One God & One Body

Anthony Coughlin

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Ephesians 4:4–6

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Notes

Transcript

Intro

I have not been on Facebook in many years. But, I remember when the social networking site—The Facebook---first launched in 2004. I was in college and people kept talking about it… “Did you hear about the new thing…Facebook?” Everyone seemed to know about it. Facebook? No…what is it? How do I do it? And, I remember someone saying to me, “Well, it’s only for people in colleges or universities. That was the prerequisite. That was the unifying factor. And you know, I really wanted to belong and I met the requirement so I signed up. Then, about four years later, I signed off for good. But, one thing was obvious and still is obvious—people wanted to belong to something. There was something that unified people, at the time it was a specific group of people, and people who met the necessary criteria signed up in droves, to “connect” and “belong”. Unity was important and to be unified, you had to qualify to be accepted.

We have been in a sermon series on unity. Our focus has been in the first few verses . Paul has been encouraging the church at Ephesus to maintain…be eager to maintain unity, in the bond of peace. And he gives some practical instructions on how God’s people should do this; we must be humble, gentle, patient and we must bear with one another in love. Easier preached than practiced...

Unity is crucially important, but not at the expense of the fundamental truths of the gospel. What are those elements of Christianity on which our unity is based?

Now that Paul has explained how, he’s going to end this section with the basis for our unity--The bedrock or foundation that our unity, our humility, our patience, our long suffering rests upon. He’s going to answer the person who might say, “Okay…I get the be humble, patient, gentle…but why?”

Unity is crucially important, but not at the expense of the fundamental truths of the gospel. What are those elements of Christianity on which our unity is based?

And, to provide an answer, Paul provides seven theological truths to the church at Ephesus and to us.

(1) We are one body. (2) We have one Spirit. (3) We have one hope. (4) We have one Lord. (5) We have one faith. (6) We have one baptism. (7) We have one God and Father of all.

These are very specific truths or doctrines. Last Sunday, I gave Shai a hug and I said, “Pray for me. I’m preaching the last sermon in the unity series.” And I sort of recited the verses and he said, “Is it going to be a doctrinal sermon?” And I said, “Well…yeah.” In one sense, every sermon has to be a doctrinal sermon, but Paul very specifically provides clear and distinctive truths…doctrines, as the basis, the foundation, the bedrock of genuine and biblical Christian unity.

The basis for our humility, our gentleness, our patience and our long suffering is founded upon some very specific doctrine(s)…beliefs. In other words, the reason that Christians can and must be gentle, patient, humble and long suffering with one another is because all true Christians stand on the same foundational truths that serve as the firm ground for their unity to stand on.

Paul has already emphasized the fact that unity is crucially important, but now he’s going to make clear Christian unity cannot come at the expense of the fundamental truths of the gospel. What are those elements of Christianity on which our unity is based?

And so...the basis for our humility, our gentleness, our patience and our long suffering is founded upon some very specific doctrine(s). In other words, the reason that Christians can and must be gentle, patient, humble and long suffering with one another is because all true Christians stand on the same foundational truths.that it is not at the expense of the fundamental truths of the gospel. What are those elements of Christianity on which our unity is based?

(1) We are one body. (2) We have one Spirit. (3) We have one hope. (4) We have one Lord. (5) We have one faith. (6) We have one baptism. (7) We have one God and Father of all.

Numbers

He does this in two sets of three :

SET 1: (v.4) -- "one body...one Spirit...one hope"

SET 2: (v.5) "one Lord, one faith, one baptism"

I do think Paul was intentional in doing that and so that’s how we’ll attempt to walk through the text.

It’s also worth noting, before we dive into the text, that in his exhortation on unity (oneness), Paul uses the word one seven times in v.4-6. Three times when he talks about the persons of the Godhead—The Trinty—one Spirt, one Lord, one Father, and four times when he talks about aspects of God’s salvation—one body, one hope, one faith, one baptism.

hree times regarding the persons of the Godhead and four times regarding aspects of His salvation.

So, the Trinity is part of the basis for our unity. Each aspect of our salvation is connected with one of the Persons of the Trinity. So, that’s how we’ll look at the text—in those kind of three parts:

One Body

One Body, One Spirit and One Hope

One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism

One Sovereign God and Father

Practical Implications

One Body, One Spirit and One Hope

2 sets of 3 - (v.4) -- "one body...one Spirit...one hope" and (v.5) -- "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" One Body

One Spirit

One Hope

One Body

(v. 4) There is one body…

There is one bodyHe mentions "the body" first because it's what he's been talking about. It's his primary concern that the church at Ephesus understand that they are one body, many members, many different gifts, of one body. Paul is referring to the Church. Sometimes the Church is called the family of God, the Kingdom, the Temple, the Nation of Priests, The Bride.

