By Sherelyn Mayberry
Synopsis: Jesus Christ is a full member of the Godhead, possessing all the qualities that make God to be God. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent. He is eternal, i.e., the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8).
In the hymn “Son of God, Eternal Savior” (PHSS #341), we sing of the unity of the Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior, spoken of in Ephesians 4:4-16. Verses 4-6 refer to different “ones”—one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one God, one faith, one baptism, and one hope. Verses 7-13 speak of the gifts given to attain the unity of the faith in Christ. Verses 14-16 address the growth of the body in love with Christ as head. Unity in the church is centered around the Son of God, our eternal Savior.
Jesus, the Son of God, is the source of eternal life through the grace of God the Father. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He provides access to the Father (John 14:6). Christ emptied Himself, became a man, and died for us. As we believe in the Son of Man who was lifted up on the cross, we are honored as holy through Him (Phil. 2:5-8; John 3:13-15). Acknowledging Christ as head of the church and Savior of the body, we plead for love and mercy as He meets our need of salvation (Eph. 4:15; 5:23). We enjoy redemption through Him, as He provides forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to God through His shed blood (Col. 1:13-20).
Just as Christ lived for others, we should do the same. The second great commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39). Like Jesus, we should always seek the good of our neighbor and not put a stumbling block in his way (1 Cor. 10:24). By encouraging and building up one another, we help each other on the pathway to heaven. By admonishing the unruly, encouraging the fainthearted, helping the weak, and being patient with everyone, we seek that which is good for all people, and thus, evidence agape love (1 Thess. 5:11, 14-15). In humility, we must regard others as more important than ourselves and look out for others’ interests—not merely our own (Phil. 2:3-4). Having this attitude, we will seek to help bear one another’s burdens, whether want, pain, or sorrow (Gal. 6:2).
How can you stimulate others to love and good deeds? Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, like some do, but encourage one another to greater service (Heb. 10:23-25). Face-to-face relationships are necessary for the growth of the church. Although some are weaker and others stronger, all members are important. God blesses each of us with different roles, and we should show love for each other by encouraging the use of these talents to the glory of God. Then, as one member suffers, we suffer along with him. As one member is honored, we rejoice with him (1 Cor. 12:22-26). To the extent that we meet the needs of our brothers and sisters, we are actually serving the Lord (Matt. 25:34-40).
Bound together as one in the Lord’s church, we experience unity in hope. His body, the church, grows in love as we place ourselves under Christ, the head. While we are knit together as a whole, each individual must do his part with whatever blessings he has received (Eph. 4:4, 15-16). The Lord prayed that believers will be one in Him, so that the world might believe. When each member recognizes and embraces his God-given purpose, the church enjoys unity and growth (John 17:20-21). Paul asked the Philippian saints to make his joy complete by being of the same mind, loving each other, and having unity in God’s word and aim (Phil. 2:2). We should be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). In Psalm 133:1, David declares, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” What can you do to promote unity in hope provided by the Son of God, our eternal Savior?
