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The Unity Of The Spirit Scripture lists by Jim Hughes

Ephesians 4:3 (KJV) Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (AMP) Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace. (MSG) Be Mature don!t want anyone strolling off" down some path that goes nowhere. #nd mark that you do this with humility and discipline$not in fits and starts" but steadily" pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love" alert at noticing differences and %uick at mending fences. (MSG) 4-6 &ou were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction" so stay together" both outwardly and inwardly. &ou have one 'aster" one faith" one baptism" one (od and )ather of all" who rules over all" works through all" and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with *neness. (P P) !-6 #s (od!s prisoner" then" beg you to live lives worthy of your high calling. #ccept life with humility and patience" making allowances for each other because you love each other. 'ake it your aim to be at one in the Spirit" and you will inevitably be at peace with one another. &ou all belong to one body" of which there is one Spirit" +ust as you all e,perienced one calling to one hope. -here is one .ord" one faith" one baptism" one (od" one )ather of us all" who is the one over all" the one working through all and the one living in all. ("#T) 4:3 The unity of the Spirit / # united spirit" or oneness of spirit. -his does not refer to the fact that there is one Holy Spirit0 but it refers to unity of affection" of confidence" of love. t means that 1hristians should be united in temper and affection" and not be split up into factions and parties. t may be implied here" as is undoubtedly true" that such a unity would be produced only by the Holy Spirit0 and that" as there was but one Spirit which had acted on their hearts to renew them" they ought to evince the same feelings and views. -here was occasion among the Ephesians for this e,hortation0 for they were composed of Jews and (entiles" and there might be danger of divisions and strife!s" as there had been in other churches. -here is 2always3 occasion for such an e,hortation0 for4 567 2unity3 of feeling is eminently desirable to honor the gospel 5see the notes below on Joh8694:670 and" 5:7 there is always danger of discord where people are brought together in one society. -here are so many different tastes and habits0 there is such a variety of intellect and feeling0 the modes of education have been so various" and the temperament may be so different" that there is constant danger of division. Hence" the sub+ect is so often dwelt on in the Scriptures 5see the notes on 6 1or. :ff7" and hence" there is so much need of caution and of care in the churches. In the bond of peace / -his was to be by the cultivation of that peaceful temper which binds all together. -he #merican ndians usually spoke of peace as a 2chain of friendship3 which was to be kept bright" -he meaning here is" that they should be bound or united together in the sentiments and affections of peace. t is not mere 2e,ternal3 unity0 it is not a mere unity of creed0 it is not a mere unity in the forms of public worship0 it is such as the Holy Spirit produces in the hearts of 1hristians" when it fills them all with the same love" and +oy" and peace in believing. (KJV) J$hn !%:&! -hat they all may be one0 as thou" )ather" art in me" and in thee" that they also may be one in us4 that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ("#T)

