49-23 The Oneness of the Church
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Ephesians 4:4-6
Ephesians 4:4-6
For the past 120 years the Lord’s church has been growing in its desire for unity across denominational lines. The ecumenical movement (late 19th early 20th C) began a concerted effort to unite churches to represent the spiritual oneness of the Church to the world. Within that larger movement there have been waves of influence by various individuals and orgs; WCC (1937) believe they “are called to the goal of visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship; to promote their common witness in work for mission and evangelism.”
Since org was too broad (encompassing wide range of beliefs—“accepting our LJC as God and Savior”) in 1942 NAE rose up to unite around a more conservative orthodoxy. Still they say membership “includes a wide range of evangelical churches from Calvinist, Arminian, Wesleyan, Anabaptist and Charismatic traditions — and everywhere in between.”
RCC was never apart of either group—1994 ECT; attempting to reconcile the vast differences b/t evangelical and catholic communities.
2001 Brian McLaren wrote “A New Kind of Xn” and spearheaded what was called “emerging church” movement. They sought to reshape how to do church in the post-modern era virtually eliminating all doctrinal teaching believing that it interfered with Xn love and church unity.
Only a matter of time before the next movement seeking to emphasize unity among churches emerge.
It is believed that one of the main culprits of division is doctrine—many claim that “love is what really matters and doctrine only hinders a united church.” I would venture to say Martin Luther would highly disagree with that idea.
500 years ago there was a rediscovery of major theological tenets that had been lost/hidden thru centuries of teaching that said by persisting in good, moral and ritual actions one would earn merit in God’s eyes enabling man to achieve salvation.
Out of that heresy sparked the Reformation that emphasized the centrality of God, the glory of His sovereignty, and the primacy of His grace in the salvation of sinners thru LJC. The Reformation organized around several critical points of doctrine—the 5 Solas.
Sola Fide: justification by faith alone
Sola Scriptura: Bible alone is the source of divine revelation, the only inspired, infallible, final, and authoritative norm of faith and practice (not church/tradition)
Sola gratia: man’s salvation is an act of pure grace, and grace alone on the part of God
Solus Christus: the ground for salvation is in the work of Christ alone—not Christ’s work plus my work.
Soli Deo Gloria: justification by faith alone is the the glory of God—in fact all that He does is to display His majestic glory for creation.
It was thru doctrine, teaching doctrinal truth in Scripture that brought about the rediscovery of the gospel which had for ages been hidden in the tradition of RCC. Though the reformers were accused of divisiveness, it was their settled conviction of these truths that benefit us today (men like Luther, Calvin, Zwingli). This became a unifying force for protestantism.
Today, its amazing how many individuals continue to say “I’m not interested in doctrine—just love.” There’s a problem with that—the Bible doesn’t discuss unity apart from doctrine. The Bible doesn’t direct the Xn how to live without grounding him on a foundation of truth. Paul doesn’t discuss unity of the church until he laid the doctrinal foundation in ch 1-3.
This is not to say that all Xns agree on every minor point of doctrine. But we do all agree on the fundamentals of the faith. The Lord wants His church, His people to walk in unity. We are not commanded to create unity (the Lord’s doing), but vs 3—“diligent to preserve.”
The basis for our unity is found in a common belief, understanding of the fundamental doctrines that really do unite Christ’s church.
Paul emphasizes the unity of the Spirit by naming 7 basic spiritual truths that unite every believer.
1) One Body
1) One Body
Several metaphors for the church in Scripture (even Eph): kingdom, family, temple, bride. Here Paul speaks of it as a “body” which is important since all parts of the body must work together.
There is only 1 body of Christ. Every believer at the moment of salvation is placed into this body with every other Xian since Pentecost
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
The emphasis in Gk is on “one” (emphatic position)—stresses unity/oneness. The body of Christ is not a Presbyterian body, Baptist, Methodist, pentecostal, or independent. It isn’t a Montana body, California, Colorado, Florida—There is only 1 body.
There is only 1 body, 1 church (universal church containing all the saved from Pentecost to Rapture), 1 head—the Chief Shepherd (1 Pt 5:4), the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that universal church consists of local churches that gather visibly around the world—but every true church is united to all other true churches—being 1 body.
