Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB … And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
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V13 – the goal to attain unity of the faith is very important. It’s about faith not theology or doctrine right?!
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A similar question I’ve heard in the past – We are not to contend for doctrines, we are to contend for the faith(Jude 1:3) of believers. After all, doctrine and theology divide, right?!
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Look at what the word faith means here, in BOTH verses. See word study.
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Faith has to do with a shared view of TRUTH – what the written word has to say about who God is and our relationship to Him{theology}.
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Look at Ephesians 4 again, it tells how we are to attain this unity of faith
=> by speaking the TRUTH in love. What the written word has to say about who God is and His relationship to us is directly involved in attaining the unity of faith, contending for the faith AND the equipping of the saints(2Tim 3:16-17)!
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Looking more closely at John 17, it also shows that TRUTH is intimately involved in becoming “one”. We are given the Word and Jesus prays that we be sanctified by the Word, the TRUTH. The TRUTH is how we are set apart from the world just as Jesus was(Jn 17:11, 14-19).
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Notice that in attaining unity of faith, contending for faith and being set apart to become “one”, Truth, doctrine and theology are involved. Yes, sometimes this will cause division – division from error, false doctrine and people – false teachers and prophets. Some division is not bad, but necessary to preserve the “unity of faith”, “common salvation”.
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Also remember it’s the teaching of false doctrine that divides. True doctrine or theology unites. Unity based on anything else is deception.
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Love corrects error.
Romans 16:17-18 NKJV … Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
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Ephesians 5:6-11 NASB … Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…
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Word Study
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From NetBible Eph 4:13, Jude 1:3
- unity of faith[4102] – contend for the faith[4102]
faith[4102] = conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and
divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and
holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
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- * The term “faith” has a variety of meanings in the NT. Here, the faith refers to the doctrinal content embraced by believers rather than the act of believing. Rather than discuss the points of agreement that Jude would have with these believers, because of the urgency of the present situation he must assume that these believers were well grounded and press on to encourage them to fight for this common belief.
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- “common salvation” *Jude starts by affirming that the gospel the Gentiles had received from Paul was the same as the one the Jewish Christians had received from the other apostles (our common salvation). But in the midst of writing this letter, Jude felt that the present crisis deserved another, shorter piece. The crisis, as the letter reveals, is that the false teachers whom Peter prophesied have now infiltrated the church. The letter of Jude is thus an ad hoc letter, intended to confirm the truth of Peter’s letter and encourage the saints to ground their faith in the written documents of the nascent church, rather than listen to the twisted gospel of the false teachers. In large measure, the letter of Jude illustrates the necessity of clinging to the authority of scripture as opposed to those who claim to be prophets.
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From NetBible Jn 17:11,14-19
- * The Greek word translated set…apart{sanctified}(ἁγιάζω, Jagiazw) is used here in its normal sense of being dedicated, consecrated, or set apart. The sphere in which the disciples are to be set apart is in the truth. In 3:21 the idea of “practicing” (Grk “doing”) the truth was introduced; in 8:32 Jesus told some of his hearers that if they continued in his word they would truly be his disciples, and would know the truth, and the truth would make them free.
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Related:
Andy Stanley: Church Unity Is More Important Than ‘Being Theologically Correct’{refuted}
@Khollandsblog
Touching the King! 