"Arthur," Martha asked, "did you notice that the pastor's sermon was kind of weak today?"
"No, not really," answered Arthur.
"Well, did you hear that the choir was flat?"
"No, I didn't," he responded.
"Well, you certainly must have noticed that young couple and their children right in front of us, with all the noise and commotion they made the whole service!"
"I'm sorry, dear, but no, I didn't"
Finally in disgust Martha said, "Honestly, Arthur, I don't know why you even bother to go to church."
Its all too easy to notice all the negatives... on our differences! But God wants us to be "United" Supporters and they focus on the positive!
"There is one body and one Spirit -just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Many New Testament scholars believe this was an early Christian confessional hymn, and it may well have been
Note: repetition of the word 'one' -mentioned 7 times and presence of the 3 persons of the Trinity. Each of the 7 great unities in vs. 4-6 is connected with one of the Persons of the Trinity. ["Spirit," v. 4; "Lord," v. 5; "God," v; 6]
"There is one body and one Spirit -just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
- FELLOWSHIP through the ONE SPIRIT IN US v4
There is only one body because there is only one Spirit and this one Spirit fills us all with the same hope -'The glorious appearing of our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ'.'
The Holy Spirit creates, fills, coordinates, orchestrates, and empowers the Body of Christ and that accounts for all the wonderful surprises we experience when meeting other believers so different from us! - CONFESSION of ONE LORD OVER US v5
"... one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (v. 4b, 5).
The one 'faith' is not in the sense of doctrine or creed but that we are all saved in the same way through faith in Christ as Saviour and Lord. - ADOPTION by the ONE GOD and FATHER OF US ALL v6
"one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (v. 6). !
Again we have the great Ephesians emphasis on our shared paternity.
One God created us and recreated us: 'The Father from whom the whole family in Heaven end on earth derives its name'.
In a spirit of humility... We are to Put up with one-another's faults and failings. We are to be patient with each other, just as God in Christ is with us.
That's the "United" way!
This is no easy thing, which is no doubt why Paul immediately says
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
"Make every effort" comes from a root word that = "to make haste... and gives the idea of zealous effort and diligence.
We are to be EAGER and ENERGETIC and ENTHUSIASTIC to maintain the unity of the Spirit. The life that honours God and builds his church is one that Celebrates the Oneness of God's People