Seven Ones (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
A fractured society. We live in a society where distances between people have been almost eliminated: internet, airplanes, etc.
In a few moments we can be connected with people thousands of kilometers away.
Despite the evident scientific progress, in this society people are increasingly disunited, distant from each other, isolated, alone!
Families struggle to stay together, while homes are turning into hotels, where no one feels truly connected to the other.
Ours is a fractured society, deeply disunited, close to collapse.
Despite this tendency to disunity present in our generation, through the words of Paul I wish to list the 7 indissoluble Ones.
Through this baptism, we want to proclaim, publicly testify that Joe is no longer alone, alienated, but is united with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Church of Jesus.
A possible, feasible union. The apostle Paul, usually composes his letters dividing them into 2 parts: theological and practical.
The first part is dedicated to doctrine, while the second part is on conduct.
It is wonderful to note the fact that Paul inserts this concept of unity in the section of Ephesians dedicated to the practical aspect.
So, the unity that we want to proclaim today is not a theoretical concept, but can be lived, realized in your heart.
Joe will publicly testify that this unity is real, concrete.
Sermon's outline. Paul uses the word “one” 7 times, in just 3 verses.
Each of these 7 one describes the union that believers enjoy in Jesus.
Here are 7 indissoluble ones:
1. One God and Father of all (v. 6);
2. Ohe Body, One Spirit; are Hope (v. 4);
3. Ohe Lord, One Faith, One Baptism v. 5) .
N.1-One God and Father of all
N.1-One God and Father of all
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
United with the Father. Let me start with the last one: “One God and Father of all”.
The Bible is clear there is one and only God:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
He is the Creator and we are all His creatures.
Our sin has destroyed this precious relationship with our Creator.
After the sin, Adam and Eve were hidden from God's gaze: separated from God, disunited, alone, forever.
United with the Father in Jesus. Today Joe will testify to us with his baptism that, his relationship with the Creator, destroyed by sin, has been healed by Jesus.
That One God is now Joe's heavenly Father: united with the Father in Jesus.
In this new fatherly relationship with the One and true God, Joe' testifies to what MacArthur says: "we are not just God created, but God loved, God saved, God controlled, God sustained, God filled, God blessed."
N.2-One Body, One Spirit, One Hope
N.2-One Body, One Spirit, One Hope
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
United with the Holy Spirit. Verse 4 presents 3 ones that describe the unity that every believer realizes thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit.
One Body. Paul is talking about the Church of Jesus, the body of Christ.
Joe' will testify that he belongs to all of us and to that crowd described by John:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
The New Testament is very clear when describing the Church: not an organization but an organism, in which Joe today officially becomes part.
One Spirit. This wonderful organism is held together by the work of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit that unites us:
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Dear Joe, the Spirit of God will always encourage you to preserve the union in the body of Christ.
It is not mere sympathy or character affinity that unites us, but the divine action of the Spirit of God.
One Hope. This organism held together miraculously by the Spirit of God, shares a unique and sublime hope: the return of Christ Jesus!
Just like the Ephesians, both Joe and I were once without hope:
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
How we can live without hope?
To live without hope is to cease to live.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Russian Novelist)
But now there is hope:
while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The man you will see coming out of the water is a man full of hope, a man eagerly awaiting the return of his Lord Jesus.
N.3-One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
N.3-One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
United with the Son. Notice the order that Paul uses in constructing this verse:
One Baptism. Baptism is the last step of the believer, not the first!
First we must recognize that there is only one Lord and live one faith and only then will we be ready for baptism.
Joe is testifying about his spiritual journey with Jesus.
It does not start with baptism, but we arrive at baptism, and then continue to seek the promises of the Lord.
One Lord. It is obvious that Paul is referring to Jesus:
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
There is only one Lord, one "Kyvios ", one Ruler, one Master, one Who governs and reigns in Joe's life and His name is Jesus.
Before it was sin that ruled over my life, while now it is Jesus who directs my steps.
One Faith. The word faith has 2 meanings:
subjective, refering to the trust that a believer has in God;
objective, refering to the doctrine that we profess.
Paul here uses the term “faith” with the second meaning: the doctrine.
One faith means one doctrine.
We live in a confusing world, a society that presents many faiths, many doctrines, many ways and many religions to reach heaven.
This morning, through his baptism, Joe will publicly declare that there are not many ways, creeds, doctrines, but only one faith: Jesus is the Lord.
Conclusion
Conclusion
No longer alone. After considering this biblical passage my prayer is that no one feels alone and disunited anymore, but that we can all feel more united with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God who is blessed forever.