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J$hn !%:&! All may be one / 'ay be united as brethren. 1hristians are all redeemed by the same blood" and are going to the same heaven. -hey have the same wants" the same enemies" the same +oys. -hough they are divided into different denominations" yet they will meet at last in the same homes of glory. Hence they should feel that they belong to the same family" and are children of the same (od and )ather. -here are no ties so tender as those which bind us in the gospel. -here is no friendship so pure and enduring as that which results from having the same attachment to the .ord Jesus. Hence" 1hristians" in the ;ew -estament" are represented as being indissolubly united / parts of the same body" and members of the same family" #ct8<4=:/=>0 61o. 6:4</=60 Eph8:4:?/::0 @om86:4>. *n the ground of this union they are e,horted to love one another" to bear one another!s burdens" and to study the things that make for peace" and things wherewith one may edify another" Eph8<4=0 @om86:4>/6A. As thou, Father, art in me / See Joh86<46?. -his does not affirm that the union between 1hristians should be in all respects like that between the )ather and the Son" but only in the points in which they are capable of being compared. t is not the union of nature which is referred to" but the union of plan" of counsel" of purpose seeking the same ob+ects" and manifesting attachment to the same things" and a desire to promote the same ends. -hat they also may be one in us / -o be in (od and in 1hrist is to be united to (od and 1hrist. -he e,pression is common in the ;ew -estament. -he phrase used here denotes a union among all 1hristians founded on and resulting from a union to the same (od and Saviour. -hat the world may believe ... / -hat the world" so full of animosities and fightings" may see the power of 1hristian principle in overcoming the sources of contention and producing love" and may thus see that a religion that could produce this must be from heaven. See the notes at Joh86=4=<. -his was done. Such was the attachment of the early 1hristians to each other" that a pagan was constrained to say" 2See how these 1hristians love one anotherB3 (KJV) A'ts 4:3& #nd the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul4 neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own0 but they had all things common. (KJV) A'ts &:44-4% 44 #nd all that believed were together" and had all things common0 4( #nd sold their possessions and goods" and parted them to all men" as every man had need. 46 #nd they" continuing daily with one accord in the temple" and breaking bread from house to house" did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" 4% Craising (od" and having favor with all the people. #nd the .ord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (KJV) A'ts !:!3-!4 !3 #nd when they were come in" they went up into an upper room" where abode both Ceter" and James" and John" and #ndrew" Chilip" and -homas" Bartholomew" and 'atthew" James the son of #lphaeus" and Simon Delotes" and Judas the brother of James. !4 -hese all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication" with the women" and 'ary the mother of Jesus" and with his brethren. ("#T) A'ts !:!4 With one accord / (reek4 EFEGHFIJKL homothumadon / 2with one mind.3 -he word denotes the entire harmony of their views and feelings. -here were no schisms" no divided interests" no discordant purposes. -his is a beautiful picture of devotion" and a specimen of what social worship ought now to be" and a beautiful illustration of Csa86==46/=. -he apostles felt that they had one great ob+ect0 and their deep grief at the loss of their master" and their doubts and perple,ities" led them" as all afflictions ought to lead us" to the throne of grace. (KJV) A'ts &:! #nd when the day of Centecost was fully come" they were all with one accord in one place. (A))) A'ts &:! With one accord, EFEGHFIJEL0 this word is very e,pressive4 it signifies that all their minds" affections" desires" and wishes" were concentred in one ob+ect" every man having the same end in view0 and" having but one desire" they had but one prayer to (od" and every heart uttered it. -here

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was no person uninterested / none unconcerned / none lukewarm0 all were in earnest0 and the Spirit of (od came down to meet their united faith and prayer. Mhen any assembly of (od!s people meet in the same spirit they may e,pect every blessing they need. (KJV) Psa*+ !33:!-3 ! Behold" how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unityB & t is like the precious ointment upon the head" that ran down upon the beard" even #aronNs beard4 that went down to the skirts of his garments0 3 #s the dew of Hermon" and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Dion4 for there the .ord commanded the blessing" even life for evermore.
@eferences4 -ranslations are retrieved from http4OOwww.biblegateway.comO Bible(ateway.com P 1opyright 6QQ>/:?6? (ospel 1ommunications nternational Ring James Sersion 5RJS7$Cublic TomainO 6A?<" Ring James of England -he 'essage Bible 5'S(7$1opyright P 6QQ=" 6QQ<" 6QQ> by Eugene H. Ceterson #mplified Bible 5#'C7$1opyright P 6Q><" 6Q>U" 6QA:" 6QA<" 6QA>" 6QU9 by -he .ockman )oundation J.B. Chillips ;ew -estament 5CHC7$1opyright P 6QA: edition by Harper1ollins The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Chillips. BarnesN ;otes on the ;ew -estament 5B;-7 by #lbert Barnes Cublished in Chiladelphia" #ugust :>th" 6U=: #dam 1larkeNs 1ommentary 5#117 Cublished in 6U:> by #dam 1larke 1ontact Jim Hughes V hughesongsWgmail.com MebsiteV www.hughesongs.com