alone but each supplies what is lacking in another without rivalry or ruling over conscience. When they live in this love and harmony, their unity witnesses that God sent Christ and loves them as He loves His Son, giving power to the church to convert souls.
Meaning of the Words
There is one God who is Father of all, over all His people and His church. That oneness belongs with one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Above all means He is supreme and sovereign over all, over His whole people.
Through all means He is active, working through all His people and through willing workers to build up His work. In you all means He is present in all and dwells in all believers, in their hearts by His Spirit.
Place in Ephesians
There is a sevenfold oneness, one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father over all, working through all, and present in all, and the last is the climax and ground of all the rest. This shared Fatherhood is the reason the people in every church are to come into unity, for they share one body, Spirit, Lord, faith, and hope. God is the one Father over His whole people, supreme above them, active through them, and dwelling in them. Believers are to keep this sevenfold unity, with grace given to each according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The verse belongs to the appeal to walk worthy of the calling with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is the work to be done in every church, showing the power of truth through Christlike meekness, patience, and love. Love is the law of the kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness, and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. All belong to the one Father, and this shared relation grounds the unity Christians preserve through humility, patience, love, and peace, with each worker having a distinct task and no one complete in himself.
The verse stands with the giving of grace to each according to the measure of Christ's gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and edifying the body until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son unto full stature in Christ. The oneness of the Father is part of the unity of the church, which the spiritual gifts are given to secure. His manner of working requires a variety of gifts and many agencies, with every gift acknowledged as essential to success and no spiritual gift to be lost, while those laying the foundation are His husbandry and building, to be broadminded with quick perceptive faculties, holding will in abeyance and standing ready to understand the ways and will of their Leader. No single worker is the whole body, and no one may disparage another's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from the treasure house, but those in responsible positions must wisely improve their own gifts while respecting every gift bestowed on different members. This oneness requires keeping the unity of the Spirit while carrying the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness instead of persecution, with ministers examining their own hearts.
The chapter is to be read to hearers and impressed upon minds, read most solemnly, because its instruction means much. The verse is positive and decided instruction giving abundance of light and grace, to be read, received, studied, and put into practice, requiring thorough and complete work with no half-way effort to bring unity into the church among professing Christians. It embraces much and requires continual learning, for in the school of Christ no one is ever graduated but must learn line upon line and precept upon precept, beginning to understand the requirements, gaining true knowledge in becoming acquainted with God and in being brought into sacred nearness to Him in the work of saving souls, falling far short of the high standard yet reaching forward constantly for more wisdom and grace and a fuller understanding. Its teaching confronts hard-spiritedness as strange to the working of the Holy Spirit and calls for great reformation in lives, in words and works and spiritual understanding, learning daily to breathe heaven's atmosphere.
Oneness of Believers
There is one God and Father over all, working through all and present in all, and this shared relation is the ground and reason why God's people in every church are to come into unity. With Him there is one body and one Spirit and one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith and one baptism, and believers are to walk worthy of that calling in all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. Their harmony despite differing dispositions is a witness that God sent Christ to save sinners, for their characters and wills are to be brought into harmony with Christ, while the spiritual gifts are given to secure this unity of the church and allow different people and gifts to serve together.
Believers are one family, one body and one church under one heavenly Father, animated by one interest and guided by one Spirit. They are God's little children under His training, having one God and one Saviour, with one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to bring unity into their ranks. Their shared faith and hope of immortality should bind them together in close, tender fellowship and brotherly love, so that workers for Christ live in unity and treat one another as brethren with confidence and care. This requires thankfulness to God for His manifold mercies and kindness to one another, and no longer remaining on low spiritual ground subject to Satan's plans, suggestions and devisings, but living by faith that works by love and purifies the soul in thorough transformation of character, working out salvation with fear and trembling as God works within to will and to do His good pleasure. German and Danish and Swedish believers therefore have no good reason for failing to act in harmony in the publishing work.
