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While Jesus prayed that His followers “may all be one” (John 17:21), we often experience division among Christians. Sometimes separation is necessary if those who claim to follow Christ deny core beliefs. Yet we should not too easily and flippantly part ways, but should work tirelessly to attain the unity for which Jesus prays.

In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul draws on Psalm 68:18 and applies this to the ascended Christ, who has given gifts to His church for the purpose of growth in unity. Among these “gifts” are the offices of Apostle and shepherd-teacher. While the office of Apostle ceased with the completion of the biblical canon, we do have the Apostolic teaching in our Bibles, and shepherd-teachers are given the ongoing task of teaching God’s people God’s Holy Word. This should result in the equipping of all believers so that we can all play a role in the building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith (Eph. 4:11–13).

Sometimes people claim that doctrine divides. While this is true in one sense, the Bible also teaches that doctrine unites. God has given His church teachers so that through their teaching we will grow in knowledge and maturity and won’t be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).

It is an expression of God’s fatherly love and care that He has given us teachers. But they are not the only ones who are called to build up the church so that we all attain to the unity of faith. All Christians should labor toward greater unity in the church. When we come together as a church, we should desire to be equipped so that we can do God’s will by helping each other grow up into Christ. Many saints will minister in the background. Some will be there early to open the doors for the church service. Some will help with hospitality. Others will help with sound or music or Sunday school. Some will serve in the nursery or teach young children. All these works of ministry can help the church grow in unity as the different members use their God-given gifts to build up the body, always exercising them in love and in service to God’s truth.

At the same time, Paul seems to have more in mind when he writes about equipping the saints for the work of ministry until we all attain to the unity of faith. After we have all listened to the teachers whom Christ has given to the church, we are all called to speak biblical truth to one another, and we should do this in love, for love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1).

This is how we all share in the great calling of building up the body of Christ until we attain to the unity of faith for which our Lord and Savior prayed.

This is our privilege and this is our joy until Christ returns and gathers all believers to be with Him and united with each other forevermore.

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From the May 2023 Issue
May 2023 Issue