Our High Calling/Unity

Read vs. 1-3

You and I are not able to earn a right standing before God. We cannot live up to his high standard. If we are going to be justified, it has to be a free gift. A handout from God, and that’s what we have. However, we are called to live worthy of the privilege we have been freely given. It’s a different motivation. Satisfied in God’s provision for us, we seek to be worthy of the position we already enjoy.

To be worthy is not to be perfect in every way, don’t allow that to discourage you. It’s the idea of a balanced scale. The way you live will be in agreement with what the Scriptures say is yours already.

Illustration: of my wife cooking and my kids not eating. This is an example of not responding worthy of the work done on your behalf.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV

we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Everything following in this letter is rooted in this principle. I want to strive to be worthy of this high calling.

Application #1: How I Handle my relationships with other believers.

Unity is the Work of God

Gospel Built Community

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

God’s purposes and his efforts have been exerted to make this unity a reality.

The Spirit Has Made the Unity vs. 3

God has already unified us by the Spirit. We cannot fabricate this unity, it’s not a unity that can be made. It’s Spirit wrought.

We don’t go around trying to unify others. This never works. Our goal is to seek people to be reconciled to God and they will automatically be unified with us.

Application

That’s why if you’re not a Christian, you will never be able to stay in a healthy Church. You’re not one with God’s people.

It’s Our Calling

Our High Calling in Christ

Calling/summons

a call, invitation: to a feast (3 Macc. 5:14; Xen. symp. 1, 7); in the N. T. everywhere in a technical sense, the divine invitation to embrace salvation in the kingdom of God, which is made esp. through the preaching of the gospel: with gen. of the author, τοῦ θεοῦ, Eph. 1:18;

General Call

Acts 17:30 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

God is inviting you to respond to his invitation for reconiliation.

Effective Call:

Act of God summoning people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith.

Romans 8:28–31 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

John 6:44 ESV

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Unity Is Not Uniformity

Not In Outward Expressions but inward attitudes

Proper Attitudes Towards Others

-Love

1 Corinthians 13:3–5 ESV

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

-Under-girded by humility, gentleness, patience

Unity is the Eager Pursuit of All Believers vs. 3

Partner with God in Pursuing Unity

We Mainting Unity By Having Humble attitudes

It’s How I express my love for God and Appreciation of the Gospel

Magnifies God in this World