1 Unity Eph 4 1 6 Eph 4

1 Unity Eph. 4: 1 -6

Eph. 4: 1 -6 • I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, 2

3 • with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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

I. The attitude in which unity is to be achieved & maintained 5 • 1. Our calling • 2 Th. 2: 14 • “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”

Heb. 3: 1 • Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 6

7 • We are to walk in harmony with the Will of God

8 • 2. Lowliness and meekness • Lowliness = deep humility • Meekness = strength under control; our willingness to submit to God;

Mt. 11: 29 • Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 9

10 • 3. Longsuffering = willingness to suffer long; suppression of anger; opposite of what is called short temper

11 • 4. Forbearing in love • The spirit of unresentfulness which is shown in love

12 • 5. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ” • Endeavoring = constant effort • Unity of the Spirit = the unity the Spirit leads us into through the inspired Word of God

13 • Bond of peace = a unity that comes from peace – not from warring factions in the church – but the unity that results when all follow Christ

II. The foundation of unity • 1. One Body = the church (unity of organization) • Eph. 2: 16 • “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” 14

Eph. 1: 22 -23 15 • And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

16 • 2. One Spirit = The Holy Spirit – by which Christians are led • This results in one life – the same life – among member of the church • Unity of guidance

Eph. 2: 18 • For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 17

18 • 3. One Hope = A hope revealed through the gospel • It is the hope of eternal life • Unity of desire

Eph. 1: 18 19 • The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Titus 1: 2 20 • In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

21 • 4. One Lord = the Christ – the one Head of the church – the one source of authority • Unity of authority

Mt. 28: 18 • And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 22

Acts 4: 12 23 • Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

24 • 5. One Faith = One belief – the Gospel of Jesus Christ – Christ is the object of the one Faith – there is one system of salvation, the result of one message • Unity of teaching!

Jude 3 25 • Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

26 • 6. One Baptism = in water; one and the same baptism for all • Those who obey are brought into fellowship with Christ • We have all spiritual blessings in Christ • Unity of practice

Gal. 3: 26 -28 27 • For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

28 • 7. One God and Father of all= The only true God • He is the object of our worship and devotion • Unity of worship

Mt. 4: 10 • Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 29