008 The Christian Walk/Unity

008 The Christ Walk/Unity

Intro: This letter contain a beautiful balance between doctrine and duty, . The first three chapters deal with doctrine, our riches in Christ, while the last three chapters explain duty, our responsibilities in Christ. The key word in first three chapters is wealth while in the last three chapters it is walk. (, ; , , )

All of Paul’s letters contain a beautiful balance between doctrine and duty, and Ephesians is the perfect example. The first three chapters deal with doctrine, our riches in Christ, while the last three chapters explain duty, our responsibilities in Christ. The key word in this last half of the book is walk (, ; , , ), while the key idea in the first half is wealth

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Let’s Walk Together (Ephesians 4:1–16)

Our Wealth

Our Walk

Called by grace to belong to His body (chap. 1)

Walk worthy of your calling—the unity of the Body (4:1–16)

Raised from the dead (2:1–10)

Put off the grave clothes (4:17–5:17); walk in the purity

Reconciled (2:11–22)

Walk in harmony (5:18–6:9)

Christ’s victory over Satan is the mystery (chap. 3)

Walk in victory (6:10–24)

I. v.1 You walk worthy challenge

Our Walk

A. Since Christ has done this for you, since God has shown His love for us, through His mercy and His Grace He has forgiven us, adopted us, made us a part of His family, because of what God did for us, Paul challenges us, He commands us to walk worthy of our calling.

Who we are we are no longer in Adam, we are no longer idenifited with him, so why walk in his ways.

We are idenified with Christ

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Called by grace to belong to His body (chap. 1)

ii. We should not take for granted the mercy, grace and forgiven that God has given upon us.

Romans 6:1–2 KJV 1900

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:1 KJV 1900

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Paul was very addimit when it came to a Christian walking sin.

Three reasons why we should not walk in sin

Because God loves us

Because it is commanded that we are to be Holy

Because God hates sin/sin destroys

II. v.v. 2-3 Purpose of walking worthy of our calling. Unity

A. Unity isn’t uniformity.

Unity comes from within, it is a spiritual fruit.

Uniformity comes from without, the pressure to conform.

B. Verses

-

-

-Ph. 1:27

-

C. How is this to happen? for man’s heart is sinnful

a.

1. Sinnful nature nature will produce

prejudices

• differences

• hurts

• jealousies

• complaints

• criticisms

• grumblings

• gripes

• pride

• arrogance

• comparisons

• dislikes

2. This is sin in your heart, and God wants you to see it as sin against Him.

3. The first place unity must start is in your heart

What about him?

III. v.v. 4-6 Reason for unity there are seven

A. v. 4a One Body

There is not several bodies in the Church there should be only one.

ii. There is not several heads in the Church there is only One, who is that Christ

B. v. 4b One Spirit

The same Spirit that dwells within one member of the body dwells in all members of the body.

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) A. The Believer Is to Walk Worthy of His Calling, 4:1–6

each member is to do his part in carrying out the mission of the body—for Christ. Acting independent of the body is of another spirit, for there is only One Spirit creating the body of Christ.

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) A. The Believer Is to Walk Worthy of His Calling, 4:1–6

each member is to do his part in carrying out the mission of the body—for Christ. Acting independent of the body is of another spirit, for there is only One Spirit creating the body of Christ.

C. v. 4c One hope

Every believer has one hope of eternal life and that is through the Lord Jesus

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) A. The Believer Is to Walk Worthy of His Calling, 4:1–6

each member is to do his part in carrying out the mission of the body—for Christ. Acting independent of the body is of another spirit, for there is only One Spirit creating the body of Christ.

Our hope is that one day we will live in eternity, with Jesus

it will be without sin a place of harmony

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) A. The Believer Is to Walk Worthy of His Calling, 4:1–6

What God is after is for us to live as we shall live in the future

2. What God is after is for us to live as we shall live in the future

D. v. 5a One Lord

The same Spirit that dwells within one member of the body dwells in all members of the body.

1. There is only one Master and King. Every believer has bowed before the same Lord to become His subject and to receive His orders. As His subjects, believers are unequivocally instructed …

• to live as He said: holy and righteous and pure, bearing the fruit of His Spirit ()

• to carry out His orders as one body

E. v. 5b One faith

i. There are not two faiths nor several faiths. There is only one faith that leads into God’s presence and that is the faith founded by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other approach to God.

ii. every believer has come to God in the very same way

- Therefore, standing before God and having come to Him through the same faith, there is no room for any differences.

F. v. 5c One Baptism

Baptism is a public idenity that we are followers of Christ

When there is diveristy in the church or between each other it brings shame to our public profession of who we are.

G. v. 6 One God and Father

⇒ “One God”: God is creator of all and as such is supreme over all.

⇒ “One Father of all”: as Father, God loves all. The Christian belief begins with God as love.

⇒ “Above all”: God controls all.

The point is striking: If there is only one God and Father of all believers, how then could He be leading two believers to stand toe to toe against each other?

He could not. One or both believers are following their own fleshly carnal ways. Someone is not following the only God and Father.

Walk worthy of your calling—the unity of the Body (4:1–16)

Raised from the dead (2:1–10)

Put off the grave clothes (4:17–5:17); walk in the purity

Reconciled (2:11–22)

Walk in harmony (5:18–6:9)

Christ’s victory over Satan is the mystery (chap. 3)

Walk in victory (6:10–24)