Sermon Tone Analysis

We looked at 5 Attitudes we must Exhibit.

Lowliness,

Meekness,

Long Suffering,

Forbearance,

Love.

Today we are going to Examine

7 Affirmations We Must Encircle

Now, these are five basic actions or attitudes that we ought to have, and when we have these attitudes, then there are seven basic affirmations that we’re to make.

Look, if you will, beginning in verse 4. Are you ready?

Look at these affirmations.

He mentions seven theological truths—seven things that are the lowest common denomination.

What I mean is this: that you cannot fail to believe one of these seven things and still call yourself a Bible Christian.

Now, there are many things that we might differ on, but here are the seven basic common denominators of all true Bible Christians.

This is what makes us one.

We’re talking now about our unity, and there’s a unity of spirit and a unity of doctrine.

Ephesians 4:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1.

There Is One Body

Look in verse 4: the Bible says, “[For] there is one body.”

(Ephesians 4:4) Now, what is the one body that he’s talking about?

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, when he says, “one body,” he’s not talking about the Southern Baptist Convention; he’s not talking about Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians.

He’s talking about all true believers who have given their hearts to Jesus Christ.

You know, somebody says, “Well, you Baptists are so narrow-minded you think only Baptists are going to heaven.”

Well, I’m a lot more narrow-minded than that: I don’t think a lot of Baptists are going to heaven.

And, I’m a lot more broadminded than that: I think a lot of people who are not Baptists are going to heaven.

If a person is saved, he’s going to heaven, and he’s only been saved through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible says,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

(Acts 16:31)

“There is one body.”

(Ephesians 4:4)

And, the members of this one body have been called from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation upon this earth, and, therefore, they differ in nationality, they differ in color, they differ in language.

they differ in education, they differ in training, they differ in ability, they differ in temperament, they differ in outlook.

But, they’re all alike in that they have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord and the Spirit of God has placed them into the Body of Christ.

“There is one body.”

(Ephesians 4:4) You must believe that in order to be a Christian.

And, the Bible says in Colossians chapter 3, verse 11—it speaks of this body,

Hallelujah!

2. There Is One Spirit

But, not only one body—there is one Spirit, mentioned in verse 4. (Ephesians 4:4)

Ephesians 4:4 (KJV 1900)

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

And, this one Spirit is the dear Holy Spirit who lives in us.

The Holy Spirit is our strength—the source of our strength.

He is the secret of our life.

It is the Holy Spirit that makes us one—this commonality.

You see, we’re different members, but we all have the same Spirit—just like my body has fingers, and my body has hands, and my body has arms, and my body has a torso, and legs, and feet, and ears, and eyes, and so on, but just one Spirit.

One human spirit makes all of these members cohere, and one Holy Spirit makes all these members cohere.

You see, that’s what … The Holy Spirit is the glue that holds us together.

3.

There Is One Hope

There’s one body, one Spirit, and then the Bible speaks of one hope.

(Ephesians 4:4)

What is the hope that he’s talking about?

And incidentally, when the Bible says, “hope,” it doesn’t mean “maybe so, if so, think so, wish so”.

The word hope in the Bible stands for a truth, something that is coming that we know that we know that we know that we know is coming, and we can hardly wait for it to get here.

Now, what is the one hope of the Church?

The Second Coming of Jesus Chris, that one, far-off, distant event—or maybe, perhaps, near event—that we’re all looking forward to.

The Bible calls this in 1 John chapter 3

Again, Paul calls it

Now, all Christians don’t believe alike about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Theologians have described their theology.

We call it “eschatology,” concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

There are some who are premillennial.

There are some who are amillennial.

There are some who are postmillennial, and there are some who don’t even know what I’m talking about, amen?

All right, you know, those are different kinds of views concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The premillennialist believes that Jesus Christ is coming before the Millennium.

A postmillennialist believes that Jesus Christ is coming after the Millennium.

An amillennialist believes that He’s coming, but there will be no Millennium whatever.

I want you to know what I am, in case there’s any doubt.

I’m a premillennial.

I believe in the premillennial coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As a matter of fact, I’m a pretribulation premillennialist.

I believe He’s coming before the Tribulation.

But, a lot of people will say, “Brother Donny, I just don’t even understand all of that.

I can’t even comprehend it.”

One man says, “I’m not pre-, post-, or a-.

I am ‘panmilliennial’: I just believe it’ll all pan out somehow.”

Other guy says, “Well, I’m ‘promillennial’: I’m for it.”

Well, whether you’re pre-, post-, pan-, a-, or whatever, you got to believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

And, bless God, if you can’t be on the program committee, you can still be on the welcome committee, amen?

You can say with the Apostle John,

Revelation 22:20 (KJV 1900)

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.

Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

(Revelation 22:20)

There is one hope—that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended.

He’s coming back to receive His own.

You can’t call yourself a Christian if you don’t believe, dear friend, in that one body.

You can’t call yourself a Christian if you’re not indwelt by that one Spirit.

You can’t call yourself a Christian if you don’t anticipate that one hope.

4.

There Is One Lord

And then, the Bible says there is one Lord.

(Ephesians 4:5)

Ephesians 4:5 (KJV 1900)

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,