One

Introduction

During the Cold war of the 20th century...in the 1950’s and 60’s...there was what was called “the space race” between the United States and the Soviet Union led by Russia.

In response to the early Soviet success in space...the United States decided to be the first to put a person on the moon. Quite an ambitious goal. To achieve this they created the world’s largest and most powerful rocket ever known to humanity...a title it kept until 2023...with the introduction of Space X’s Starship.

The Saturn V was built to take humanity to the moon. The Rocket had 3 stages to get them there. Each stage was important to accomplishing the mission. Each stage necessary.

It’s kind of like the stages of life...childhood, adolescence, adulthood...

No matter if we’re talking rockets, life stages, or theology...ever stage is important...each stage is integral to accomplishing it’s goal.

Ephesians 4

Today in Ephesians 4...there is a noticeable shift in this letter. It shifts from the more abstract theology of God’s eternal predestined plan of salvation...to the ethical and practical application of God’s plan of salvation.

New Testament scholar Fran Thielman...sees “unity” as the initial stage of God’s new creation in Christ Jesus. This is what Paul has argued for the first three chapters. Thielman adds “Although the scope of this vision (new creation) spans the universe, it is accomplished through the cultivation of such mundane qualities as humility...patience...and lovingly putting up with the foibles of others. Paul’s readers should zealously pursue “unity.”

If there is one word to sum up Ephesians 4:1-6...it could be “oneness”.

It’s interesting that the first time God says something is not good in creation is in Genesis 2:18...the second story of creation.

Genesis 2:18 NET 2nd ed.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”

God’s eternal plan of salvation is meant for his people...not his person. Unity is the most important aspect of the new creation in Christ.

Jesus himself prays for this oneness of God’s people...of his disciples...in John 17:20-21..

John 17:20–21 NLT

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

The unity of the triune God...Father, Son, Holy Spirit...one God...now and forever...this unity is the unity to which Paul is saying to the Ephesian Christians...and to us today...that we are called to.

Someone quoted a humorous observation from Reader’s Digest that read “To save money, mom and dad suggested to one of their adult sons that we all live together in one house. I could tell he didn’t think it would be cost-effective when he asked, ‘Who’s going to pay the therapist?’”

Great question!

Why do we laugh? Because when you live together with other humans in close proximity for long periods of time...you goin’ get frustrated! You are going to get annoyed, angry, exhausted...you may even need therapy!

It’s just human nature. It always has been...it always will be.

Paul address this very thing in the first three vv. of Ephesians 4

Unity means grace

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1–3 MSG

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

Why?

Because unity requires grace. Oneness with God requires God’s constant offering of grace toward us.

Oneness with fellow believers requires grace for one another.

In practical terms that means...all the things that annoy us about each other...are not the point. The devil will try to make it the point. Social media is the prime example of that.

But grace calls the Christian...you and me...to “bear with one another in love”. As the MSG puts it “pouring ourselves out for each other in acts of love...alert at noticing differences...and quick at mending fences.”

Because that is what keep relationship alive.

The messiah...the Lord Jesus is the prime mover of maintaining covenant relationship...and brining us together as one. His grace precedes us and sustains us in our relationships to one another.

Closing

This call to unity...leads Paul of on another tangent about “oneness”...

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Thielman calls these “...seven affirmations of the theological unity on which the church’s practical unity is based.”

Oneness. One...

body...spirit...hope...Lord...faith...baptism...God and father of all...who is over all and through all and in all.

People of God...we are ONE...in Christ Jesus.

This the hope of which we’ve been called. And this hope is practically lived out in how we treat one another.

The ethical living out of our unity in the Lord Jesus Christ...is in how we bear with one another in love.

Not agreeing...but loving.

Not in tearing down...but in building one another up (The Christian is not to be Roosevelt's ‘critic’ who doesn’t count; the Christian is Roosevelt's man or woman in the arena. Will to live with people who are difficult to live with; to love those difficult to love; knowing that we are not always easy to live with or easy to love.)

So Christian...I say to you...get you hands messy...invest in one another’s lives in meaningful and healthy ways. Make allowance for one another’s weird habits or strange views of the world...and keep the oneness of all believers in Christ....in the forefront of your hearts and minds.

Thanks be to God. AMEN.