Walking in Unity—Living Worthy of Our Calling

Text: Ephesians 4:1-6

Open your Bible to Ephesians chapter 4, …

I want to tell you a story I heard about a man who was shipwrecked. He was on a desert island, and he was there all alone: ​​all alone. He had to find food for himself. Finally, after years, someone came to rescue him. And there he took very good care of things. He had a beautiful house that he had built, almost like a mansion. Next to the house he built a church and even put a steeple on top of it. But next to the church was another beautiful, magnificent building. Those who came to rescue him said, "What's that big place over there?" He said, "Well, that's my house. That's where I live." "What's that over there? It looks like a church." He said, "That's a church. I built a church for myself." They said, "Well, what's that other building?" "Oh," he said, "that's another church." He said, "I had an argument at the old one and I changed my membership."

Often the problem is on the inside, isn’t it? I want to talk to you about unity in the church—unity in the church.

My prayer for IBNU is that it will continue to be, and always will be, a unified church.

So, continuing on the same theme as yesterday, I want to preach on the Title: Walking in Unity—Living Worthy of Our Calling

Introduction: The Importance of Unity

Imagine a sports team where every player does their own thing—no passing, no teamwork. Or an orchestra where each musician plays a different tune. Chaos, right? Yet, in the church, we often struggle with unity. Paul writes to the Ephesians, urging them (and us) to live in a way that reflects God’s call to oneness.

There is a principle in Bible study known as "The Principle of Completeness." It refers to places in the Bible where a subject is treated in its entirety.

Some examples of this principle are:

1 Corinthians 13, where the subject of love is treated in its entirety, and

James 3, where the tongue is addressed.

1 Corinthians 15 - the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4 the apostle Paul addresses in detail the importance of the Unity of the Body of Christ - beautiful!

Let's read the text:

Ephesians 4:1–6 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul writes to the Ephesians, urging them (and us) to live in a way that reflects God’s call to unity.

Key Idea: Christian unity is not optional—it is essential to our witness and a reflection of the nature of God in us.

I. The Call to a Worthy Walk (v. 1)

Ephesians 4:1 NIV

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

- **Paul’s Credibility:** He writes as a prisoner—his suffering gives weight to his plea.

- **"Live a life worthy" (Greek: *axios*)** – Means "balancing the scales." Our lives should match what Christ has done for us.

- **Illustration:** If someone gives you 10 million dollars, you don’t respond with a cheap gift. Likewise, Christ gave us everything—how should we live in return?

**Application:**

- Ask: *Does my daily life reflect the value of my salvation?*

- Challenge: *Live intentionally for Christ, not casually.*

II. The Characteristics of a Unified Life (vv. 2-3)

Ephesians 4:2–3 NIV

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

A. Humility

- **Definition:** Not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less (C.S. Lewis).

- **Example:** Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13).

- **Problem:** Pride destroys unity—comparison, jealousy, and selfish ambition.

B. Gentleness

Definition: Strength under control (like a tamed horse).

- **Example:** Moses was called the meekest man (Numbers 12:3), yet he led a nation.

- **Problem:** Harshness pushes people away; gentleness draws them in.

C. Patience & Love

- Definition: "Bearing with one another" implies putting up with imperfections.

- **Example:** Noah preached for 120 years without a single convert—yet he remained faithful.

- **Problem:** We give up on people too quickly.

D. Effort Required

- "Make every effort"** – Unity doesn’t happen by accident.

- Illustration: A marriage takes work—so does church unity.

**Application:**

- **Reflect:** *Which of these qualities do I need to grow in?*

- **Act:** *Who do I need to reconcile with or show more patience toward?*

III. The Foundation of Christian Unity (vv. 4-6)

Ephesians 4:4–6 NIV

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

*"There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."*

Paul gives “seven pillars of unity”—truths that bind us together:

1. One Body – The Church is Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:12).

*Application:* We’re not meant to live in isolation.

2. One Spirit – The Holy Spirit unites us (1 Cor. 12:13).

Dr. Vance Havner has said this: “We’re not to be wired together by organization, frozen together by formalism, rusted together by tradition, but melted together by one Spirit.

- *Illustration:* Like electricity powers a house, the Spirit empowers the church.

3. One Hope – Our future glory with Christ (Col. 1:27).

What is that one hope? It is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls His coming the blessed hope. All true believers in Christ are looking for the return of Jesus Christ. You cannot call yourself a biblical Christian if you do not believe in that one hope, the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, people have different interpretations of the Second Coming of Jesus. They have technical terms, amillennial, premillennial, postmillennial. Some say, "I don't understand those terms." Well, let me tell you something, friends. You don't have to know the meaning of every detail to expect the Lord Jesus to return. And the longer I've been on the trail, the more I've become humbled about this matter of prophecy, and I've left the Interpretation Committee for the Welcoming Committee. And I want to say with John, "Even so come, Lord Jesus."

