3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV2011)
It is interesting that these verses start out with 'one body'. I guess when you look around at all the denominations, non-denominations, groups and sects, it is readily seen that man just doesn't take God at His Word! Division is everywhere. It can even be seen in groups that seem to believe the same exact thing, but because of one problem or another, division occurs especially in practical application. This doesn't happen accidently. The problem starts with man and what he chooses. Man-made religion can not improve on God's provisions. Man builds organizational systems, methodologies, and traditions in the name of God which have no basis in what God says about himself in His Word. God designed the set-up here with a provision of free-will choice. It is in the lack of humility to God that man makes the wrong choice.
The body of Christ is made up of members who all have the spirit of God in Christ within. The unity in this body is based on spirit and truth as true unity cannot exist on anything else.
I Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
There is one spirit. Holy spirit is God's gift to us and he provided it through the work of His son whom God made Lord. God is spirit and that is what he gives us to have oneness with Him.
It is a great treasure to be respected in each of us individually and then collectively.
There is another spiritual force that affects man and is in the world operating from a different motivation than the love of God. This force thrives and feeds on fear. It affects man to the point that he may choose to adjust godly wisdom to suit his own fear. It is a force that deceptively draws men and women away from believing God and causes them to resort to human reasonings instead of the Word and sadly relinquishing the availability of the power of God. This force causes men to be become blinded by the world and at dissonance with true spiritual matters. This is what causes divisions.
We don't make the unity, it already has been established in God's word. We are supposed to keep it in the forefront of our own hearts and then we have unity with others who do the same.
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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