From the New Testament perspective: 'Why preserving the oneness of the Spirit requires transformation'

 

From the New Testament perspective: 'Why preserving the oneness of the Spirit requires transformation' 

 

Item	Description	Example	Related Scripture
Symbolism of the Tabernacle	The structure of the tabernacle represents believers' unity in the Triune God	48 gold-covered acacia wood boards; gold covering wood symbolizes the mingling of divinity and humanity	Exodus 26:15-30 "You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the width of each frame."
Work of the Holy Spirit	The Holy Spirit mingles with believers' spirits	Experiencing the Holy Spirit's guidance and power in daily life	Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Need for Transformation	The natural man cannot achieve spiritual virtues, requiring the work of the Holy Spirit	Striving for gentleness and humility, but often failing	2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Key to Preserving Unity	Preserving the unity of the Spirit requires believers to experience transformation	Learning to accept and forgive one another in church life	Ephesians 4:3 "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Revelation in Ephesians	4:2 implies the need for transformation,  4:3 points out the need for fellowship	Practicing humility, gentleness, and patience in church life	Ephesians 4:2-3 "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Importance of Spiritual Maturity	Mature believers are more capable of preserving unity	Remaining calm in conflicts, seeking methods of reconciliation	Hebrews 5:14 "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

 

This table summarizes the important content you shared about the symbolism of the tabernacle, the work of the Holy Spirit, believers' transformation, preserving unity, and spiritual maturity. Each item is accompanied by a description, practical application examples in daily life, and supporting Bible verses.

The overall message emphasizes that:

1. The tabernacle's structure in the Old Testament symbolizes the unity of believers in the Triune God.
2. The Holy Spirit works to mingle with believers' spirits, as seen in Romans 8.
3. Natural human efforts to achieve virtues like gentleness and humility often fail, indicating the need for transformation by the Holy Spirit.
4. Preserving the unity of the Spirit requires transformation, which is an inheritance gained through this process.
5. The unity of the Spirit cannot be preserved by immature believers (like infants or children), but only by those who have been transformed.
6. Ephesians 4:2 implies the need for transformation, while verse 3 points to the need for fellowship.
7. Spiritual maturity is crucial for maintaining unity in the church.

 

This understanding highlights the importance of personal spiritual growth and transformation in maintaining church unity, pointing out that true unity cannot be achieved by natural efforts alone but requires the continuous work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our cooperation.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Memorial Day Conference - The Christian Life,  Message Two: The Grafted Life