The right alignment....
Ephesians 4:4 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One in this usage is simply the number one. Not two or five or zero, but singularly “1”.
Body – Vines calls the body the “The Instrument of Life”. The collective vehicle that the life essence of the father is indwelled in. Bigger than just one person, the collective body of life.
Spirit – Greek pneuma, or wind. Wind is a profound descriptor of the Holy Spirit. Wind cannot be seen, but it can be heard, felt, and most certainly you can see its effects. Wind at its most basic level is caused by light from the sun heating and cooling regions in differing amounts, thus causing a pressure difference which makes wind. Light is the term used to describe the Father, which gives power to the Wind (Holy Spirit). Wind is always present in the natural, it is everywhere all at once. However, it varies in severity from almost nothing to a force that will destroy everything in its path. The same is true of the Holy Spirit.
Called … of your calling … these are the same two words used in Ephesians 4:1 where they are translated the “vocation wherewith ye are called”. Ephesians 4:4-6 expound on that calling, or vocation, that they are only through the power of the ONE Holy Spirit, as a part of the ONE body. Our purpose as followers of Jesus Christ is singularly devoted to, and in submission to the power of the Holy Spirit and must be accomplished in the Body of Jesus Christ his Church.
one hope – This is a different “one” that the other two words translated “one”. This “one” is a very exclusive one, and might be translated “one and only” and refers to our “hope” of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. This hope is not the same kind of hope our modern English “hope” refers to, it is a most certain hope, not a “I really wish it would happen” kind of hope. This hope might be better translated “expect”. Just as if we put a hundred dollars in the bank, we would expect to be able to withdraw it when we went to the bank. If Jesus lives in us, he is a deposit, a surety, that we should expect to spend a glorious eternity with him in heaven.
Further, that expectation of eternal life is the very essence of our calling. That expectation of eternal life is manifest through the power of the Holy Spirit within and never contradicting the body or life of Jesus Christ on earth. How could it be any other way? Just as Jesus and the father were one(John 10:30), so we are one in him (1 Cor 8:6). And our purpose, our calling, or occupation as a follower of Jesus Christ must be 100% in unity with the Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ (there are no lone ranger Christians) and 100% in unity with our eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. As humans, we have a tendency to go our own way. Perhaps we clearly hear God’s calling for our life… but then we try to make it happen on our own, and end up out of line with the principles in this verse of scripture. We must maintain our unity of purpose, singularly focused on eternal things, powered by the Holy spirit - and if we stray we must get back on the course quickly before our precious purpose is squandered.
One in this usage is simply the number one. Not two or five or zero, but singularly “1”.
Body – Vines calls the body the “The Instrument of Life”. The collective vehicle that the life essence of the father is indwelled in. Bigger than just one person, the collective body of life.
Spirit – Greek pneuma, or wind. Wind is a profound descriptor of the Holy Spirit. Wind cannot be seen, but it can be heard, felt, and most certainly you can see its effects. Wind at its most basic level is caused by light from the sun heating and cooling regions in differing amounts, thus causing a pressure difference which makes wind. Light is the term used to describe the Father, which gives power to the Wind (Holy Spirit). Wind is always present in the natural, it is everywhere all at once. However, it varies in severity from almost nothing to a force that will destroy everything in its path. The same is true of the Holy Spirit.
Called … of your calling … these are the same two words used in Ephesians 4:1 where they are translated the “vocation wherewith ye are called”. Ephesians 4:4-6 expound on that calling, or vocation, that they are only through the power of the ONE Holy Spirit, as a part of the ONE body. Our purpose as followers of Jesus Christ is singularly devoted to, and in submission to the power of the Holy Spirit and must be accomplished in the Body of Jesus Christ his Church.
one hope – This is a different “one” that the other two words translated “one”. This “one” is a very exclusive one, and might be translated “one and only” and refers to our “hope” of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. This hope is not the same kind of hope our modern English “hope” refers to, it is a most certain hope, not a “I really wish it would happen” kind of hope. This hope might be better translated “expect”. Just as if we put a hundred dollars in the bank, we would expect to be able to withdraw it when we went to the bank. If Jesus lives in us, he is a deposit, a surety, that we should expect to spend a glorious eternity with him in heaven.
Further, that expectation of eternal life is the very essence of our calling. That expectation of eternal life is manifest through the power of the Holy Spirit within and never contradicting the body or life of Jesus Christ on earth. How could it be any other way? Just as Jesus and the father were one(John 10:30), so we are one in him (1 Cor 8:6). And our purpose, our calling, or occupation as a follower of Jesus Christ must be 100% in unity with the Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ (there are no lone ranger Christians) and 100% in unity with our eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. As humans, we have a tendency to go our own way. Perhaps we clearly hear God’s calling for our life… but then we try to make it happen on our own, and end up out of line with the principles in this verse of scripture. We must maintain our unity of purpose, singularly focused on eternal things, powered by the Holy spirit - and if we stray we must get back on the course quickly before our precious purpose is squandered.
