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"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit..."

Text: Ephesians 4:3

SCHISM IN THE CHURCH

This was a problem that threatened the Corinthians church. Through carnality some groups emerged and began to think of themselves as a special unit. They identified themselves with some leaders and greater dissension soon arose.

The Apostle Paul wrote a very strongly worded epistle (1 Corinthians) to rebuke the people for their carnality and their erroneous way of thinking. This danger exists in any church. If there is a lack of spiritual maturity, the unity of the church is threatened. Schism is rightly seen as a sin that needs to be addressed,

UNITY IN THE CHURCH

The Apostle Paul strenuously sought to promote oneness in the Church. To the Ephesian Church where there was a large body of Gentile believers, and a large Jewish membership, Paul wrote and taught them how they must strive to be united.

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and One Spirit,
just as you were called in 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.”
Ephesians 4:3-6

1. “Unity of the Spirit”

a) Unity is directly related to the work of the Spirit.

b) It is He who is involved in creating this oneness.

2. The Component Parts the Holy Spirit used to bring about unity

a) One body

b) One Spirit

c) One hope of our calling

d) One Lord

e) One faith

f) One baptism

g) One God and Father of all

3. “Endeavouring to keep”

a) This is our part.

b) The truly Spirit-filled and led will always endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit.

c) Any attempt to promote any entity as a special unit is certainly not of the Spirit.

d) Let us take heed that this was the threat that Paul had to address (1 Corinthians 1-2).