All are called to unify on the proper basis, for as members of the body of Christ all are animated by the same Spirit and the same hope, and by meekness and gentleness and forbearance and love they exemplify the character of Christ and manifest the power of the truth. Every institution established in the interests of the work must take heed to this oneness and bring it into practical life in unity without rivalry or striving for first place. Divisions, contention, rivalry, and striving for first place dishonor the religion of Christ before the world, weaken God's people, greatly retard the progress of the Lord's work, and give occasion to the enemies of truth to justify their course. Unity of mind and faith strengthens God's people, and when God receives all the glory and His commandments are kept, believers love one another as Christ loved them, so that abiding love binds their hearts together and makes their petitions one; by contrast division and mutual faultfinding hinder the work of the Spirit, while genuine love among them shows the world God's goodness. Disunion is nourished when a spirit to watch and accuse is cherished rather than to build up, and this command was not for Paul's day alone but comes down to believers now who must preserve unity in the bonds of peace.
True unity stands only on pure, elevating, ennobling truth set in sharp contrast to false, misleading doctrines, and on obedience, not on unity in wrong practices. God calls sin and impenitence by the right name and does not cover wrongdoing with untempered mortar. Receiving human commandments for doctrines, receiving unconverted people into the church, baptizing candidates without full instruction in the meaning and solemnity of baptism, and leading men differing in opinion so that members enter into controversy all break that unity. The verse belongs to the warning that every soul must take to have the churches set in order, to close the door of unbelief, and to make straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, because Satan's seducing power will increase until, if possible, even the very elect would be deceived.
Churches must be so organized that they can carry out and enforce order, or they will have nothing to hope for and must scatter into fragments. Ministers of God are to unitedly take their position and maintain it with decision, so a uniting influence comes upon the flock, separating bars are broken to fragments, and hearts flow together and unite like drops of water. When this unity exists, there is power and strength in the ranks of Sabbath-keepers far exceeding anything yet witnessed. Their unity in one body and one faith in the church on earth can symbolize the church in heaven, while division works against God's plan for the church.
Diversity and Cooperation
Though people are not molded alike in character, with different minds and different elements of character, just as no two leaves in nature are alike and angels differ in qualifications and ministry, all are to be united under the one Father who is supreme over all, working through all, and present in all. This shared relation to God grounds the unity believers are to preserve through humility, patience, love, and peace, while allowing different people and gifts to serve together. That unity meets every emergency in every kind of labor, with truth speaking its own language through a diversity of gifts, all essential and all working to one end, the expression of the mind and will of God through the perfection of the saints and the perfection of His church. His work is carried out through different people and gifts joined as members of the body of Christ, bringing together men of different minds so they counsel with and assist one another.
No one person is complete in himself, is the whole body, or is fitted to bear the burden of the work alone or manage everything. Each worker has a distinct task, and His manner of working requires a variety of gifts and many agencies, with every gift acknowledged as essential to success and no spiritual gift to be lost. Those laying the foundation are His husbandry and His building, called to be broadminded with quick, perceptive faculties, holding their own will in abeyance and standing ready as minutemen to understand the ways and will of their Leader, for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body until all come in unity of the faith to a perfect man. No single worker may disparage another person's gifts or suppose he alone can bring truth from the treasure house, but those in responsible positions must exercise prudence and discretion to wisely improve their own gifts while respecting every gift bestowed on different members, since grace is given to every believer according to the measure of His gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and building up the body until all come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son to full stature.
What is lacking in one person's experience, plans, ideas, and judgment is supplied by another, so that the church can be completed in unity. Those who profess the truth should unite in church life, sharing one faith and interest and strengthening and helping one another, working with them and bearing with them as Christ has borne with them. Differences are not a reason to separate, for servants may have different minds, characters, and gifts yet are to share the spirit of Christ and work together in harmony, each subduing personal traits and softening temperament so believers can help one another through faith and sanctification of the truth. United in this way, believers have their strong unchristlike traits of character softened, subdued and purified as they unite their weakness to His strength by dying to self and living to Christ, and they unite one with another in order to be one with Christ in God.