He mentions "the body" first because it's what he's been talking about. It's his primary concern that the church at Ephesus understand that they are one body, many members, many different gifts, of one body. Paul is referring to the Church. Sometimes the Church is called the family of God, the Kingdom, the Temple, the Nation of Priests, The Bride.

He mentions "the body" first because it's what he's been talking about....unity in the body. He’s used this term before in this letter.

- 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. (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. (ESV)

and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (ESV)

It's his primary concern that the church at Ephesus understand that they are one body, many members, many different gifts, of one body. Sometimes the Church is called the family of God, the Kingdom, the Temple, the Nation of Priests, The Bride. Here…they’re called a body…one body.

A body is dependent on its many different parts.

Toe bone connected to the foot bone Foot bone connected to the heel bone Heel bone connected to the ankle bone

(Negro Spiritual)

Sometimes the Church is called the family of God, the Kingdom, the Temple, the Nation of Priests, The Bride.

Paul uses something to describe the Church that, as a whole, is made up of very different but very co-dependent parts. I don't know really much about what's going on inside by body (thank you Med students), but I do know that if you take...lets say...my stomach out...my whole body will feel it and it won't work right.

Another thing about the body, as a metaphor, is something visible! You can see it. He could just say, "We're one in spirit." He could've used another metaphor that lent itself to less visible imagery.

But, I think of his words to Festus and King Agrippa...when they try to accuse him of being crazy for believing the Gospel, He says, "What Jesus did was not done in a corner." In other words, He died publicly. And so, we must remember to be a body, we must be visibly present together...like we are right now.

He does not mention denomination, geography, ethnicity or race. There is no Gentile, Jewish, male, female--these things are not to be ignored--but, as far as it concerns the body of Christ...there's one body.

A body is something that is co-dependent on its many parts in order for it to function properly.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV)

Paul thinks, "Yes, the body...that's a great picture of what the Church is!"

It's a methaphor…the Church is like a body. But it's actual as well. Jesus held the bread and broke it--"this is my body"--but his actual body was also actually literally broken, at the Cross, so that the Church as the body of Christ is both a metaphor and an actuality. The church is the present corporate earthly manifestation of the saving work of Christ. The church is not just "like" a body, it "is" a body. Paul knew this first hand. It's how he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus:

Paul has first hand understanding of this. It's how he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus:

- 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

One Spirit

As far as Jesus is concerned…you persecute the people I’ve bought with my blood…you persecute me. My body. They’re one with me!

Consider for a moment what the Savior did so that we might be unified!

- And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them,

19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them,

Jesus set himself apart...for death so that the Church might be unified—as one body. And, Jesus says that the unity that will come about, because of His death, His separation from the Father, will be a Gospel proclamation to the world! Don't you see why the unity of the Church is so especially important? Our unity testifies to the very work of Christ--The Gospel. Christians divided over race, are professing believers, who are part of the body ôf Christ…lying about the Gospel. Christians caught in dissension over politics or culture or money or non-essential doctrines about the end- times or church splits or what kind of music is best...Christians who choose to be divided over those things (it's a choice) are telling the world that Jesus Christ did not lovingly come into the world to save sinners, through His death on the Cross in their place and rise again, defeating all of the things that make for disunity. He couldn't have, or else I would still be talking to this person who believes the same Gospel that I believe. Jesus made a way for all different kinds of people to be completely unified in Him…part of one body. Many different parts, one interdependent, organic, cohesive body.

- For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Think of how the church has grown! From Adam and Eve, to Abraham (worshipper of Pagan gods), Jacob, Ruth, David...all through history until now!

Not only that, but think of who exactly Jesus called when He called his first disciples. Almost like a template for what He would use his first disciples to set a spark to, in the world.

- He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

An article I read in Table Talk magazine lays it out like this:

Simon Peter, James, John, and Andrew were all fishermen

Matthew, or Levi, was a tax collector

Simon the Zealot was part of a movement that advocated throwing off Roman rule over Palestine by any means necessary

The Twelve all came from different social backgrounds, but they also represented diametrically opposed philosophical and political viewpoints.

Matthew the tax collector was content enough with Roman rule to represent the government in an official capacity.

Simon the Zealot was a member of a group that sought the expulsion of the Romans and the regaining of Jewish independence. Presumably, Simon left this movement when he joined the Twelve, but the key fact here is that Jesus brought together into one body two men who could not have disagreed more politically, at least when Jesus called them initially.

