What would you do for your brother??

What would you do for your brother?

In light of renewed unity with God and oneanother, in Christ, it is the responsibility of each member to know and love oneanother. This will involve giving up your freedom for the their sake and the sake of your union.

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, she is known by God.

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
(1 Corinthians 8 ESV)

That’s not humility!!! This is humility!!!!!

True humility is a practical affirmation of the sovereign headship of God and Christ in the life of the Christian on a daily basis, in light of renewed unity in God through Christ.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
(Ephesians 4:1-7)

Humility and the sovereignty of God
As previously discussed the individuality of the Christian (abilities, life span, wealth and success, circumstance of life, etc.) was determined by God under his sovereign headship. These are apportioned to each Christian by the same spirit for the sake of the whole union.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually has he wills.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

True humility recognises the gifting of God and acknowledges that all gifts are given by the one spirit for the good of all and does not assume status in the family of God. This is what it means to be in union with God. So when each member seeks to understand and respect the place given to each Christian by God in Christ they will be practically acknowledging the sovereign headship of God and Christ.

True humility does not deny the truth of the gifting of the Holy Spirit and the sovereignty of God. Rather it acknowledges that it is given for the good of the whole union. Therefore denying the gifting of the Holy Spirit in your life and the life of others is a denial of unity with Christ. Also seeking status in the family of God without respect for the good order he has established is a denial of God’s headship and unity in him.

This means that Christians can acknowledge their abilities, wealth, etc. without being arrogant by attributing them all to God and using them for the good of the Christian union (church). God empowers Christians with the freedom to plan and execute the good works that he has prepared for them in light of his sovereign headship (unity in him).

The right acknowledgement of gifting is not just a matter for the individual but for the entire union. It is not a matter of self-estimation in a vacuum. God has given Christians to one another so that they may lovingly encourage and advise one another in the identification of need and the correct manner of service. In this way the whole union is built up in love.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-20)

In having many gifts and a place for each the whole the union of Christ becomes stronger.

“Insanity doesn’t run in my family, it sprints.”

Christians and family
As previously discussed the family is the basis (core) of human unity. In the present age Christians are members of earthly families (in Adam’s flesh) and the family of God (in Christ’s spirit). Even though unity in Adam’s flesh is broken Christians are first and foremost responsible for the care of their earthly families. This is a reflection of the restored unity they have with God in Christ. This is why it can be said:

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
(1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)

In the present age Christians have a greater level of responsibility for members of their own family, especially members of their household (incl. servants, blood and non-blood relatives) than for others. This does not mean Christians are not responsible for other Christians or their unbelieving neighbours. Rather on a daily basis they are most responsible for the welfare and care of their own family/household. By looking after the members of their earthly family/household a Christian will demonstrate their faithfulness to the renewed unity they have with God in Christ. Just as Christ is faithful over God’s house.

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house was a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
(Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV)

The family of God
As previously discussed right relating within family (unity) is dictated by a person’s position in the family and who they are relating to. This is true of the family of God.

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
(1 Timothy 5:1-3 ESV)

A Christian should never seek status and position in the church if they have not first seen to their own family. Both men and women should look after their own families first and only widows who are old enough and have proven themselves as good mothers should be given responsibility in the family of God.

Young women should be taught to look after their families first. Only once they have proven themselves, discharging their responsiblity to their own households and serving the church in (seemingly) small ways (eg, hospitality and washing feet), should they be enrolled for further service.

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
(1 Timothy 5:3-25 ESV)

This command applies to men too, if a man wishes to lead the family of God he must first prove that he is capable of leading his own family (1 Timothy 3:4-5). Young men should be trained to look after their own families and serve the church in small ways first before they are given a position of leadership in the Church. Furthermore it is only the elder that has proven his effectiveness and faithfulness that should be given the added honour of being paid for his work (especially if he is a teacher).

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
(1 Timothy 5:17-23 ESV)

The Bible has a very long-term view of unity, faithfulness, service and the appointment of leaders. This is why Christians need to be committed to family and Church long-term. Therefore to be faithful to God means looking after your family well and seeking to serve the church in some small way. Remembering that all deeds, both good and bad, will be exposed on the last day before the judgement of God.

