Like our Lord, let us seek to be peacemakers, and to dwell together with all the brethren in the unity of the Spirit, in the bonds of peace. Let our activities, our combativeness, etc., be engaged against the great enemy and all the works of sin, including those in our members, our own fallen flesh. We, and all the brethren, will thus find sufficient engagement for every combative element of our nature, in ways well-pleasing to the Lord, and employment for every lovable and helpful quality we possess, in building one another up, and doing good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially to the household of faith.
The brethren here are not the natural but the spiritual brethren, as the next verse proves by showing them to be the antitype of Aaron. The unity here mentioned is the same as that for which our Lord prayed, that they all may be one, as the Father and the Son are one. This unity, of course, is not a personal or essential oneness; but a oneness of faith, hope, love and purpose, for the one Father, under the one Lord and in the one baptism. Good and pleasant is this unity. No earthly relation is comparable to it. May it be ours now in development and to all eternity in blessed realization.
Psa. 55:14; 119:63; Amos 3:3; Mal. 3:16; Matt. 18:20; 20:25-28; 23:8; Luke 22:32; 24:13-15; John 13:34; 17:11, 21-23; Acts 1:14; 2:1, 42, 44-47; Rom. 15:1-7; 1 Cor. 1:10; 10:16, 17; 12:12, 13; Gal. 2:9; 6:2, 10; Eph. 2:14-22; 5:2, 19, 30; Phil. 1:3, 5, 27; 2:1, 2; Col. 2:2; 1 Thes. 4:18; Heb. 10:24, 25; 13:1; Jas. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:17; 3:8, 9; 1 John 3:14; 4:7, 11-13.