This doesn't mean that we do not celebrate the diversity that exists among God's people or ignore the ways that sin and Satan have used people's differences (race, socioeconomic background, upbringing, birthplace, politics, etc.) to harm other image bearers of God. So, there is a beauty in the diversity that remains in the Church that reflects the image and glory of God. But...that diversity must never divide or be used to divide. The aroma of Christ () is identifiable no matter who or where you are. You don't need to speak the same, look the same, vote the same, dress the same...to SMELL like Jesus.

The Church has been put together by all different pieces of clay, each one dependent upon the other. A body…one body, Paul says.

A body is also alive. What is it that causes the body of Christ—the Church to be alive? The Holy Spirit!

One Spirit

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” One Spirit

Because we have one Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance—same Holy Spirit, same inheritance—we have one hope! It’s the Spirit who assures us of our hope!

(v.4) There is one body and one Spirit

Not a spirit and not a general sense of camaraderie — I remember when the Eagles won the Super Bowl …yes I went to the parade and yes there was a clear and unifying spirit of enthusiasm. That’s not what Paul is talking about; Paul is talking about a person! Namely, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead. And he is drawing the Church’s attention the fact that all the members of God’s body have been converted by the same Holy Spirit!

One Hope

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Here’s what Paul’s doing. Watch this…I’ll need your participation here. Since we’ve been doing the “raise your hand” thing, I’m gonna throw my hat in the ring and do it too.

Raise your hand if you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, purchased by His blood. Raise your hand.

If you grew up in a Christian home, raise your hand. If you didn’t, raise your hand.

If you came to know the Lord in college, raise your hand. As a younger child, raise your hand. As an adult, raise your hand.

If a friend shared the Gospel with you, raise your hand.

If you heard a sermon that lead you to turn from your sin and trust the Lord, raise your hand.

If your parents shared the Gospel with you, raise your hand. Someone at your job, raise your hand.

If you thought you were a Christian but then your heard something that made you say, ‘Oh…that’s what following Jesus means.”

If you just opened a Bible that someone gave you and you came to faith in Christ through the reading of the Word, raise your hand.

Okay…now...

Raise your hand if you, at some point, realized you were a sinner, were in violation of his law and deserved His wrath... and that you needed God’s forgiveness.

Raise your hand if you, remember at one point you cared nothing about Jesus and then…there was a point when you became alive. You loved Jesus, loved God’s Word…you changed. Raise your hand.

Raise your hand if you, at some point, placed your faith in Christ.

Raise your hand if the Bible is a book that, when you read it, it’s like the words of life to you.

Raise your hand if you can humbly say, you’ve seen some kind of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control in your life, since you’ve been a Christian.

Here’s what Paul is getting at; regardless of the circumstances of your testimony—upbringing, background, family-- The Holy Spirit, has done the exact same thing in the heart and mind of everyone who is a part of the body of Christ! Every Christian…actual Christian on the planet and every Christian that’s gone on the glory…has had the same testimony—I once was blind, but then…I could see! And that’s the work of the Holy Spirit! To quote one of own, “What did Jesus do? Made these heathens new; wanna know my testimony, read ”

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air...But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship...

How do we know this? Think of the ways that the Holy Spirit works in every believers life, regardless of your "testimony".

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship

- Illumination of the Word

It’s the Holy Spirit who:

Gives life, new life and causes Christians to be born again:

- Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

- It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. gave revelation to the Prophets and the Apostles

gave revelation to the Prophets and the Apostles

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. gave revelation to the Prophets and the Apostles

Titus 3:4–6 ESV

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. gave revelation to the Prophets and the Apostles

- But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior

gave revelation to the Prophets and the Apostles

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— - Illumination of the Word

- Illumination of the Word

Illumination of the Word

It’s the same Holy Spirit who sanctifies us and who will complete His life-giving work by giving new resurrection to our mortal bodies:

- If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Illumination of the Word

It’s the same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Jesus that indwells the Body of Christ and empowers the Church for the work of the ministry:

Illumination of the Word

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Illumination of the Word

Illumination of the Word

- Sanctification

- And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

After his temptation in the wilderness and at the beginning of his ministry says that He returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit and that they would be empowered to preach the Gospel ()

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. There is no second blessing, you don’t need the gift of tongues)

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

- ...But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

There is no second blessing, you don’t need the gift of tongues)

He doesn’t “slay” people and make fall out, half-conscious…and then go back to have them try and repeat it again. He produces lasting fruit in believers.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. There is no second blessing, you don’t need the gift of tongues)

The Holy Spirit directs and guides us by illuminating the Word of God so that we can understand it.

