"PASSAGES TO PONDER"

Unity Of The Spirit

INTRODUCTION
  1. As we continue, we once again review what we have covered so far...
    1. "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom" - Mt 5:3-12
    2. "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23
    3. "Qualities Of Love" - 1Co 13:1-13
    4. "Works Of The Flesh" - Ga 5:19-21
    5. "Fruit Of The Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23
  2. To briefly summarize, we have considered...
    1. The character and blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven
    2. The source of evil and sin that defiles mankind
    3. The kind of love that is possible in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ
    4. The works of the flesh that can prevent one from entering the kingdom of God
    5. The fruit born in the life of those led by the Spirit of God

[Our next passage to ponder describes the "Unity Of The Spirit" (Ep 4:4-6). We start by noticing...]

  1. THE CONTEXT
    1. WALK WORTHY OF OUR CALLING...
      1. Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of their calling - Ep 4:1
      2. We were called to obtain the glory of Christ, by the gospel of Christ - 2Th 2:13-14
      3. We should therefore walk (conduct ourselves) accordingly - 1 Th 2:12
      -- We have been called by God, our walk should reflect our calling!
    2. WALK WITH CHRIST-LIKE QUALITIES...
      1. With all lowliness and gentleness - Ep 4:2a
      2. With longsuffering and bearing with one another in love - Ep 4:2b
      -- We have been called to follow Christ, our walk should reflect that fact!
    3. WALK WITH DILIGENCE TO KEEP UNITY...
      1. Endeavoring to keep the "unity of the Spirit" - Ep 4:3a
      2. To do so "in the bond of peace" - Ep 4:3b
      3. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers - cf. Jn 17:20-23
      4. Jesus died to make peace, and to make us one in Him - Ep 2:13-18
      -- We have been called to be one in Christ, and to be diligent in preserving that unity!

    [What that unity involves is now described in our passage to ponder, verses 4-6...]

  2. THE MEANING
    1. THERE IS ONE BODY...
      1. The body of Christ, the church - Ep 1:22-23
      2. Paul speaks here of the church in the universal sense, as did the Lord - cf. Mt 16:18
        1. The body of saved believers throughout the world
        2. Of which Christ is the head, and savior of the body - Ep 5:23
      3. There may be many local churches (congregations), but only one universal church, with one head - Jesus Christ!
      -- One is added to this body when they obey the gospel of Christ - Ac 2:38-41,47
    2. THERE IS ONE SPIRIT...
      1. The Holy Spirit, already described in this epistle:
        1. As the Holy Spirit of promise - Ep 1:13
        2. As the guarantee of our inheritance - Ep 1:14
      2. It is through this Spirit:
        1. Both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father - Ep 2:18
        2. God habitats those who are being built a holy temple - Ep 2:21-22
      3. It is by this Spirit:
        1. The mystery of Christ was revealed to the apostles and prophets - Ep 3:5
        2. God strengthens the inner man with might - Ep 3:16; cf. Ro 8:12-13
        -- One receives this Spirit when they obey the gospel of Christ - Ac 2:38; 5:32; Ga 4:6
    3. THERE IS ONE HOPE...
      1. The resurrection of dead, as stressed elsewhere by Paul:
        1. In his defense speeches - Ac 23:6; 24:15
        2. In his epistles - Ro 8:23-24; 1Co 15:19-23; Php 3:10-11, 20-21
      2. Which also includes such concepts as:
        1. Salvation - 1Th 5:8
        2. Eternal life - Tit 1:2; 3:7
        -- One has this hope for those who die in Christ - 1Th 4:13-18
    4. THERE IS ONE LORD...
      1. Jesus, of course - 1Co 8:5-6
      2. Whom God has made "both Lord and Christ" - Ac 2:36
      -- One has Jesus as their Lord when they do what He says - Lk 6:46
    5. THERE IS ONE FAITH...
      1. The faith, which Jude says was "once for all delivered to the saints" - Jude 3
      2. That "pattern of sound words" which Paul taught Timothy - 2 Ti 1:13
      3. We find this pattern of sound words in the pages of the New Testament
      -- One has this faith if they continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine - Ac 2:42
    6. THERE IS ONE BAPTISM...
      1. The baptism:
        1. Commanded by Jesus - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16
        2. Proclaimed and commanded by His apostles - Ac 2:38; 10:48
        3. By which those who submit to are added to the Lord's body, the church - Ac 2:42,47
      2. The baptism in which a penitent believer:
        1. Is immersed in water - Ac 8:36; 10:47-48; cf. Ro 6:3-4; Co 2:12
        2. For the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38; 22:16
        3. Is born again of both water and the Spirit - Jn 3:5; Tit 3:5
        -- One receives this baptism when they respond to the gospel - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 8:35-38
    7. THERE IS ONE GOD...
      1. The Father who together with the Son and Holy Spirit make up the Godhead - cf. Mt 28:19
      2. Note that Paul emphasizes:
        1. His personality ("Father of all")
        2. His transcendence and omnipresence ("above all, and through all, and in you all")
        -- One has access to the Father only through Jesus Christ - Jn 14:6

      [These seven "ones" constitute the "Unity Of The Spirit" that Christ has attained for us, and that we must endeavor to maintain. In regards to our responsibility, let's now consider...]

  3. THE APPLICATION
    1. OUR DUTY IS TO MAINTAIN UNITY...
      1. Note that the unity of the Spirit has been attained
        1. The one Spirit, one Lord, and one God have always existed
        2. The one body was created through the work of Christ on the cross - Ep 2:16
        3. The one hope was made certain by virtue of Christ's resurrection - 1Pe 1:3
        4. The one faith has been revealed once for all - Jude 3
        5. The one baptism has been commanded for all - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16
      2. Our duty is to maintain that unity
        1. By walking in a worthy manner - Ep 4:1-3
        2. By speaking the same thing, with the same mind and judgment - 1Co 1:10-13
        3. By contending earnestly for the faith revealed once for all - Jude 3
        -- We maintain unity by worthy conduct and united defense of the faith - cf. Php 1:27
    2. OUR UNITY CANNOT BE SELECTIVE...
      1. For example, we cannot downplay the one baptism
        1. People practice different baptisms, for different reasons
        2. They say it doesn't matter, that we can have whatever baptism we want
        3. Yet to deny the one baptism is no different than to deny the one Lord!
        4. Can we say: "Pick the Lord (Moses, Jesus, Mohamed) of your choice"?
      2. For example, we cannot change the one hope
        1. The one hope pertains to the resurrection of the body
        2. Some professing Christians deny the bodily resurrection
        3. That is both a denial of the one faith as well as the one hope!
        -- We maintain unity by remaining faithful to all of the seven "ones"!
CONCLUSION
  1. Following Christ means looking both inward and outward...
    1. Looking inward to produce the fruit of the Spirit - in our individual lives
    2. Looking outward to preserve the unity of the Spirit - with other brethren in Christ
  2. Let us look both inward and outward as we follow Christ......
    1. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit, as we grow together in the knowledge of Christ
    2. Maintaining the unity of the Spirit, as we walk together in the church of Christ

Christ has done so much for us; are we willing to make the effort to do what He asks of us...?