Answer: We should make every effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit through the bond of peace, (verse 3).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
The word "unity" comes from the Greek word
henotes, which occurs only here and in verse
13 of Ephesians, chapter
4. It comes from the Greek word hen,
which means "one," and so very literally means
"oneness." The plea here is for spiritual
unity. God produced unity through the reconciling death of
Christ, and Christians are to keep that unity from being
disturbed.
The word "bond" comes from the Greek word
sundesmos, meaning "that which binds
together." That which binds together the unity of the
Spirit is peace. And this cannot be done without love
(Ephesians 4:2).
John 14:25-27: [Jesus said,] "All
this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor,
the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach
you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to
you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid."
John 17:11, 20-23: [Jesus prayed,]
"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in
the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the
power of Your Name--the Name you gave Me--so that they
may be one as We are One...My prayer is not for them alone. I
pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am
in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that
You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave
Me, that they may be one as We are One: I in them and You in
Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know
that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved
Me."
Romans 8:6-17: "The mind of sinful
man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and
peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to
God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature
cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the
sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead
because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from
the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will
also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, Who lives
in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but
it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For
if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by
the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will
live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of
God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him
we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are
children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may
also share in His glory."
Romans 14:17-19: "For the kingdom
of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who
serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by
men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to
peace and to mutual edification."
Romans 15:5-7: "May the God Who
gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among
yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and
mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted
you, in order to bring praise to God."
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you
may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-25: "But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit."
Ephesians 4:11-13: "It was He
[Christ] Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to
be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare
God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may
be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Colossians 3:15-17: "Let the peace
of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you
were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether
in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through Him."