The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
(1 Timothy 5:24-25 ESV)

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4 urges all Christians to conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with their union in Christ, so that they might maintain their union with him. To do this Christians must practice unity amongst themselves. As such they should be eager to bear with one another in love wherever and whenever they are with whatever capabilities they have been given.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV)

As the head of the body seeks the best for each member and in so doing looks after the whole, so Christ loves all Christians. He has given each member the means by which they might grow and persevere in unity now, his spirit who gifts all for the good of all. Christ has given his Church the gifts of the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip each member for the work of ministry (Christs work) in this world. Building and sustaining unity in Christ.

The ministry of Christ and his people in this world is a ministry of unity, it is the job of all Christians to build this union to which they have been called. The apostles are the foundation of the church because they were witnesses to Christ on earth, passing on all they saw and heard. Then the prophets, the most faithful in the household of God. They declare the truth of God especially when, calling all to repent living a life of extreme faithfulness and throwing their lives away for the sake of Christ and his church (not mere teachers!!). The evangelist seeks to guide unbelievers into unity with Christ. The shepherd leads, protects and fights for those who have been put under his care. Lastly the teacher explains the revealed things of God, teaching each member to love him and one another.

The ultimate goal (the end game) of these gifts is to build up the church until the time when all are born into the complete and perfect union with Christ. So that being mature in Christ (like Christ and strong in faith), knowing and attesting to what is true (there is one God who is all in all), you will no longer be fooled by the deceitful doctrine of the world. Instead you build and practice unity in Christ by:
• Loving one-another, (unity would not be unity without love) without love unity is dead.
• Speaking the truth to one another in love (There can be no place for lies and deceit in unity)
• When you speak be encouraging, seeking to build up one another into Christ.
• Occupy yourself with honest work, instead of the self-seeking manner of your former lives. This will allow you to be generous with what God has you (Being united to Christ shows us how silly the concept of personal ownership is when we know that we belong to one another).
• Be patient with one another, ready to forgive.

As members of Christ Christians are also members of one another and should treat each other as such. Does one member of the body deceive another? How would a body perform the most basic of tasks if it rebels against itself? As it says:

Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
(Matthew 12:25 ESV)

Therefore only speak truth (the truth of God, who is truth himself) with fellow Christians as is appropriate for the position that God has given you and in each situation you find yourself. In this way all should strive to ensure that every word they speak proceeds from love in unity intended to encourage and build up their fellow members (and therefore the whole union) of Christ.

Before you were united to Christ you occupied yourself with worthless pursuits seeking your own benefit at the cost of others. Now that you are part of Christ you must pursue honest work pleasing to God seeking to be generous with what the Lord gives us. Seeking the benefit of other at a cost to yourself.

If you who are united to Christ and go on sinning, conducting yourself as if you were never united to him you grieve the Holy Spirit because he is the spirit of unity. It is by your actions you can proclaim the goodness of unity in Christ or condemn it and yourself before God. Therefore in unity you must be patient showing kindness to one another acknowledging weakness and forgiving the sins of one another as Christ forgave you.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV)

Remember the fact that you need to be reminded of this means that you are not naturally capable of doing this while you are still in Adam’s flesh.

“One of us, one of us…”

1 Corinthians is an extremely important book for understanding how Christians are to live out their union in Christ in th present age. Its purpose is to instruct Christians in the way of unity.

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
(1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

There is no division in Christ, only Christ. Christ is head over the union to which all Christians are members and as such they are servants of Christ and one another.

Little children love oneanother
In Philippians 2:1-11 Paul compels the Philippians to make his joy complete by being united, having one mind and the same love.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:1-11)

Paul does not advocate a forced unity, rather he prefaces his desire for unity by only wanting unity amongst those who are already in Christ. “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…”(vs1). In short those who are in Christ must practice the unity of Christ.

