There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
In the apostles' creed the article as to THE CHURCH follows that as to THE HOLY SPIRIT. To the Trinity naturally is annexed the Church, as the house to its tenant, to God His temple, the state to its founder (Augustine). There is yet to be a Church, not merely potentially, but actually Catholic: then the Church and the world will be co-extensive. Rome sets up a mere man as a visible head, antedating that consummation which Christ, the true visible Head, at His appearing shall first realize. As the "SPIRIT" is here, so the "LORD" (Jesus), Ephesians 4:5, "GOD the Father," Ephesians 4:6. The Trinity is again set forth.
Hope - associated with "the Spirit," the "earnest of our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:13-14). As "faith" is mentioned, Ephesians 4:5, so "hope" here, and "love," Ephesians 4:2. The Holy Spirit, as the common principle of life (Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 2:22), gives to the Church its true unity (1 Corinthians 12:13). Outward uniformity is as yet unattainable; but beginning by having one mind, we shall hereafter have "one body." The true "body" of Christ (all believers of every age) is already "one," as joined to the one Head (Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:24). But its unity is not yet visible, as the Head is not visible; but it shall appear when He shall appear (John 17:21-23; Colossians 3:4). Meanwhile the rule is, 'In essentials, unity; in doubtful questions, liberty; in all things, charity.' There is real unity where both go to heaven under different names; none, when with the same name one goes to heaven, the other to hell. Truth is first: those who reach it will reach unity, because truth is one. Those who seek unity at first may purchase it at the sacrifice of truth, and so of the soul itself.
Of your calling. The one "hope" flowing from our "calling" is the element "IN" which we were "called." The oneness of the Spirit in the Church-the "one body" - is shown by the oneness of our hope. Instead of privileged classes, as under the law a unity of dispensation is the common privilege of Jew and Gentile alike. Spirituality, universality, and unity were designed to characterize the Church: it shall be so at last (Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 11:13; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 14:9).