ValleyAnt

I grew up Roman Catholic. When I became Christian, I learned that neither side has the right to think its views are right. The former was not instituted by Christ, and the latter was defiled by human pride. Until Christians walk in the unity of the Holy Spirit, something that no other religion has the ability or capability to do, no one can honestly take Christians seriously, because the power of God is the distinction between Christianity and all other religions (not debates and doctrines), and the power of God flows only in Christian unity. (Ps. 133.) Therefore, "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Thanks, Joe.

In just these two paragraphs, you have unintentionally created discord in the unity you desire. You use the phrase "free will" knowing that a large number of Christians are Calvinists. I'm not personally offended by the "free will" phrase but I am a Fundamentalist Christian and Calvinist, of the order of Dr. John MacArthur. Some people (not me) are fanatic about this subject, one way or the other. You can't hardly have a civil conversation about "free will" or "Calvinism" without someone's feelings getting hurt. This is a difficult position to start from unless you're willing to write off all Calvinists. Just an observation. You make a few wrong implications: 1. You said I know a large number of Christians are Calvinists. I neither know what a Calvinist believes nor do I know or think that a large number of Christians are Calvinists. My focus is "the unity of the Spirit" (not different belief systems), which has nothing to do with people's beliefs but with the attitudes of their hearts, because that is what God's focus is. 2. You said it is the unity that I desire. But it is the unity that Jesus died so that Christians can walk in. God is the One who desires, like any parent, that His children be agreeable with each other. That desire is not born in a Christian or anyone else but is born and originates in God. The unity I speak about is loving one another by an act of our own free will; i.e. by freely exercising our own freedom to love. That has nothing to do with a belief system or position and everything to do with what the Bible says. Jesus said Christians will be known by our love for each other, not by the camps we follow. Again, the Bible is clear: "Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Each Christian is to make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit or to keep as an ongoing thing what Jesus has won for us. There is no order in a house when everyone is disagreeable. Order and unity in the Church begins with Christians being agreeable with each other. We have long lived the sinful lifestyle of picking and choosing who we follow and what we believe and as a result alienating other children of God as if we are different. This isn't only sin but is immaturity as Paul references in 1Cor. 2-3. Mature Christians can be agreeable; only immature and often willful and stubborn Christians can keep saying like children, "I follow this person and I follow that person." We are to follow Christ and get along on that basis; that's what "the unity of the Spirit" means. Any response to you will derail the OP. I'll just bow out and not cause anyone else to consider what scriptures actually say. The OP talks about contending for the faith once for all delivered to the Saints. I stated there, "It's my contention that unless there is a unity of the Holy Spirit among Christians, we cannot live out the full gospel which was with finality (in perfect form, nothing lacking) delivered to the Saints... I believe that as it was for the prosperity and success of the early Church, so it is for Christianity today: unity in the Spirit is the starting line and the common ground from which all the good will and works of God grow and flourish among Christians and in the Church." The contention is that unity is the starting line of genuine Christianity or Christian fellowship and that unity is incumbent on the free will decisions (daily) of Christians rather than defined by the commonality of doctrines or any other such thing. Because unity is reached by each individual's free will choice, the definition of unity is no longer nebulous, and unity is no longer unreachable among Christians. Scripture is not nebulous either but is plain, and we are not to be unwise but to understand God's will: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This effort at unity is by free will decisions, therefore, unity is neither hard nor is it unattainable.

In just these two paragraphs, you have unintentionally created discord in the unity you desire. You use the phrase "free will" knowing that a large number of Christians are Calvinists. I'm not personally offended by the "free will" phrase but I am a Fundamentalist Christian and Calvinist, of the order of Dr. John MacArthur. Some people (not me) are fanatic about this subject, one way or the other. You can't hardly have a civil conversation about "free will" or "Calvinism" without someone's feelings getting hurt. This is a difficult position to start from unless you're willing to write off all Calvinists. Just an observation. You make a few wrong implications: 1. You said I know a large number of Christians are Calvinists. I neither know what a Calvinist believes nor do I know or think that a large number of Christians are Calvinists. My focus is "the unity of the Spirit" (not different belief systems), which has nothing to do with people's beliefs but with the attitudes of their hearts, because that is what God's focus is. 2. You said it is the unity that I desire. But it is the unity that Jesus died so that Christians can walk in. God is the One who desires, like any parent, that His children be agreeable with each other. That desire is not born in a Christian or anyone else but is born and originates in God. The unity I speak about is loving one another by an act of our own free will; i.e. by freely exercising our own freedom to love. That has nothing to do with a belief system or position and everything to do with what the Bible says. Jesus said Christians will be known by our love for each other, not by the camps we follow. Again, the Bible is clear: "Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Each Christian is to make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit or to keep as an ongoing thing what Jesus has won for us. There is no order in a house when everyone is disagreeable. Order and unity in the Church begins with Christians being agreeable with each other. We have long lived the sinful lifestyle of picking and choosing who we follow and what we believe and as a result alienating other children of God as if we are different. This isn't only sin but is immaturity as Paul references in 1Cor. 2-3. Mature Christians can be agreeable; only immature and often willful and stubborn Christians can keep saying like children, "I follow this person and I follow that person." We are to follow Christ and get along on that basis; that's what "the unity of the Spirit" means.