What does it mean to have one mind and the same love? It does not mean that all are to all think exactly the same things all the time or be part of a shared mind where individuality is non-existent. It means thinking and loving self-sacrificially, using Christ as the ultimate example. Christians must strive to:
• do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit
• be humble counting others more significant than yourself
• not look only to their own interests but also to the interests of others

A Rational Fear of Everything

Because it literally can’t be forgiven
The only way anyone is forgiven is by being united to Christ in spirit. Sharing in the Holy Spirit is what makes a person Christian. Without membership in this new human union it is impossible to share in the renewed unity with God in Christ. Therefore without the Holy Spirit there is no forgiveness for any sin. Therefore Each member must take care to acknowledge the supremely important place the Holy Spirit plays in the union of Christ.

Issues concerning the Holy Spirit cut to the heart of unity and the character of God. This is why the bible makes it very clear that speaking against the Holy Spirit is terrible. It is not the words that give power to the sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit. Rather the condition of a person’s heart and reality of their relationship with God is revealed through their words (1 Samuel 16:7 & Luke 6:45). Where speaking against the Holy Spirit and declaring him to be evil reveals that a person stands apart from Christ and therefore God.

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
(Matthew 12:31-32 ESV)

Therefore anyone who rejects the Holy Spirit rejects their union with Christ, proving that they are not a member of new humanity at all. So be careful to acknowledge that the same Spirit works in Christians, ensuring that we don’t denounce him as evil but rather rejoicing as members of one another.

“You are plural.” “Are you calling me fat!?”

Life in Christ
As already discussed, when Adam sinned he destroyed the relationship/unity mankind had with God. By rebelling against God mankind was cut off from love and life. In Christ all who share in his spirit have become members of a new human union under God. Therefore each member lives and loves because they are united to Christ.

Christ is the head of this new humanity, just as each new human is born from the flesh of Adam each member of this new human union is born from the spirit of Christ. He is the source of all. Which means growth and good works only come as a result of being united to Christ. Each member must (as Christ’s image bearers) seek to live out their union with him (and one another) as he instructed and demonstrated (in love). humanity is nothing and can do no good apart from Christ.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
(John 15:1-6 ESV)

It is right for those who are united in Christ to relate to him with obedience, as he acted toward God while he was in the flesh of Adam. Each member must practice obedience in unity. Their joy will be complete through mutual love in unity as they direct all their desires and affections toward Christ by obeying his will. Therefore the actions of the true Christianwill show what is already true, they are in Christ.

God is and will always be the ultimate authority over determining who is united to Christ and will be saved from his justice on the last day. While Jesus is the head of this new human union God will always be greater.

Love in Unity.
This is the nature of unity, love in unity. All who are in Christ must possess and practice the love that Christ demonstrated to all. This did not originate from himself, rather he learned it from his Father (God the Father). To teach anything other than what was given to him would constitute a rebellion and disunity with his Father. Therefore through the obedience of Christ all are united in God, who reigns supreme.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
(John 15:7-8 ESV)

Knowing all this Christ gives a single command: “…love one another as I have loved you” (vs12). Jesus is commanding unity in himself.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

If you are his you will love as he loves, making him all and in all. It is only those who are united in Christ that share the benefits of his love in unity.

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The Mystery of Marriage
As discussed, God gave mankind marriage so that Adam would be one as God is one. While the creation of Eve from the flesh of Adam made them the same species it was marriage (order) that made them one as God is one. Eve was never created to be a dissident part of the same humanity, she was created to be united to him in flesh, love and marriage.

After the fall God did not abolish marriage, rather he cursed it, telling Eve that her desire would be to rule over her husband and that he would always dominate her (by force). Therefore their marriage became the root of all conflict and disunity in the human race rather than the basis for God-like unity and the template for all human families. Now that Christ has re-established human unity in the image of God he has restored the integrity of marriage for all Christians. Human unity would not be “human” without marriage, as determined by God in the beginning. By submitting to Christ in the order of marriage Christians will reflect their union in Christ in and out of marriage.

