United and Unique / Ephesians 4:1-16

Recently, several themes have been rising to the surface in passages we’ve explored. During our Hebrews series, we learned how to become spiritual mature. A few weeks ago, we learned about spiritual gifts. Our passage tonight unites all of these themes.

When a teacher says, “write this down” or he repeats a topic you’ll probably see it in a test.

Tonight, as we talk about our unity I encourage you to pay attention because you will be tested on this topic. Our nation is divided… You are about to return to school, where your spiritual maturity will be tested…

To root you in truth there are two things that make this community unique. First,

We are united.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Michael Jordan shoes - if you wear the shoes, it makes you want to play in a worthy way.

What would it look like for you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling?

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Growing with other Christians is the walk you are called to live. And this takes patience and love because we have different personalities and preferences. These differences threaten the unity that we have been given.

Notice that this section says to maintain unity. Not to create unity. The organic unity that we enjoy is because of the commonalities of our salvation. Though we will look and act different, you share these with all true believers…

One body - with Jesus as our head

One Spirit - a body without the spirit is dead, the Holy Spirit is our guide

One hope - eternal life

One Lord - we are all following Jesus

One faith - 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

One baptism

One God and Father - we are family

But what about different denominations? The example of every nation, tongue, and tribe being present in heaven. Despite perfect unity, diversity in culture remains.

In a mysterious way, I personally believe that God uses the different personalities and cultures of churches to reach different people.

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity,” St. Augustine of Hippo.

You don’t have to look like me, sing like me, or dress like me. I won’t judge your motives, because I don’t know your heart. But if the gospel is advancing, in that, I rejoice!

(Address, “my truth” and “follow your heart.” Truth is objective and external. Like gravity.)

So we seek to maintain unity, by remembering our common faith. And yet…

We are unique.

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

This section quotes Psalm 68. A passage that describes a king who conquers the enemy, takes their treasure, and then gives it back to his people. This is what Jesus accomplished when he came to earth on a rescue mission. Beat death and the devil through love, and then returned to the father. And here is a cool insight, the gifts that he won and gives to his people are - other people.

The example of Paul - he was an enemy, he was won by love, he was given to the church as a missionary and church leader.

Paul wasn’t the only gift to the church. There were over 12 apostles, eye witnesses of Jesus, who served as ambassadors. They wrote the NT and passed along the message predicted by the OT prophets.

Today, God has given his church the gifts of evangelists and pastor-teachers. Evangelists share the good news to the lost. Pastor-teachers help to form spiritual maturity in believers. Evangelists are externally focused - the world. Pastor-teachers are internally focused - the church.

We see this explained by the verses job description - 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Compare equipping to mending nets - as you go fishing, the scales will cause holes and tangles. When you come to church, you are equipped (mended) to return to your ministry of fishing for men.

And we won’t stop meeting…

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Would you say that Ironbridge is spiritually a baby or spiritually mature? To help us answer that question, we would be wise to observe how far we drift when we encounter deceitful teaching. Are you only strong when we’re together?

A fully grown adult facing waves, verses a little child.

To become stronger, we need to speak and hear the truth in love.

Truth without love is like bones without a body, you’re lifeless. Love without truth is like a body without bones, you’re helpless.

Note “we.” We grow together or you don’t grow at all. Commit to coming on Wednesdays and Sundays.