Well said. "Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Marilyn, well said, and good job at distinguishing the unity of the Spirit from the unity of the faith. When I talk about Christian unity, I am really talking about something that comes from humility. A good place for Christian unity to start is for Christians to choose-- as a free will act-- to be agreeable with each other. It isn't only about agreeing on everything ("unity of the faith") nor only about being in agreement ("unity of the Spirit"); it is about being agreeable (love for each other). Unity (agreeableness), therefore, is by an act of one's free will choosing to get along, because, as someone said, "we be all brethren." Jesus didn't agree with nor did He walk in agreement with the Pharisees; but He was agreeable or humble (loving) toward all men, even the Pharisees. This quality of His (agreeableness, humility) made Him attractive to all but the disagreeable religious leaders. An agreeable spirit is a heart that loves; a disagreeable spirit is a heart that hates. Therefore, the call to unity or agreeableness is really a call to love one another by an act of one's free will. In calling for Christians to be in the unity of the Spirit, I am reminding us of the Bible's exhortation that Christians be united with wholehearted and calculated intention (quoted in my signature below)-- that we walk in humility and be therefore agreeable with each other. Siblings who love each other don't agree on everything nor are they in agreement about everything; but they get along because they are agreeable with each other. Christians don't have to agree or be in agreement 100% of the time (though the end of that fullness is the work of the five-fold ministry); but Christians are indeed called to be agreeable with one another, because it is an exercise of the free will and is the enduring 'new commandment' that Christians "love one another." This is the only outstanding debt or obligation (calling for an exercise of one's own free will), and it makes a Christian his brother's keeper. Therefore, the Bible tells Christians to make every conscious (free will) effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit for the sake of peace. This takes 'Christian unity' from its nebulous meanings and impossible reaches and places it within every Christian's reach in the realm of possibility.

Jude said, "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (v. 3). It's my contention that unless there is a unity of the Holy Spirit among Christians, we cannot live out the full gospel which was with finality (in perfect form, nothing lacking) delivered to the Saints. I find more questions than answers among Christians today, and I can see that it seems difficult for so many Christians to live out New Testament Christianity. Doctrines and fellowship are disjointed or lack unity; there is a common lack of solidarity. Some people don't know what Bible version to use; others don't know what denomination to join; still, others don't understand the basic tenets of the faith; and others don't know where to begin when it comes to matters of spiritual warfare and the fact that there are two kingdoms at war for the souls of people. There is often no real common ground when it comes to where to start when approaching the things of God. I believe that Christianity is 'made' to function correctly only where two or three are gathered in His Name-- i.e. gathered in unity. I believe that to the extent that the unity of the Spirit lacks among Christians, to that extent the Kingdom of God is chained or fettered from making inroads into and thriving in the lives of Christians and unbelievers alike. Before the unity of the Spirit became such a big deal, David said, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity... For there, the Lord commanded the blessing-- even life forevermore" (Ps. 133). I believe that as it was for the prosperity and success of the early Church, so it is for Christianity today: unity in the Spirit is the starting line and the common ground from which all the good will and works of God grow and flourish among Christians and in the Church. I believe that unity is not just a good idea but is good, that it isn't just God's preference but is pleasant to Him. As Christians walk united in the Holy Spirit, God's Kingdom is loosed to manifest in the Church and His will allowed to be done on earth as it was in the early Church and is in Heaven. The faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints was delivered to one Body of believers and was formed to work only when that body is one/united in the Holy Spirit. "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:3-6).