To summarise:
• Marriage is the relational mechanism of human unity God established in Genesis 1-2, this has not changed. To submit to the order of marriage means to submit to Christ and God in unity.
• Adam and Eve’s marriage just like the marriage of Christ and the Church is the unification of the entire human race (Eve then the Church) to it’s head (Adam then Christ).
• Just as Eve was never created to operate as a separate/dissident part of humanity to Adam, so too the Church has not been reborn to operate apart from Christ. The two parts must be united for there to be true human unity.
• Unity is only broken in death, because marriage is a key part of unity it is broken in death.
• The marriage between Christ and his Church will be perfect and unbroken. Unlike the marriage between Adam and Eve.
• Christian marriage in the present age looks forward, expecting the fulfillment of their union in Christ.

The Bible reveals that the final consummated union of Christ (on the last day and beyond) is the basis for understanding the conduct of Christians in marriage (union) now.

Your future commands your present
In the same way that Christ is head of this new human union so too each man is the head of his family union (for their benefit). Just as Christ was given his role over the Church by God (and the church under him) so too wives and husbands are given specific roles (by God) within their union. As it says:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
(Ephesians 5:25-30 ESV)

While husbands have been given headship over his wife (family) this headship is for her (their) good, not to be used for his own selfish purposes. is required to imitate Christ and be savior to his wife giving his life for her benefit. Husbands are to love their wives so much that he withholds nothing good from her for the purpose of preserving unity in Christ (for both of them). Her salvation is his responsibility (as much as it is in his power).

In light of the requirements placed on the husband as head of the marriage the wife is required to submit to them. Just as we who are members of Christ submit to him as our rightful head women are to submit to their husbands. This is not the reluctant submission of the oppressed to an oppressor (marriage in Adam), it is the willing and loving submission of a loving wife to her husband who lovingly gives her every good thing she needs withholding nothing of himself. Therefore just as the union of Christ is carefully built up by God, each part with its own place seeking the benefit of every other part in love, so it is with marriage.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
(Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV)

While in the present age it is important to look back to the original union of Adam and Eve to understand the continuity of the profound importance of marriage in the union of species, we ultimately look to Christ because we are made new in him and our marriage to him will last and remain untainted (unlike Adam and Eve’s marriage). All Christians must understand central importance of marriage to the Christian faith.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
(Ephesians 5:31-33 ESV)

Unity is for all
Unity in Christ not only commands the actions of married Christians but the actions of all Christians. Unity is the the only ethic of the Bible (more on this later).

“Love to the power of love”

God is Love
1 John 4:8 clearly states that God is love, not merely that he loves nor that he is the definition of love, rather that he is the only love. This is why it can be said that if you know love you know God. It is impossible to understand God without understanding love, on his terms. This is why when Adam and Eve rebelled against God their attitude toward each other (also creation and God) changed. Their actions had broken unity with love himself and in so doing they no longer shared in him. Therefore human nature became not-love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love
(1 John 4:7 ESV)

The mark of those who are united to God is that they love. Not that they are capable of love, but that it defines them and they live it out constantly and consistantly.

When Christ came he revealed the love of God to the world, i.e. “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ denied himself the position rightfully his as God, subjected himself to the flesh of Adam, the blood thirsty hands of men and ultimately death so that those who hated him might be brought into union with him (Philippians 2).

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
(1 John 4:9-12 ESV)

Therefore in Christ the world learned what true love is, the love of God in unity. How does this relate to Christian love?

The Divine Nature: One Love
2 Peter 1 is an important passage that explicitly draws the link between the nature of God and the nature all Christians are to strive to reflect (though imperfectly) in the present age. The same nature that is their birth right in Christ.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
(2 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)

It is only by knowing God in unity, through Jesus Christ, that all Christians are called to a life of unity for the glory of God. It is their unity in Christ, who is the fulfillment of all God’s promises, that all Christians become partakes of the divine nature. This is their inheritance in Christ after having been released from the corruption (disunity) that was their birth right in Adam. Once released from this corrupt union they become creatures of God’s design (as Adam was in the beginning), fully disposed to him, seeking his glorification and forgetting the ways of their former lives in Adam. All this is only made possible by the authority and power of God actively working to restore unity in himself.

