The following is an excerpt from a Sunday School Commentary published in 1972 by the White Wing Publishing House.

The unity of believers is founded upon their mutual commitment to Christ. By the one Spirit, they are one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17) and they are one with each other (Galatians 3:28). Of course, their union with Christ does not imply their fusion with Him, nor does the unity of believers imply that they are to be monotonously the same. Rather, the unity of believers is manifested by their love for others, and by their participation in the lives of others through loving concern and sympathetic understanding.

So fundamental and essential is the unity of the saints that the enemy would destroy the bond that united them where it is possible for him to do so. A.J. Tomlinson saw unity as one of the greatest strengths of the Church, and as such it would be the target of the enemy at every opportunity. In his address to the 24^th Assembly, he said, “Since there is such a determination on the part of the spirit of division to overthrow the spirit of unity I feel I should add a chapter under the head of division against unity. I think of unity as a small force undertaking to come into prominence, and every time it begins to show itself and make its way upward the much more powerful force of division pounces upon it and growls, snaps, tears, pulls, and beats the smaller force so terrifically that its life is threatened in a manner that at times it seems there is no chance of recovery…”

Since unity is so vitally necessary, it is worthy of our devoted attention, lest it be destroyed by forces which are opposed to the work of the Lord and the welfare of God’s children.

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Peter 3:8

Peter concludes the section of his letter which exhorted his readers to submission, and in this one verse he presents a cluster of five Christian virtues, with love in the center. After all, love is the basis of our relations with one another.

“Be ye all of one mind.” This is a distinguishing mark of a spiritual body of Christians. Paul once wrote that divisions are a sign of carnality (1 Corinthians 3:3). The more we are filled with the Spirit of Christ, the closer will be the bond of our fellowship.

“Having compassion one of another.” The words “having compassion” are a translation of a Greek word from which we get “sympathy.” Two other Greek words provide its origin; one word means “to be affected” by something, or “to feel”; the other word means “with.” So, to have compassion is to “have a fellow-feeling.” And this fellow-feeling is expressed in joy or in sorrow.

“Love as brethren.” This, according to the New Testament, is the central duty of Christians toward one another.

“Be pitiful.” Love cannot remain concealed in the heart; it must be expressed in tenderness and concern. It is most interesting that the word rendered here as “pitiful”, or “tender-hearted,” means, in the classical Greek language “courageous.”

“Be courteous.” A true Christian character creates a refinement of disposition which is more beautiful than the polish which is derived from training and habit. The latter is superficial, while the former grows out of the very essence of the Christian nature.

Be encouraged to cultivate the spirit of brotherly love and true Christian fellowship. Not only is this the most blessed of relationships, it provides the strength which the Church needs in these modern days.

Scriptures to consider:

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philippians 1:27

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Isaiah 52:8