225. Unity of the Faith
Ephesians 4:13a Till we all come in the unity of the faith….
The purpose of the spiritual gifts is for the building up of the body of Christ with the result that we will all attain to the unity of the faith. This is a promise that will come true. We need this promise because we do not see the unity of the faith in the visible church on earth; we see divisions and arguments and polemics from one denomination against another. We seldom see the unity of the faith in one small local congregation; instead we see strife and division and party factions for all kinds of reasons.
Disunity is common in the church and in the churches, and it is even to be expected among any group of sinners.We can’t find unity in a small group like a family or even a marriage. Marriage and family and church are institutions instituted by God, and He makes unity; but sinful humanity exists in every human grouping ever striving to cause discord and disharmony destroying the unity of the faith in any Christian group.
Therefore, unity of faith is a goal and end product of the equipping of the saints. It is a work that is never finished on this earth, but it is a goal that the Spirit never ceases to strive for. It will be completed in the Eternal State of the new heavens and the new earth when everything is completely perfected forever. Meanwhile, it is also a promised fact: there is a unity of the faith in the invisible Church. Invisible means we don’t see it. It must be believed: there is a unity of the faith produced by the Holy Spirit. A unity of Spirit does exist between all true believers. Concurrently, disunity and division will always exist between believers and unbelievers.
This disunity and sharp division will continue until War breaks out. The only cure for this disunity is to witness Christ to unbelievers until they are converted and brought into the kingdom of light. “What portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? [2 Corinthians 4:15}. We make war against the kingdom of darkness by rescuing its people. Believe the true unity while recognizing the true disunity.