- Bring Life - Animates the Church

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27

- But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

- 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. How amazing is it to consider the fact that all who are Christians in here, this morning, have the God The Holy Spirit indwelling you!

How amazing is it to consider the fact that all who are Christians in here, this morning, have the God The Holy Spirit indwelling you!

- Renewing

- Comforting

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. How amazing is it to consider the fact that all who are Christians in here, this morning, have the God The Holy Spirit indwelling you!

How amazing is it to consider the fact that all who are Christians in here, this morning, have the God The Holy Spirit indwelling you!

It’s the Spirit who helps us when we ask, “Open my eyes that I might behold wonderful things from your law.” The Holy Spirit does all of that.

And the Holy Spirit seals us for heaven and gives us assurance that we’ll get there:

- In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

How amazing that, if we are Christians, the doctrine of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is at work in you. If you are convicted of your sin, that is the Holy Spirit. If you are drawn to worship God, in singing or prayer or pour over His Word…that is the Holy Spirit!

One Hope

Paul is saying, ‘You are one body and the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity is a reality that unifies you.’

One Hope

Because we have one Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance—same Holy Spirit, same inheritance—we have one hope! It’s the Spirit who assures us of our hope!

In the world, hope is a wish. Do you think you'll get that job. I hope so. But...you don't actually have any idea of what's going to happen. We are out into the great unknown…Let me buy some scratch offs…I hope I win. Or…even worse, they may actually place their hope for a better future existence on earth, on another person.

The interesting thing about hope…false hope even, is that it does unify. It’s seen most clearly when it’s expressed, together. The world hopes in many things that are meant to unify, but do not ultimately produce their desired effect. (Ex. politics, sports, people ex. Kobe Bryant). And isn’t it always the case that people hope in one thing, only to have that thing break or lose it’s luster, they hope in maybe…a trophy or accomplishing a feat only to have the trophy lose it’s luster and the joy of victory fade away once you lose again. They hope in a person, and the person dies or fails them…and they pin their hope on something else. The idea of hope can unify people…but what the world attaches their hope to is constantly changing…and so, the hope of the world doesn’t actually unify anyone. But that’s not what Paul is talking about.

What is the hope that we have?

The Church's hope truly unifies, because what we hope in cannot be moved or changed or undone!

Our hope is sure and certain, not unknown. Our hope is Christ, irregardless of what you believe about the circumstances surround his current reign and eventual return. I don't want to bore you with theological terms, but I can stand next to someone who is pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trip, post-mil, a-mil and we can all sing the words:

Our hope is Christ, irregardless of what you believe about the circumstances surround his current reign and eventual return. I don't want to bore you with theological terms, but I can stand next to someone who is pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trip, post-mil, a-mil and we can all sing the words:

When Christ shall come,

With shouts of acclamation,

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim,

"My God, how great Thou art!"

The hope is...Our hope is...Christ will return! Christians, the Body of Christ is filled with people who are looking to the future, and in the future they see...One Man, Christ Jesus! We will be with him! The hope that Paul is talking about here is the hope that all Christians can agree on: the return of Christ, the Resurrection, and the Last Judgement. This is our future hope. And it’s that hope that unifies us.

If we look forward to those things, if we anticipate the day when we will stand shoulder to shoulder with people from other denominations, nations, races, and experiences, and if in that day all the things that divide us now will fade away, then that should certainly influence the way in which we think about those divisions now." (James M. Boice)

One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism

One Faith

One Lord

Just all of the unities in v. 4 are positioned around the Holy Spirit, the unities of v.5—one faith and one baptism—are situated around one Lord Jesus Christ.

One Baptism

There is one Lord. I remember talking with someone about Jesus (maybe you’ve had similar encounters) about the fact that Jesus will come back to judge the world and pour at wrath on all who’ve rejected Him, and their response was, “Yeah, well that’s the Jesus that you believe in. The Jesus I believe in isn’t like that.”

But…it’s not on the table for conversation. There is only one Jesus! There are not many Jesus', subject to your preference and personal interpretation. What unifies the Church, by the Spirit?

- This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is only one Jesus! There are not many Jesus', subject to your preference and personal interpretation.

One Sovereign God and Father

Paul wanted to make this so abundantly clear and stress the importance of it so much that He said:

- But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” One Sovereign God and Father

There’s no Jesus, crucified for sin, resurrected and coming again, plus…He’ll make you rich if you have enough faith. He became sin, so that we that are sin might become the righteousness of God, plus…your good works have to outweigh your bad works and so you better behave or God might decide that He just isn’t happy with you…like God is some indecisive, fickle pagan idol who can’t make up his mind and who’s temperament changes with the temperature.

