Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

Held captive for the Lord,
My urge for you I plead:
Live a life that's worthy,
Of the calling you received

Make yourself as humble,
And gentle as you decide,
Love each other kindly,
Let patience be your guide

Strive to keep the Spirit,
United in one goal,
Use peace to bind together,
Each part that makes it whole

There is only one body,
And just one Spirit too,
The single hope which leads you,
Is the calling given you

There is only one God,
And only one faith that's true,
One baptism can cleanse you,
One Lord stands over you

One Father sits in heaven,
He's seated on the throne,
He makes His workings through us,
And lives inside our bones

Each one of us has to us,
A grace God given now,
Christ set out our portion,
To each what's surely ours

This is why it says that,
When he went to the sky,
He took so many captive,
And sent his people high

If heaven was his end place,
Then bowels he once knew,
Those lower earthly regions,
Where all our sins lead to

He who went so deeply,
To the heights did ride,
Higher than the heavens,
As far as stars are wide

Christ taught all apostles,
Prophets, preachers too,
Each and every pastor,
Learned all that He knew

Given for His people,
Working to serve a goal:
Building up the body,
To a Christian whole

Reaching one faith only,
One Son, one God suffice,
Maturing in the process,
To the breadth of Christ

Then we won't be infants,
Tossed and turned by breeze,
Taught by those of cunning,
Crafty in their schemes

Instead, by giving statements,
In truth and love in kind,
We will grow in stature,
Christ's body we will find

From Him the whole assembly,
Is joined and held secure,
Built in love and growing,
As each part does endure.

From Ephesians 4:1-16

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