Our text this month exhorts God's people to "keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace." Paul then goes on to speak of several things that
will promote unity among brethren.

Unifying Attitudes (v. 2). These attitudes are four in number. First
there is lowliness, indicating lowliness of mind; humility (cf. Phil.
2:3). The lofty minded man does not promote unity, because "with pride
comes contention" (Pro. 13:10). Second there is meekness, a word
sometimes translated gentleness. It is that temper of spirit in which we
accept God's dealings as good, and therefore do so without disputing or
resisting. Third, there is longsuffering. The word denotes a patience
with other people. Patience tends away from strife (2 Tim. 2:24). Fourth,
there is forbearance. In our parlance today, we call it "putting up with"
others, just as we would want them to "put up" with us!

Unifying Facts (vv. 4-6). These are seven in number. First, there is one
body, that being the body of Christ, the church. Here is why the body of
Christ cannot have unity with denominations. There is no agreement on
these facts! Then, there is one Spirit, which we take to be the Holy
Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11, 13). The Holy Spirit was God's means of revealing
his words to his apostles, and he revealed the same message to all of
them, hence unity. Third, there is  one hope, that being the hope of
salvation; of heaven when this life is over (1 Pet. 1:3; 3:15; 1 Thess.
5:8). Fourth, we have one Lord. Here is Jesus Christ himself; man's only
hope of salvation is wrapped up in him. He is God's Son who was sent to
this world specifically to save man (Lk. 19:10; John 3:16). Fifth, there
is one faith, that being the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here also salvation
comes into play, for the gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16).
Doctrines of men cannot save; they cannot remove sin, and certainly they
cannot provide men with the hope of heaven. Sixth, there is one baptism.
On the day of Pentecost Peter told his hearers to "repent and be baptized
for the remission of sins ..." (Acts 2:38). Jesus' disciples were to
baptize people as they went about fulfilling their great mission (Mk.
16:15-16). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not under consideration
here. This was a baptism promised only to the apostles in order to guide
them into all the truth. Finally, there is   one God.. Here is the Father
himself; besides him there is no other God. At his temptation Jesus told
Satan "thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve"
(Matt. 4:10). The God of heaven is the only true and living God. Only in
him can there be true religious unity.

Unifying Gifts (v. 11). In v. 8 Paul said that Jesus had "led captivity
captive and gave gifts unto men." What were these gifts? Note that vv.
9-10 are parenthetical. When we read v. 11 immediatly after v. 8 we have:
he "gave gifts unto men ... and he gave some ..." Here we see what he
gave. First, he gave some to be apostles. These were sent by God with all
of heaven's authority behind them. They were, as God's ambassadors,
guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; 2 Cor. 5:20). When they
spoke, God himself may as well have been speaking, for the Spirit
unerringly guided them to speak the things of God (cf. 1 Cor. 2). The
second gift was that of prophets. These were God's inspired teachers, and
were not necessarily apostles, although the apostles also had the gift of
prophecy. These, along with the apostles and their teaching composed the
foundation of the kingdom of God (Eph. 2:20). That there were prophets in
the early church, before the time of God's completed revelation, cannot
be doubted. One needs to but read passages such as First Corinthians
chapter 14 to see this. Then the third gift was that of   evangelists. W.
E. Vine describes these as "messengers of good ... preachers of the
gospel." They were men who proclaimed the word who were not necessarily
inspired. Next, there were pastors, a word often used to describe bishops
or elders. It depends on what aspect of their work is being discussed as
to which word was used. These men were also called shepherds. Finally,
there were teachers. Here were men with a knowledge of God's word with
the ability to impart in to others. They may or may not have been
inspired.

Unifying Work (v. 12). First, this work had to do with the perfecting of
the saints. Saints are to grow and not remain static (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet.
3:18). As saints grow they will more and more see the need for unity, and
will strive to attain it. Christ is the standard in this (v. 13). Next,
there is the work of the ministry. Or, "the work of ministering" (ASV).
The idea is that of any spiritual service one may render. Different ones
possess different abilities, and so must use them. Finally, there is the
edifying of the body. To "edify" means to build up. Our word "edifice"
derives from this word. Christians are "God's building" (1 Cor. 3:9), and
as this building grows, peace, unity and harmony will come.

Consider God's plan for unity in our text this month, and that unity can
be achieved. But it must be achieved only upon the basis of that plan.
There is no other way to attain it.   - Bill Moseley