+I. There is one body.+--The Church is a body of which Christ is the
Head, and believers are the members. Though Christians are formed
into distinct societies, they constitute but one body. They are
united to the Head by faith and to their fellow-members by love.
+II. There is one Spirit.+--As all members of the natural body are
animated by one soul, so all the members of Christ's body are
sanctified, strengthened, and led by the same Spirit. Since there is
one Spirit which dwells in all Christians, all contention,
bitterness, and envy, all animosity, division, and separation in the
Church are offences against the Holy Spirit.
+III. There is one hope of our calling.+--We are all called by the
same Word, our hope is grounded on the same promises, the object of
our hope is the same immortal life.
+IV. There is one Lord.+--Christ is Lord of all by the same right. He
has bought us with a high price, redeemed us by His own blood. There
is no respect of persons with him. We are called to the same service,
are under the same laws, and must appear at the same judgment.
+V. There is one faith.+--The same Gospel is the rule of our faith,
and this all Christians profess to receive. The faith of all true
Christians is essentially the same. The object of it is the Word of
God, the nature of it is receiving the love of the truth, the effect
of it is to purify the heart.
+VI. There is one baptism.+--We are all baptised in the name of
Christ, and He is not divided. May differ as to the age at which
persons become the subjects of baptism and the manner of
administration, but regarding the design of it we are one. Baptism
intended not to divide, but unite the whole Christian world.
+VII. There is one God and Father.+--The Father of the whole
creation, but in a more eminent sense the Father of Christians. He is
above all. He reigns supreme. He is through all. His essence pervades
our frame, His eyes search and try our souls, His influence preserves
our spirits. He is in all. In all true Christians by His Spirit. They
are the temple of God, and His Spirit dwelleth in them.--_Lathrop._
Ver. 4. _The Oneness of the Church._--1. All the members of the
Church being one body is a strong argument enforcing the duty of
keeping peace and unity; it being no less absurd for Christians to
bite and devour one another than if the members of the selfsame
natural body should tear and destroy one another. 2. As those in
nature are in a hopeless state, having no right to heaven and
happiness, so the Gospel doth open to the person called a large door
of well-grounded hope, that, whatever be his misery here, he shall be
perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever hereafter.
3. The joint aiming of the saints at one mark should make them of one
mind and heart, seeing there is that in glory which will suffice all.
Their seeking of one thing need be no occasion of strife and
emulation, but rather of unity, for why should they strive together
who not only are brethren but also heirs together of the grace of
life and shall one day reign together in glory?--_Fergusson._
_One Body and One Spirit._
+I. The unity or oneness of the Church as set forth by the unity or
oneness of the body.+--One life animates the whole. The parts
mutually subserve one another, while the head thinks and the heart
beats for all. There is a certain harmony existing between all the
members; they constitute a symmetry among themselves, so that one
could not be taken away without destroying the perfection of all the
others, more or less marring the grace and beauty of the whole frame.
So the Church is one--one mystical body--having one author, God; one
Head, which is Christ; and one informing Spirit, the Holy Ghost; one
country towards which all its members are travelling, heaven; one
code of instructions to guide them thither, the Word of God; one and
the same band of enemies seeking to bar their passage, the world, the
flesh, and the devil. Despite all miserable divisions, wherever there
is a man with true love to God and man, any true affiance on Christ,
any true obedience to the Spirit and His leadings, _there_ exists a
member of this mystical body.
+II. As in the human body there is unity, so there is also variety,
diversity, multiplicity.+--This is true of the Church of Christ. Its
different members have different functions and offices, and in
performing these the Church makes equable and harmonious growth.
+Lessons.+--1. _As members of the same body, let us not separate from
brethren in Christ._ 2. _If we are members one of another, many are
the debts as such we owe the one to the other._ (1) We owe one
another _truth._ (2) _Love_ one to another. (3) _Honour_ one to
another.--_R. C. Trench._