.
One in Christ Jesus .
“There
is neither Jew
nor Greek,
neither slave
nor free – for
you are all
one in Christ
Jesus” –
Galatians 3:28
Intro to this issue
What
is the true
source of
unity that
binds us
together in a
community of
love, peace,
and friendship
with God and
with one
another? It is
the cross of
Jesus Christ.
Paul the
Apostle tells
us that
“Christ
is our peace,
who has made
us both one,
and has broken
down the
dividing wall
of hostility..
and reconciled
us both to God
in one body
through the
cross”
(Ephesians
2:14,16).
Jesus
died for our
sins –
including the
sins of
strife,
enmity, and
division – to
set us free to
live together
in peace,
love, and
friendship
with God and
with one
another.
Christian
unity is a
gift and grace
of God which
must be sought
and lived out
each day with
faith, hope,
and love. By
ourselves we
are weak and
unable to
maintain unity
and peace with
our brothers
and sisters in
Christ. Our
flesh is weak
and we must
cling to
Christ and his
word of truth
and life.
Satan, our
enemy, also
conspires to
trip us up and
sow seeds of
discord,
division, and
strife.
Only the love
of Christ and
the healing
power of
forgiveness
can restore
and preserve
our love and
unity together
as his
disciples and
servants of
his word of
grace and
salvation.
We believe
that God has
called us in
the Sword of
the Spirit to
be a sign of
the unity he
desires for
all Christians
today. Let us
not flag in
zeal for
growing in
brotherly
love, holiness
of life, and
unity together
as a community
of disciples
on mission.
And let us not
tire in
praying and
fasting for
the whole
people of God
for a full
restoration of
the unity,
love, and
mission he has
entrusted to
all who belong
to Christ.
May
this issue be
a source of
inspiration
and renewed
zeal and
prayer for greater
spiritual
renewal among
all churches
and Christian
traditions,
and for growth
in love of
the brethren
among all
baptized
Christians,
and for new
open doors to
pray and read
the Scriptures
together, and
pursue common
mission for
the glory of
God and the
spread of the
Gospel to all
nations and
peoples.
Sincerely
in Christ,
Don Schwager
editor
top
illustration
by (c) Kevin
Carden |
