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live peaceably with all men
** All divisions among Christians are made by man, not God **
Date: 10/24/2018 9:28:33 PM ( 6 y ) ... viewed 958 times
All divisions among Christians are made by man, not God
Note on Ephesians 4:3
The Greek word “SPOUDAZO,” which was translated “endeavoring” in this verse, means “to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest” (Strong’s Concordance). So, we are to make every effort to keep the unity of the faith, but we need to remember that it takes two to be in unity. We can’t accomplish this if others are unwilling to be in unity with us. As Paul said in Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as is within you, live peaceably with all men.”
Life For Today Study Bible Notes
Note 5 at Ephesians 4:3: The word “endeavor” means to make a “conscientious or concerted effort toward an end.... To attempt...by employment or expenditure of effort” (American Heritage Dictionary). The unity of the Spirit has not been kept in the body of Christ, and in fact, there is very little unity among believers today. This has taken thousands of years to occur, and it probably won’t be fixed overnight. We are to strive toward unity but not be overwhelmed by the problem.
Note 6 at Ephesians 4:3: Notice that this scripture doesn’t tell us to produce unity. It says “keep the unity.” We Christians have all already been joined to each other through the body of Christ, and God the Father sees us all as His children.
All divisions among Christians are made by man, not God. For a brief period of time, the church enjoyed unity here on earth. Regardless of what strife and division have occurred, we believers are still one in Christ, and we will live in perfect oneness throughout all eternity. We are now one in the Spirit. We just need to experience that unity here on earth. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
In the next few verses, Paul gave seven arguments that prove that we truly are one in Christ Jesus
Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.
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