THE TRUTH IN PRINT
May 2003, Vol. 9: Issue 4.

THE CONDUCT GOD EXPECTS FROM OUR MEMBERS

By Bob W. Lovelace

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

  When Paul encouraged the members of the church at Ephesus he specified what it actually took for them to walk worthy of the Lord, thus ensuring their personal salvation as well as maintaining the proper functioning of the local church. In writing to the church at Colosse he did no less as he stated that they must set their minds on things above having crucified the old man while of necessity wearing the new man in Christ. We must never read such injunctions and think that they do not apply to us, as they certainly do. If I am to be acceptable to God "today" then I must maintain each of Paul's requirements in my relationship with other members of the local church. The important consideration then is, Am I manifesting each of God's requirements? If not, then what will happen to me when I am judged before God?

Requirements from Ephesians  4:1-3:

#1. Lowliness or Humility.
#2. Meekness (nasb uses Gentleness).
#3. Longsuffering which is the same as Patience.
#4. Forebearing which is Showing Tolerance.

Requirements to be added from Colossians 3:12-14 without repeating the above would be:

#5. Tender Mercies (3628) or Heart of Compassion, or Bowels of Mercies.
#6. Kindness (5544).
#7. Forgiving one another.

Note: We have Love as the bond of perfection or unity. A simple definition for love is  seeking another's scriptural or spiritual best interest.

The "Bonds" of Peace & Love:
  You will notice the words "bond of peace" are used in Eph. 4:3 as regards these, while love is statedly the "bond of perfection" in Col. 3:14.

A. Bond ~ sundesmos Thayer's Definitions:
1) that which binds together, a band, bond
1a) of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united together
2) that which is bound together, a bundle.

B. Peace ~ eire ne, Thayer's Definitions:
2) peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
3) security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
4) of the Messiah's peace

C. Strongs Definition: i-rah'-nay ~ Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

NOTE: Thus "peace" is a peace or union in Christ; definitions are "one," "peace," "quietness,"  "rest" and "undisturbed" (see Strong's Definitions). It is certainly not that all "times" are such, but that these requirements will attain to such as God's people desire to obey Him.

D. A Point of Comparison on the KJV and NASB:
1. KJV,  (Col 3:14)  "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
2. NASB, Col 3:14  "Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

Note: The words "perfectness" and "perfect" are the same words in the Gk. Additionally, the word  "bond" (4886) in the KJV and "bond" (4886) in the NASB as well as "unity" (4886) are the same word in the Gk., thus giving added emphasis or understanding in the NASB that this is the bond of unity.

E. Concerning "perfection" and its definition:
1. Bond (4886) of perfection (5074): G5047 teleiotes Thayer Definition: 1) perfection: 1a) the state of the more intelligent; 1b) moral and spiritual perfection.

F. The Importance of "All":
1. Notice in Eph. 4:2 that one walks worthy "with all" of the essential things listed in verses two and three. "All" simply means "the whole." This is emphasized again in Col. 3:14 where Paul says,  "above all these things put on love…"

Important Personal Applications:

I. Each Christian Puts On All Of These:
    As with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13) each Christian puts on the whole. Dear reader these virtues are useless when possessed only "in part" to be used with partiality and prejudice to please and benefit oneself.

II. Question: Whom am I to be at peace with in the context? Obviously with fellow Christians denoted by "one another." Consider:

A. "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; [13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thes. 5:12-13,KJV).  

Note: Of course one understands perfectly that such instruction is based solely upon the Word of Christ, the New Testament (Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-5).

B. 2 Tim. 2:22 (KJV) is more specific: "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
1.  "With" indicates the necessity of this Bond. The bond, remember, is that which binds two pieces together and those so joined are those who call upon God out of a pure heart.

C. Christ is our peace for this is a peace or union "in Christ," Eph. 2:14; Col. 1:20.

D. In Christ the fruits of righteousness are sown in peace, James says. And it is here that we make peace (James 3:18).

III. This Answers Questions Such As:

A. Whom can I talk to? See I Tim. 2:22 above.
  With each possessing these virtues talking to another about their conduct is not a difficult task. Passages that show receptiveness are the "go" passages such as Matt. 5:24, "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Also, the "be reconciled" passages such as 2 Cor. 6:20; I Cor. 7:11.   

B. When do I go? Read Matt. 18:15-17.

C. Can I speak publicly in rebuking to thus maintain this unity? Read Gal. 2:11-21.

D. What would a refusal to listen indicate? It would indicate that someone has broken the bonds and dispossessed their self of these virtues.  

E. What happens to one who does not forgive if one repents?  Jesus taught that they would not be forgiven (Matt. 6:14-15).

IV. It Is Not A Bond That Cannot Be Broken.
  I Cor. 13:1-3 is important. Should I dispossess myself of love then "I am nothing."
  Robertson ~ "I am nothing (outhen eimi). Not outheis, nobody, but an absolute zero. This form in th rather than d (ouden) had a vogue for a while (Robertson, Grammar, p. 219). Moreover, Paul says my works profit me nothing. You can't profit zero because zero is nothing! I'll be lost eternally because I'm profited nothing by my works because I have fractured the bond of love required to walk worthy.  

  Dear reader when the bond is strong as it should be the quarrels will be met and settled scripturally, and the bond will not fracture. Thus, the unity of the Spirit is maintained by the truth of Christ's word (Jo. 17:17).

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NOTE: If you are looking for "the church" that you read about in your New Testament then you will find an in depth study of that very church right here on our website, Fundamental Lessons on the Church. Just click here for Lesson One.

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