The church transcends all denominational, racial, ethnic, national, male/female, slave/free, Gentile, Jewish barriers (Gal 3:28). The entire book of Eph is based on that concept. Eph 3:15 we derive our name from the heavenly father.
This becomes a very strong argument for being diligent to preserve the unity of this body. Divisiveness within the Lord’s Body is not His desire and we should strive to end them.
2) One Spirit
2) One Spirit
Obvious reference to the Holy Spirit of God (3rd member of Trinity).
that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
Every individual believer is a temple in which the HS takes up residence when you trust Christ as Lord & Savior. But collectively as the church—
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Earlier (Eph 1:14) Paul explained that the H.S. has become the pledge, down payment, earnest, engagement ring, from God the Father to every believer that guarantees a place for him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
There is 1 HS—though He works in a wide variety of ways to bring people to Christ there is a common oneness that we all share with regards to our salvation. Concerning the HS’s ministry (conviction Jn 16:8).
There is an awakening whereby we become conscious that all is not right b/t ourselves and God; that we have violated His perfect law; that we are hostile to His holy character; and justly under His wrath
There is conviction; creating the desire to turn from self-efforts; trusting in Christ for salvation
Then there is regeneration where the HS supernaturally places the life of Christ within us and the believer becomes a new creation—not what he was before
So we begin to walk by the Spirit and as Xns, if we walk by the Spirit, then our doctrine would be purified & unified, and our relationships would be purified & unified. This is because the Spirit creates the unity (vs 3) of the Church and this unity is indivisible b/c the Spirit is indivisible.
3) One Hope
3) One Hope
The hope we have looks forward to the return of LJC to take his Church to heaven to be with Him always (1 Thes 4:13-18). For the believer, there is only one hope (the hope of your calling). There is only one destiny—eternal destiny. The HS was given to you as a pledge that God will keep His promise—imparting eternal life and bringing you into its fulness.
The calling we have (talked about our calling vs 1) is ultimately a calling to Christ-like perfection and glory—Progressive Sanctification. We all have different gifts, different ministries, different places of service—but we have only 1 calling—
Calling to be “holy and blameless before Him” Eph 1:4
To be conformed to the Image of His Son—Rom 8:29
That will occur when we see the risen Christ—1 Jn 3:2
4) One Lord
4) One Lord
Should be obvious that we have one Lord—The LJC (the only way into that eternal life)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
“And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
Though the world is pluralistic the church is not. Pluralism (as it relates to religion) is simply the belief that all ideas and opinions regarding faith are valid. That stands in direct contradiction to Bible.
Every genuine believer confesses and serves the same Lord. To Him we all have a common allegiance. If there is conflict, disunity, disharmony in our midst it is because we don’t understand His will or we are not receiving our orders from Him at all.
It is difficult to see how 2 Xns can claim to obey the same Lord and yet not be able to walk in unity together.
Ghandi (when spiritual leader of India) was asked by missionaries “what is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in India?” he replied, “Christians.” All too often we fail to live in unity.
In reality—here’s the application for every Xn—Christ is Lord. It not only means there can only be 1 Lord—it also means that you are not the Lord (you do not get to determine what is right for you). We speak of the lordship of JC and to confess that (Rom 10:9); to confess that means you follow Him; obey His will with all allegiance.
Paul said :
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Faithfulness to the Lord is critical if we are to continue to fellowship in unity.
5) One Faith
5) One Faith
There are disagreements over what “faith” refers to: (2 possibilities)
Act of saving faith whereby a person believes the gospel and trusts the Lord resulting in salvation. No one can come to the Lord any other way (Jn 14:6).
In NT times—Jews and Gentiles asked if there were 2 ways to experience salvation. Paul answered
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
All Xns are saved thru the act of faith.
“Faith” can also mean:
The Body of Christian truth (The revelation of God’s Word—His self-disclosure)
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
The word in Eph 4:5 refers to the body of doctrine that God has revealed to us (Eph 4:13). In that sense, there is only body of truth—one faith that has been given to the saints by God.
