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NASB | Ephesians 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. |
Subject: denominations. |
Bible Note: "How are we to make that “every effort” to keep the peace without surrendering basic beliefs?" Hi, WOS! (Part 1 of 3) I think that the problem is not what we have in common... rather, as you stated above, the problem with Christianity is what we hold as individual (personal) belief or "application." We witness to all that there is One God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--that is fantastic! But then we come to the real of schisms... a place where even the members of one single "local" church can argue and agree or disagree till the pressure is built up beyond patience and then someone has to move on on erect another "local" church... I offer you that the problems are deep-rooted and are from old... Did the early Church exist without divisions/problems? Definitely not! We have much evidence that even amongst the Apostles and their immediate circle there were differences in thought... How did they correct the errors/problems, did they agreed to disagree and swept it all under the floor (not sure if they were fortunate to have rugs)? Negative! They dealt with the situation right then and there! Did the various trains of thought bring about sectarianism/subdivisions? God forbid! Here's how Paul describes his function in the Church: For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:17) Here, we find Paul not dictating but directing the Church... there is no room for 200 opinions about what the various people consider should be or should not be... it is a matter of Faith in Practice!: I follow Jesus, I teach the Church everywhere one Gospel, and I practice one Gospel! |