UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

How Can Believers Maintain the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace?

Ephesians 4:3 states, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” This passage is part of Paul’s exhortation to the church in Ephesus, urging them to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they had received. It emphasizes the believer’s responsibility to preserve spiritual unity—not to create it, but to guard and maintain what has already been established by God through the work of Christ and the revelation of His Spirit-guided Word.

The verse begins with the phrase, “Make every effort,” which is translated from the Greek word spoudazō, meaning to be diligent, to strive earnestly, to take pains in pursuing a goal. This is not a passive suggestion, but a strong command demanding urgency, consistency, and intention. Unity among believers does not happen by accident; it requires attention, humility, and deliberate action. Paul has just appealed in verse 2 to virtues such as humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love—all of which are essential to preserving unity.

Next, Paul says, “to keep the unity of the Spirit.” This unity is not man-made—it is the unity that results from the Spirit’s work, originally among the apostles and now preserved in the inspired teachings they left behind. It is not organizational or institutional unity based on shared human opinions or structures; it is spiritual unity based on the revealed truth of God’s Word. John 17:17 emphasizes the basis of true unity: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Therefore, maintaining this unity requires staying rooted in Scripture, not in emotionalism, tradition, or social consensus.

The “unity of the Spirit” refers to the oneness of faith, doctrine, and purpose that the Spirit revealed to the apostles (Ephesians 2:20). There is no true spiritual unity apart from agreement in truth. Amos 3:3 asks rhetorically, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” The answer is no. Doctrinal unity matters. It is not enough for believers to agree on general values; they must be united in the message and mission laid out by the Spirit through the apostolic teaching. That’s why Jude 3 speaks of “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

The final phrase, “through the bond of peace,” describes the means or channel by which unity is preserved. The word “bond” (sundesmos) refers to something that binds together—like a ligament holds the parts of a body in place. Peace is the ligature that holds spiritual unity intact. This peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the active presence of harmony based on righteousness. Romans 14:19 exhorts believers to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” The peace that preserves unity is built on mutual submission to God’s Word, not compromise on core truth.

This peace must not be maintained at the expense of truth. False peace, built on the neglect of doctrinal soundness, is not the peace Paul describes. Ezekiel 13:10 warns of prophets who falsely claim peace where there is no peace, leading people into deception. Similarly, Jeremiah 6:14 rebukes those who “dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” True spiritual unity is never achieved by ignoring error or overlooking sin but by faithfully aligning with the Spirit’s revealed truth.

The broader context of Ephesians 4 reinforces this. Verses 4–6 explain that unity exists because “there is one body and one Spirit… one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” These are not optional ideas—they are the non-negotiable realities that define the church. Believers must be diligent to preserve unity by clinging to these truths and living in a manner that reflects them.

Ultimately, Ephesians 4:3 teaches that unity among believers is a sacred responsibility, not a casual ideal. It has already been established by Jehovah through His revealed Word and must be guarded carefully by those who follow Him. This unity is preserved by believers who are humble, patient, and focused on truth—bound together in peace that flows from shared submission to God’s will. It is not the product of compromise, but of shared obedience. To preserve this unity, believers must strive together in love, holding fast to the one faith once delivered by the Spirit through the apostles.

You May Also Enjoy

Is the Bible a Higher Source of Wisdom?

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).