No one should treat his own mind or judgment as the only one God is guiding. Mutual dependence is the law of the universe, for the principles of truth are worked out through different instrumentalities under the one head who works through all and in all to reveal the divine character to the world, therefore lording over the heritage and human kingly authority over fellow workers must be put away, and no man is to be conscience for another. The Lord, not human rulers, is to lead His people, with the Holy Spirit as their chief counselor, and Christ alone is Leader. There is to be harmony in every action with no friction, no jealousy over Paul or Apollos or Cephas, no measuring of brethren by personal ideas, and no quarreling, because Christ abiding in the heart removes strife, and all are to stand under His standard united to strengthen His work in every line, following no human devising and fastening to no human leader, while not dominating or rejecting fellow believers without sufficient cause.
Every institution established in the interests of the work must take heed to this sevenfold oneness of one body and one Spirit and one hope and one Lord and one faith and one baptism and one God and Father, and bring it into practical life in unity without rivalry or striving for first place. The different gifts and lines of missionary work are to blend in unity, not be separated, with their members and agencies cooperating under divine guidance rather than one person ruling as sole head and carrying so many duties that mind and body are worn out. Usefulness and success depend on Christ, who reads hearts and knows motives and purposes, and requires putting away everything that hinders presenting present truth, with success and the bringing of many into light following. This forbids territorial lines in Christ's work and selfish holding of means, requiring a noble spirit of helpfulness, willingness to use the Lord's money where need is greatest, mutual help between fields, and trust that when one place is firmly established it will help build the school and sanitarium and other needs elsewhere.
All who labor in ministry and medical missionary work are united in one body under Christ under the one Father, so they are to wear Christ's yoke in humility of mind, use their varied gifts to bless humanity, and let every part of the work be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives. Gospel ministers and medical missionary workers must be united, with medical missionaries interested in the work of the conferences and conference workers interested in the work of the medical missionaries, because disunity between them places the worst evil upon the churches. Yet there can be no unity with one who does not stand where he can be a safe leader of the flock, and until he stands in that position he is to receive no support.
Life and Character
Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, calling everyone to a higher standard where lives reveal love, meekness and longsuffering that bears many things without seeking to be avenged by word or act. That same life reveals courtesy and unwavering fidelity, justice and mercy, magnifying God's perfect law that converts the soul and making it honorable. Those who obey the commandments and are united in the faith of the Scriptures, bound together as one with lives hid in God, practice the golden rule toward others.
The verse requires examining self and humbling the heart, keeping the way of the Lord and purifying the heart by obedience to the truth, shown in right treatment of brethren. It requires walking humbly with God and practicing His Word in words, in spirit and in action, serving in all lowliness of mind with a humble, contrite spirit, loving brethren and uniting with them rather than choosing one's own society and separating from anyone who will not accept one's ideas and plans. No longer remaining on low spiritual ground subject to Satan's plans, suggestions and devisings, church members are to live by faith that works by love and purifies the soul in thorough transformation of character, working out salvation with fear and trembling as God works within to will and to do His good pleasure.
Those in ministry are to humble themselves in contrition of soul, repent of an uncourteous spirit, and cultivate esteem and confidence in brethren, because two cannot walk together except they be agreed. They are to yoke up with Jesus and cooperate with Him in carrying on the work, receiving pardon and mercy and cleansing of the soul temple so that wrongs are righted and the work is not hindered. Hard-spiritedness is strange to the working of the Holy Spirit, and there must be a great reformation in words and works and spiritual understanding, learning daily to breathe the atmosphere of heaven and to catch the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts. With this belongs being instant in prayer, praying without ceasing, and watching unto prayer when temptation comes through self-confidence, pride, combativeness, discontent, peevishness, evil surmising, and uncharitable thoughts and censure.