Therefore in light of restored unity in Christ Christians are commanded to make every effort to take hold of this nature and promote their union in Christ while they are still in the flesh of Adam. It is because they are still in the flesh of Adam that they must make every effort, because they will not take hold of their true selves until the resurrection. So by increasing:
• faith with virtue, and
• virtue with knowledge, and
• knowledge with self-control, and
• self-control with steadfastness, and
• steadfastness with godliness, and
• godliness with brotherly affection, and
• brotherly affection with love.

Generally speaking reflecting the love of God in unity is not a simple matter of advancing through measurable stages of maturity to finally arrive at enlightenment (perfection). The Bible clearly states that as long as the flesh of Adam remains the sinfulness (nature) of Adam will also remain. What this process in 2 Peter 1 does is emphasise this fact, just like the command for Israel to constantly remind themselves of the law (Deuteronomy 6). In the present age reflecting the love of God is not a simple proposition this is why Christians are commanded to make “every effort”. This means that maturing in Christ will be a difficult process requiring constant reminders and significant suffering, and even then this process will not be complete until all Christians are reborn into the image of Christ on the last day.

One Love – The union of Spirit and flesh

There is only one love, the love of God in unity. This is the same love that is in Christ and the same love that all Christians are to demonstrate.

THE NATURE OF CHRIST
As previously discussed the flesh and order of marriage given to man still existed after the fall even though Adam and Eve’s attitude to them both had changed. Every subsequent generation of mankind was born into a state of disunity making this attitude (not love in disunity) the nature of fallen man. Therefore sharing in the flesh (disunity) of Adam brings with it a common nature/mind set defined by disunity with God. When Christ took on human form he became a member of Adam’s broken union, sharing in Adam’s corrupt flesh, literally subjecting himself to a decaying body (mortal, limited and dead). This raises an interesting question, How can Christ share in the flesh of Adam but not his fallen nature?

Before the fall Adam and Eve were human, sharing in an undefiled nature consistent with God (in union with/sinless). Yet after the fall they were still considered to be human even though they shared in a corrupt nature (because of their rebellion). Before his death and resurrection (a spirit only remains with a body while the body is alive) Christ shared in the flesh of Adam without sharing in the corrupt nature of Adam. This seems to indicate that the necessary condition for being human is sharing in the flesh (limitations included) of Adam but not necessarily his corrupt nature. Why then is the nature of Adam unavoidably transmitted to his race but not Christ? How is Jesus different from us and Adam?

There are a few reasons why Jesus does not and cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam:
• Christ is a member of two unions, man and God.
• If Christ is indeed God he cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam and maintain the unity of the trinity. Being God he must share in the divine nature and spirit of God.
• If Christ is indeed a sinless man then he cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam, he must share in a nature that is consistent with God.

Before Christ was born into this world he was already part of a more important union (the trinity) that is the template for all unions. Meaning Christ was a member of two distinct unions (man and God). For him to maintain his links with both unions simultaneously he needed to share in the essential characteristics of both unions. For humanity it was a union in the flesh of Adam, for God it is a union of spirit (form) and love (divine nature, the original nature). Therefore Christ was one in flesh with man and one in spirit and love with God merged together in one person.

It is important to uphold both because Christ’s perfection (sinlessness) existed and originated in the context of the unity of God (the trinity). This shows that Christ must be understood in the context of his union with his father revealing that perfection can’t exist without a perfect union (i.e. he isn’t a rouge perfect human). Because Christ was not cut off from God he still had a direct link to the source of love (himself, the trinity).

While this sounds similar to the way Adam and Eve were able to be part of a human union and the union of all things under God it isn’t. While both are examples of people being part of more than one union the similarities end there. This is because of the distinction between God and man in the beginning, Adam and Eve were not united to God in the same way Jesus is (i.e. members of the trinity), this made it possible for the fall to occur.

The flesh of Adam can’t last beyond this temporal existence like the rest of this creation it must be destroyed to make way for the new creation. By his death and resurrection Christ died to the flesh and corruption of Adam and was reborn into a new spiritual body, immortal and of a greater glory than the flesh of Adam.