Ephesians 4:1-6

Introduction

For those who missed last week, Unity Gathering was great. Especially great having Jarchows and Jeremy Swindle—unity within UCC and with other churches.

Fitting transition to Ephesians 4

Read Ephesians 4:1-6

Explanation

Salvation demands a response of unity. (v. 1-2)

Calling is not…calling is to salvation

“The Gospel demands a response.” So does our salvation—a response of unity.

It’s possible that we walk in a manner unbefitting of Christians. Surprising to me that Paul’s worthy response is focused on unity. But it is—unity through humility, gentleness, patience, etc.

“Our problem is that we have a million-dollar salvation and a 5 cent response.”

The response of unity takes effort. (v. 3)

We get this. Maybe so much that we believe the effort isn’t worth it because it’s impossible.

How can we really believe Christians are unified when church history seems like a history of schisms? Because God says so.

The effort is to preserve, not create. To make visible the invisible unity that God sees.

“Sunday Assembly” atheist church (2014) split in NYC (2016) because the rest weren’t atheist enough. Maybe unity is not caused by faith but lack of faith!

The basis of unity is the Triune God. (v. 4-6)

One Father and one family

God is sovereign and at work in all

Reference to 3:15

Not simply that we have been created by God, otherwise we’d been unified w/ everyone

One Lord, one hope, one faith, one baptism

We all have only one hope—the blood of Jesus.

How unified should we be? Unified unless we sincerely believe their faith is not in the Lord Jesus.

“Unity is not the goal; unity in Christ is…there are limits to unity.”

One baptism? Not one manner or one timing. One Jesus into whom we’ve been baptized. When we have died to the world and spurned all other allegiances in baptism, how could we not be unified together?

One Spirit, one body

Jews and Gentiles, all different kinds of gifts, just one body

Are they a member of the church? If they have the Holy Spirit, the answer is yes.

“Talk about what you believe and you have disunity. Talk about Who you believe in and you have unity.”

Exhortation (+ communion)

Evangelistic plea

Back to verse 1 — behavior only changes after we’re born again.

It’s not enough to change our behavior. We have to be born again.

The one faith in Jesus and one baptism is the only way to be accepted into the one body.

For those of us who are part of the one body, the only worthy manner to live is one of humble, gentle, patient unity in Jesus Christ. Don’t receive a million-dollar salvation with a 5-cent response. Let your life be marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and love to the glory of God.

Communion

Epictetus, the 1st C Stoic philosopher, said it was foolish to have only one hope.

1 Cor. 1:18 — “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Jesus our one hope and faith

Romans 5 — “Hope does not disappoint”