God meets with His people when they gather for worship and dwells in them by His Spirit, so that together they are built as His holy temple. Even the most splendid temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right, so the greatest anxiety must be over spiritual condition, with reverence in coming in and going out of the house of God. Children are to be educated that God meets with His people and taught to direct their thoughts heavenward. Those taught by God are united in spirit and action, with the Holy Spirit binding them together so that satanic powers cannot break their union. Professing Christians who fail to reveal this unity disobey God and make void His law, and no one who fails in this can enter heaven.
The unity of the verse is shown in people who respond to Christ's work: the Holy Spirit dwells in their hearts, their faith works by love and purifies the soul, and Christ's power makes them sons of God. There is one Spirit proceeding from God, dwelling in the hearts of all believers and imparting life-giving power to all, and one faith in the one gospel to be wrought in the mind and revealed in the character, a faith that works by love and purifies the soul and overcomes the world. United with the Source of all power, believers become one with Christ until they are complete in God, with every mind and heart enlarged for the reception of the Holy Spirit. As partakers of the divine nature they escape the corruption in the world through lust, and their consistent Christian lives bear living testimony to the world.
Witness and Mission
Harmony among believers of differing dispositions is a witness that God sent Christ to save sinners, and those united in scriptural faith with lives hid with Christ bear a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son, an influence that bears powerfully upon the unbelieving world. God's plan for keeping unity is so plain and simple that all His children can lay hold of it, appointing the means by which church members reveal a healthy religious experience to the world. Those so united obey the commandments, practice the golden rule toward others, and as partakers of the divine nature escaped from worldly corruption show consistent lives of courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy that magnify the perfect law that converts the soul. Appreciating the great gift, they use heaven's provision made at infinite cost to draw souls to obedience, cooperating as laborers together with the great Master Worker, loving one another as brethren and working together in service through converted, Christlike lives that bring others to Christ.
By meekness and gentleness and forbearance and love believers exemplify the character of Christ and the blessings of His salvation and manifest the power of truth, walking worthy of the calling with lowliness, longsuffering, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That charge was not for Paul's day alone but comes down to believers now, for divisions dishonor Christ's religion before the world and give occasion to enemies of truth to justify their course. Unity under the Spirit gives the church power for God to work through it for the conversion of sinners, while division and mutual faultfinding hinder the Spirit's work and genuine love among believers shows the world God's goodness.
The gospel is to reach all classes, all nations, tongues and peoples, uniting them in one great brotherhood with no separate interests between nationalities. National prejudices and jealousies are broken down when truth is accepted as it is in Jesus, so believers of every nationality blend in Christ with the same mind and judgment, speaking the same things and with one mouth glorifying God. Christ in the German believer recognizes Christ in the French believer, with hearts blended to love as brethren, esteem others better than themselves, and be kind and courteous, meek and lowly, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruit. Because all who believe have one God and Father with one Saviour and one Spirit, the Spirit of Christ bringing unity into their ranks, German and Danish and Swedish believers have no good reason to fail in harmony in the publishing work, but are to be thankful for manifold mercies and kind to one another as God's little children under His training. The same oneness requires carrying the gospel to all nations and peoples in meekness and lowliness with longsuffering and forbearing love instead of persecution, with ministers examining their own hearts and each receiving grace according to Christ's gift through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for perfecting saints and edifying the one body unto full maturity.
Through perfect harmony in doing the Master's will God reveals the wonderful principles of heaven and the one Source from whom all receive power, joy and influence. Workers in heaven and on earth work in harmony as believers draw together in humility and in accord with the Word while sharing the truth, living Christlike lives that love God supremely, love one another, and respect the principles binding the human family. The shared relation to the one Father above all and working through and within all supports unity of purpose and sympathy among workers, so jealousy, envy and strife cease as they focus on saving souls. That oneness forbids garments of heaviness and mistrust and lack of confidence in brethren, forbids hurting souls by gathering thistles and thorns, and requires gathering roses and lilies and expressing their fragrance in words and acts.