There is one hope, and that is the Second Coming of our Lord. And I believe we're getting very close.

- *Application:* Our hope should keep us focused beyond petty conflicts.

4. One Lord – Jesus is the head (Col. 1:18).

"When I come to NUBC, to sing, to learn, I expect to hear about Jesus." And may it always be so. And by the way, did you know that the early church did not call Him Jesus, but they called Him Lord Jesus - the Lord Jesus. I think we need to get in the habit of saying the Lord Jesus.

Now, He didn't come to be on my side, or on your side, or to be on the side of NUBC against some other church, or over some other church, or even over Hollywood, or over the casinos, or whatever it may be.

When Joshua fought Jericho, Joshua went out one morning. Jericho was a pagan city. And Joshua, the general, went out to reconnoiter and see what the situation was like. And as Joshua was out there, he noticed a presence behind him. He turned around and saw a man with a drawn sword. And Joshua was surprised. He said to this man, "Who are you? Are you for us or for them? Which side are you on?" And this one, the angel with the drawn sword, said, "Of none. As captain of the Lord's army, I have come."

You know what he was saying? "Look. I'm not for them; I'm not for you. I'm not here to take sides. I'm here to take control."

And that's what we want here at United Nations Baptist Church - that the one Lord, the captain of the Lord's army, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, be the head of this church. Jesus must always, must always, must always - always, always, always - be the Lord of our dear church.

- *Challenge:* Are we submitting to His authority?

5. One Faith –

And then, look at verse 5.

He mentions one faith. Now, what is this one faith? He’s talking about the unified body of truth that we call the Bible. It’s not faith, it’s one faith. He’s talking about

– The gospel message (Jude 1:3).

That’s what Jude was talking about in verse 3 of Jude:

Jude 3 NIV

3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

There is only one faith. It is the revealed Word of God.

We must fight tirelessly for it. NUBC, let you hold on to this book tightly and never let go. Never let go!

There is only one faith. We do not need a new, modern gospel for a new, modern age.

If it is new, it is not true.

And if it is not absolute, it is obsolete.

That is the only faith of this Church.

And may this sacred pulpit always have a man behind it who will open the Word of God, analyze it, organize it, illustrate it, and apply it.

Yes, we can have all kinds of other programs, but we must have this one faith.

- *Warning:* Compromise the gospel message destroys unity.

6. One Baptism –

Next, NUBC shares One baptism. Look at verse 5: one baptism.

Now, is He talking about immersion or sprinkling? Neither.

He’s talking about something beyond that.

When a person gives his or her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, he or she is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the mystical body of Christ.

In other words, you are placed, at the moment of your salvation, into the mystical body of Christ.

Remember how I said the church is one body with Christ as the head.

We are the members. When are you baptized? Before you are baptized in water, you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit of God and into the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

We believe in water baptism, but water baptism only symbolizes what happens when a man or woman gives his or her heart to Jesus.

Sometimes we hear people say, “Well, you’re saved. Now, have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?”

Friend, if you are saved, you have already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Nowhere in the New Testament is the believer instructed to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

What we are told is that we are to be filled with the Spirit. Baptism occurs at the moment of your salvation. There is one baptism. There may be many fillings, but there is only one baptism.

7. One God and Father – He is sovereign over all.

And so, NUBC worships one God. He is not Allah. He is Yahweh, Jehovah God. Ephesians 4, verse 6: "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." His name is Jehovah, and you do not know Him without Jesus Christ.

"No one comes to the Father except through Me," said the Lord Jesus.

Now, take a look here

No division is beyond His power to heal.

Application:

- **Doctrine matters:** True unity is based on truth, not just feelings.

- Celebrate unity: We may have differences, but we share something greater—Christ!

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Illustration: During WWII, British and German soldiers called a Christmas truce—they played soccer in no-man’s-land. If enemies could find unity, shouldn’t the church?

Three Steps to Pursue Unity:

1. Examine your heart – Is pride, bitterness, or division present?

2. Embrace humility & patience – Choose love over being right.

3. Focus on the "one things" – What unites us is greater than what divides us.

**Final Thought:**

*"A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand" (Mark 3:24). If we want to see God move in our churches, we must walk in unity.*

**Response:**

- **Prayer:** Ask God to reveal any broken relationships.

- **Commitment:** Make one step toward reconciliation this week.

Closing Prayer:

Lord God and Father of all,

who are over all, in all, and through all,

we thank You for calling us to be one in Christ.

We recognize that without Your grace,

our human nature seeks division and pride.

But today, we call upon Your Holy Spirit

to conform us into the image of Jesus—

humble, patient, full of love,

and willing to preserve the unity He won on the cross.

Forgive us where we have fallen short,

heal our divisions,

and help us to focus on what unites us:

one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

May our life in community

be a testimony to Your reconciling power

for a fractured world.

In the name of our one Mediator,

Jesus Christ,

Amen.