Cheryl

Don,

Regarding the unity of the faith – I do think that God has promised in his word that we will have unity before Jesus comes. In Ephesians 4:11 God’s gifts are given for equipping, building up and bringing about unity (verse 13)

Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

If it was only a unity that was attained when Jesus comes, why would we need the gift of Pastor and teacher now for equipping and building the body? We would all be equipped and built up and unified when Jesus comes, right? However, and I humbly say that I could be wrong, but I do believe that the verses all go together and the gifts and equipping are what will bring about unity – not the coming of Jesus. What the coming of Jesus will bring about is our perfection. When all of us are functioning as we should, then the functioning in the body will cause growth and unity. I personally believe that the fullness of unity is waiting for the full acceptance of women’s ministry and gifts (and we can include the acceptance of anyone who has been shunned and disregarded in the body of Christ). What will be the catalyst that will bring this about? I don’t really know but perhaps persecution will be used. When we are all persecuted, we will stop fighting each other 🙂

Regarding the one baptism – I do believe you have it right. What joins us together in the body is the Holy Spirit’s work that brings us into relationship with God (Jesus) and each other.