"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Apostle Paul understood firsthand the joy and peace that came from his faith journey with the living God, whose name in this current New Testament dispensation of grace is Jesus, and as we see herein, Paul beseeches us to walk worthy of the vocation wherein we are called -- with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Did Paul say unity of the churches- as in engaging in multifaith (including those religions that do not engage Jesus' teachings)? No. Paul said in the unity of the Spirit.
Did Paul say in the unity of the Spirits - as in plural? No, Paul said in the unity of the Spirit - singular.
What Paul did say is that the one body of Christ church led by One Spirit -- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Farther of all -- the One who is above all, and through all, and in you all has called you into the One hope of your calling. And continuing, Paul said, "but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
Yes, he is our calling! It is He who ascended up on high, leading captivity captive and giving good gifts unto men, When? After He descended first into the lowest parts of the earth. It is He who has descended who is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens -- that He and He alone -- could fill all things.
Yes, Jesus!
God robed Himself in sin-prone flesh (but without sin) so that we might have abundant life in Him. So that we might be perfected as saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ -- unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
So knowing all these blessings that the Lord has given, why has the church become/becoming stagnant. Or as Jesus states in Revelation, become hot or cold? Do we not know who willingly (at significant cost to Himself) paid the ultimate price so that we might be saved? So that we might have abundant life in Him? So that He can fill our cups to overflowing with His love and joy and mercy?
We might live in tumultuous times but we should never forget who shed His precious holy blood on a cross so that we might have life everlasting.
Thus, as apostle Paul encourages, "henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
Yes, we have a calling and it is not like the world whose understanding is darkened, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart(s). But we have not so learned Christ!
Therefore, be renewed in the spirit of our mind, putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And arise, for our calling is from the Most High -- this same JESUS whom the angel declared will save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being translated God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)
The same Jesus whom Peter standing with the apostles on the day of Pentecost declared, "This same Jesus whom ye have crucified is BOTH Lord and Christ!" (Acts 2:36-41)
Stand in the offering plate!
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