One Sovereign God and Father

- 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. One Sovereign God and Father

One Sovereign God and Father

- For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” One Sovereign God and Father

And if there’s one Lord that we profess and are saved by, it would make sense that we have one faith.

One Faith

This is not faith, as in our experience of faith. Paul is talking about the content of what we believe. Doctrine. The basics of what someone must hold to in order to be consider part of the body of Christ, the Church.

- They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

- Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

- Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Alive in Christ

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Paul is talking about the Gospel.

- Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures...

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

We believe that God, sent His Son Jesus to

One Gospel joins believers together all over the world, and has done so across time and nationality, race, man/woman, cities, states, provinces, rich people, poor people, educated people, people who can't read but heard the word of truth and believed, old people, young people, children, single people, married people, across kingdoms and political regimes, and through wars and empires and civilizations and trends and cultural waves of influences, Gen Xers and Boomers and Millennials...Christians have had and have one faith. We believe that God the Creator of us and of all, sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, lived a perfect life and died, in our place, for the sins of those who would believe. And is, By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the Glory of God Alone through the Word of Scripture Alone...are we saved...and this is not our own doing so that no body gets to say, "I did it." And it's Christ who lived in our place, died in our place, rose and represents us now, before the Father.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Do you believe that? If you believe that, and simply that…you are in the faith. If you believe something different, you believe in a lie. Repent and believe the Gospel.

One Baptism

Paul, in His explanation of what unifies the Church includes baptism. Paul isn't concerned about the modes of baptism, but in what baptism signifies. Do you identify with Christ? Have you been publicly identified with Christ. That is the issue. And water baptism is the public statement…a testimony that your identity and your unity is in Christ. This is why, during membership interviews we ask people, “Have you been baptized” And if you say no, we baptize you.

aul isn't concerned about the modes of baptism, but in what baptism signifies. Do you identify with Christ? Have you been publicly identified with Christ. That is the issue.

Believers are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Not in the name of a church or an apostle--One Lord and one baptism!

One Sovereign God and Father

The final unifier for the Church is God the Father, the first person of the Trinity.

- one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Practical Implication

2 sets of 3 - (v.4) -- "one body...one Spirit...one hope" and (v.5) -- "one Lord, one faith, one baptism"

The Church —the body, is animated and visibly unified by the Holy Spirit, through the work of the Son, Jesus Christ…and why does the Spirit unite the Church? Why did Christ come to die? All of it flows from the on God who is over all and through all and in all. The all here refers to believers. God is Father to all believers--those who are in the faith.

The all here refers to believers. God is Father to all believers--those who are in the faith.

God is everywhere in His Church! Christians can go to other places in the world, having never been there before, walk into a Gospel believing Church full of people who are in the faith and get along as if they're family...because they are. Because, they have all things in common that are actually necessary for unity. (Kileeo, Scotland, Church in the Schemes)

The Triune God—The Father, Son and Spirit is at work, fully and completely in the work of the Gospel that unifies the Church. And if we question that ability of God to keep His people, listen to the words of John Stott:

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Practical Implication

“There can only be one Christian family, only one faith, hope and baptism, and only one Christian body, because there is only one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…Is the unity of God inviolable? Then so is the unity of the Church...It is no more possible to split the church than it is possible to split the Godhead.”

Listen to the words of John Stott: “ There can only be one Christian family, only one faith, hope and baptism, and only one Christian body, because there is only one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…Is the unity of God invioable? Then so is the unity of the Church...It is no more possible to split the church than it is possible to split the Godhead.”

The Church belongs to God. It’s made of God’s people and it stood the tests of history, because of God’s work in the Gospel and…we, as His Body, exist for His glory.

Points of Application

Read the Statement of Faith

Unity at the expense of truth is not biblical unity. Some division is actually a promotion of unity (ex. Think of time when you intentionally disagreed with someone’s stance on say, the deity of Christ or the idea that all people are good…and it led to a conversation about the Gospel, that led to their salvation.)

Contend for the faith.

Some division is actually a promotion of unity

Satan and sin do undo us (individually and collectively) by attacking biblical, foundational truths. This is what Satan did in the garden and it’s what he does now—every time we sin, it is because we are failing to believe and remember something basic about the truths of God. I don’t suspect anyone fell into the sin of pornography because you were struggling with whether you should be post-millenial or amillenial. But, many have fallen into all kinds of sin by forgetting that they’ve been purchased by the blood of Christ, filled with His Spirit and adopted by the Father, who loves them with an unending love.

Let’s pray that God would make us a Church that is eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, bearing with one another, humble, gentle, loving…because we are filled with Spirit, placing our hope in the Son and loved by God the Father.