It is true that many people argue over the different interpretations of Scripture. But God revealed one faith: there is not a Calvinistic NT & Arminian NT. There is not a Baptist Bible (although some are KJV only) & Presbyterian Bible. The church/body of Christ was founded on one body of truth—one faith—received as the objective revelation of God’s Word.
Now, set before you is the responsibility to faithfully & diligently study the basic doctrinal tenets set forth in God’s Word.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Not only are believers to know the truth but we are to hold forth the truth in love. So with forbearance we are to love fellow members even when they do not see the teaching of Scripture in the same light. Then, in prayerful interaction, our differences (as we maintain humble—vs 2***, teachable spirits) can be corrected. But our goal as the body of Christ should always be to express “one faith” simply, clearly, accurately, consistently, diligently.
6) One Baptism
6) One Baptism
Scholars differ also on the interpretation of this fundamental belief. Some say it refers to the baptism of the HS while others see it as a reference to the ordinance of water baptism.
I think it is difficult to attach the meaning of water baptism to this verse. Baptism often refers to act of being immersed in water in NT. I personally think that interpretation would put too much emphasis on the necessity of being baptized for salvation—NT nowhere teaches. We would reject the teaching that says you must be baptized in order to be saved.
“Baptism” is also used in connection with the work of the HS
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Paul says all Xns baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ. This happens at the moment of conversion never again needs repeated. There is much confusion over the baptism of HS—some believe it happens at some point after salvation. Paul says “we were.” We are never commanded to seek the baptism of the Spirit or pray for it.
Command to be filled with Spirit (Eph 5:18) but never to be baptized by Spirit. As far as the unity of the church is concerned, there is only one baptism (of the Spirit) which places us in the body of Christ and we become members of the true church.
7) One God and Father
7) One God and Father
Some commentators have grouped these 7 basic doctrinal tenets according to the 3 persons of the Trinity: (body, Spirit, hope of calling) with the HS; (Lord, faith, baptism) with Jesus the Son; God and Father.
However you group these fundamental, core beliefs, there is a climax to this progression of thought which shows the ultimate reason for believers to walk the worthy walk and to be diligent to preserve unity—there is one God and Father.
There is no other—that is the basic doctrine of Judaism (Monotheism)—
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
That truth is just as foundational to Xty. In the NT we have an even more complete record revealing God as 1 yet 3 (Trinity—Father, Son & HS).
“Father” is often used of God in Scripture as the most comprehensive divine title. Paul’s point is not to separate the 3 members of the Godhead but to show their unique roles and yet focus at the same time on their unity as they relate to each other and to believers.
In this last phrase there are 3 specific expressions of God’s activity:
Sovereign (over all)
God is “over all…” He is the one who sustains the universe. He guides and upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb 1:3). This is an incredible assurance to the child of God—He has everything under complete control. And if we take His sovereignty seriously, then we will make every effort toward unity.
Omnipotent: Through All
God is accomplishing his purposes thru us—we are instruments that God chooses to use. Remember Eph 2:10? God is an active God and His activity is particularly visible in the church thru whom He is working.
Omnipresent: in all
He expresses that loving control in our lives thru His intimate presence. The God of the universe is the God of the individual—“in all” all Xns—members of the body.
Bible says He takes notice of the sparrow that falls to the ground (Matt 10:29) and yet His attention to us is greater as He tells us we are more valuable than many sparrows.
You are the Temple of God. You are God-created, God-loved, God-controlled, God-sustained, and God-filled. The God in you is the same God in your brothers and sisters—one of the strongest appeals to unity.
God does everything according to this 7 fold display of one-ness. The Trinity displays oneness.
John Stott compares the unity within the Godhead to that in the church:
“There can be only one Christian family, only one Christian faith, hope and baptism, and only one Christian body, because there is only one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You can no more multiply churches than you can multiply Gods. Is there only one God? Then he has only one church. 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.”
Whatever else you may say about the church, it is the Lord’s church, comprised of the Lord’s people, in whom the Lord is working to accomplishes His purposes to the glory of God. If this is our vision then we can be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit—an outward, visible unity that is grounded in the unity God has built into the very fabric of our existence as the Church.