One God, One Body Final

Big Idea: God has invited us to be one with Him and with His people because He Himself is a God of oneness.

Intro - Belonging

Today we will be looking at Eph 4:1-6 but being here on campus this morning reminds me of my first experience in college.

Story: It is so great to be with you all this morning. I remember one of my first experiences when I left for college and stepped into a large church for the first time, away from home, away from friends, away from family. I remember walking through the church doors, sitting listening to the message, and then walking out those same doors. It took courage to go alone, to navigate new waters. I remember week after week the story was the same, I left feeling no more connected to the body of Christ than when I entered. Part of this could have been due to the fact that I was introverted, sure. But the problem that I faced as a freshman faces students all across this campus today. In a few weeks they will arrive looking for a place to belong.

In fact, I would argue, that most of the greatest social issues we face today can be traced back to a desire for belonging. I’ve seen it manifest in my own life as I longed to belong to a group of people that I identified with, whether that was through playing D1 football, becoming a med student, having black friends, I was constantly searching for a place to belong. But this pursuit wasn’t unique to me. We all search for places and spaces to belong. Students and young adults across the country are searching for a place to belong.

Where does this desire for belonging come from? - Relational

The desire itself to belong, isn’t wrong, in fact it is innately part of our wiring as humans. Why? Because we were made in the image of a Triune God who belongs to Himself.

Genesis 1:26 NLT

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

The good news today is that Jesus has given us a place to belong with Him and with one another. Paul tells us this in the book of Ephesians...

In fact we will be looking at Ephesians 4:1-17 the entire month of August, but today specifically looking at Eph 4:1-6.

Ephesians 4:1–6 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

Big Idea: God has invited us to be one with Him and with His people because He Himself is a God of oneness.

So at the beginning of this message I told you about the church i went to and felt disconnect at. But what I didn’t tell you is that i continuted to go, and eventually i found 1 freind which turned into 3 wich turned into more and i began to get plugged in for multiple years and grew in my faith because God had given me a place to belong to Him and to His people

Big Idea: God has invited us to be one with Him and with His people because He Himself is a God of oneness.

See in chapter 1-3, and then in 3 verses Paul says “one” 7x number of perfection or completion.

How do we achieve this oneness? We don’t He does!

Eph 4:4-6 it is this common oneness that unites us!

Emulsifier mayo is the result of using egg (emulsifier to unite that which doesnt mix - oil & water)

Triune God is relational and we are relational because we are made in His image

He United Us in Himself

Ephesians 2:4–6 NLT

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

The gospel is something that doesnt just affect past me but present me, He continues to give me life amidst the moments where I don’t choose Him or His way, and it fills me with gratitude and repentance.

Ephesians 2:11–13 NLT

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Story of Andrew Larson & Drake Michelson & our division, but how the championchip game we prayed, and today we’re united and on mission together.

THere’s probably someone you have discord or animosity with, maybe a roommate, a family member, a co-worker, God is asking you to walk in humility, gentleness and patience with them that they might experience Jesus.

2:11-13 gentiles were far off, excluded, foreigners, b/c uncircumcised but now brought near by the blood of Christ.

What are the superficial things that we let divide us. Truth of the gospel is that people of every background, every appearance, every tribe race and tongue are brought near by the blood of the Lamb. Which sounds great, but can lead to conflict and division if we are not united.

Hard to be united unless we have a common Master, a goal and a common purpose

ie football, medical school competitive vs medicine/hospital - save their life! (uofM produces 70% of MN’s healthcare workers)

Ephesians 2:15–16 (NLT)

15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Peace can be summed up as freedom from animosity, hostility, discord

He filled/empowered US!

Ephesians 2:20–21 (NLT)

20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

You are not the temple of the Holy Spirit, WE are the temple of the Holy Spirit! Yes, He individually dwells with each of us (3:17), but He also dwells with us corporately, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit! Meaning, if His glory is to be made manifest through us we all need to be united and aligned with Christ.

Ephesians 3:20–21 NLT

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Eph 4:1 “Therefore” live worthy of the calling how?

Eph 4:3 “making every effort” not to create unity but to maintain unity

Action Step: MAKE THE MOST OF IT

What does it mean to make every effort? Our effort is not to create oneness. Our call is to maintain oneness.

Eph 4:3 “3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Make every effort - keep united. Not to unite, no we have been united by the Cross! By Jesus.

Illustration about me and Jeffery?

Class / group project w/ slacker

Maybe it’s a teammate that always go head to head with

maybe its a family member

maybe its a neighbor

Unity in Christ is not something to be achieved: it is something to be recognized.

A. W. Tozer

The challenge for us is not to become divided over our differences b/c it’s our differences that tempt us to stir up conflict when it is also our differences that help us make God’s glory manifest! - more on this next week!

Be one with God, His people, and invite others into that oneness?

Practically speaking that can be challenging. But take it step by step.

1st, is there anything hindering your relationship with God?

2nd is there any Christian who you have conflict with, unforgiveness, bitterness or resentment? What would it look like to reconcile or to pursue unity? Eph 4:2

3rd who can you invite to The Avenue in hopes that they might be a part of Christ’s body?

Benediction: When we portray oneness with God and His people, we are evangelizing to the world that they may also join in and become one with the body of Christ

John 13:34,35

John 13:35 (NLT)

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”