The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 165

manner, and it is in all a faith that "purifieth the heart," "worketh by love," and "overcometh the world." It is not, therefore, an external unity that this faith builds up, but a union of a. spiritual character, wrought by the grace of God. This principle or grace of faith has a thoroughly uniting tendency, because it brings us near to the Saviour, and the nearer we stand to him we stand the nearer to one another. VI. "ONE BA1'Tl8M." There is but one baptism, once administered, as the expression of our faith in Christ; one initiation into the one body by one Spirit (1 Cor. xii. 13); one dedication to the one Lord. All believers are baptized unto the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. iii. 27, 28). Christendom owns but one baptism. It has been remarked as strange that the Lord's Supper-" the one bread" (1 Cor. x. 17)-should not have a place among the unities, as it is essentially the symbol of union among believers. But it differs from baptism in two important respects: (1) baptism is individual, the Lord's Supper is social; (2) it is by baptism, spiritaally regarded, we are carried into the unity of the one body (1 Cor. xii. 13); it is by the Lord's Supper we recognize continuously a. unity already accomplished. Thus baptism is included among the seven unities, because it embodies the initial elements that enter into the unity. Vil. "ONE Goo AND FATHER OF ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in all." The unity of the Church finds its consummation at last in him, who originated the scheme of grace and from whom all the other _unities are derived. If God be our Father, then a.re we members of one family, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and are therefore bound to live together in unity. The counsel may well come to us, "See that ye fall not out by the way" (Gen. xiv. 24). All the unities a.re secured by the relation of God the Father to the Church. He is "over all" its members, and there- fore there can be no rival sovereignty. The Church "is the habitation of God through the Spirit." He is "through all," in respect of pervading and supporting energy; he is "in all," as the Source and-_Spring of constant light and grace and goodness. There is here no pantheism. Thus there are seven unities, like so many distinct obligations, to incline believers to the unity of the Spirit, which can only be preserved in the bond of peace. Believers ought, indeed, to be of one heart and one soul.-T. C. Ver. 7.-Diversity of gift in t.1,nity of body. There a.re three points suggested by this verse. - I. 'l'HE UNITY OF THE CHUROH IS CONSISTENT WITH GREAT DIVERSITY OF GIF'ld. As in the human body there are many members with different functions, so the Church is "not one member, but many." Diversity of gift, so far from being incon- sistent with unity, is really essential to it. "If all were one member, where were the body? " All the great purposes of life would be frustrated if every pa.rt of the organism did not find its due place. II. EACII MEMBER OF THE CHURCII HAS BIS SEPARATE GIFT. This does not say that any one member has all gifts. Each has received his measure. There are those who would make the Church all " tongue," as if all were called to the gospel ministry. The gifts differ both in nature and in measure. One has the gift of speech, another the gift of sagacity, another the gift of enterprise, another the gift of sympathy, another the gift of wealth and influence. All ought to be contributory to the unity of the Church. Ill. 'fHE ORIGIN AS WELL AS MEASURE OF THE Gll''rB IS TO DE TRACED TO CHRIS'l'. The position of each member in the body is not determined by itself, but by God. 'l'ho eye does not mnke itself the eye, nor the hand the hand. So the position of believers in the Church is determined, not Ly themselves, but by Christ. 'l'be grace "is given according to tho measure of the gift of Christ." Christ is the Source of all spiritual gifts, and he determines their adjustment as well as their a.mount. He does not give according to our merit, or our ca1;>3.city, or our desires, but according to his soverei~n pleasure. There is, therefore, (1) no room for self-inflation if we have received the largest gifts; (?.) there is no room for envy or jealousy because others havo received more gifts than uurselves; (3) but rather an argument in the fact that one has a grace which another wants, for our helping each other in the Lord. 'l'hus tho true unity of the Church is promoted.-'!'. C.  'l'HE EPIBTLE TO THE EPHESIANo. [OH, IV, 1-32.