Summary: Walking worthy of our calling involves working diligently to maintain Christian unity, which involves how we interact with each other and commitment to true biblical teaching, especially concerning God, conversion, and our hope. God is the one who creates unity under his lordship, not ourselves.
Text: Eph 4:1-6
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Intro:
1. Not sure how to begin – First word in text is “Therefore” (ILL: prescription???) – 2 – Pill Bottles? Capsule
2. Context:
a. 2:10 – We are his workmanship, saved by his grace
b. 2:19 – We are together members of God’s household
c. 3:6 – We are all fellow heirs
d. 3:10 – Manifold wisdom of God is to be made known through the church to the heavenly places
e. 3:14 – Prayer that to strengthen us so that we can apprehend & overtake the breadth, length, height, and depth
3. 4:1-16 Deals with Unity and Personal Growth. . .
4. Prescription for Proper Unity
I. Bearing with One Another (v.1-2)
A. What does it mean to Bear with One Another?
1. Syn: Tolerate? Put Up With? Endure? To Stomach?
2. Lexicon: Anecho – Endure, bear, with up with
3. Other translations: forbearing one another
a. ASV/NIV/KJV – Forbearing one another
b. CEV – Put Up With Each other
c. Geneva Bible – Supporting One Another
1) Expresses Paul’s intent in light of the context
B. Context tells us we must move beyond merely tolerating each other
1. Humility
a. Compound word – tapeinophrosune
1) tapeino – humility, lowliness + phrone – mind
2) It is lowliness/humility of mind
3) Opposite of megalophrosune – puffed up in mind/arrogant
b. There is difference between veneer of humility and inner disposition
c. The only way to have this is to reflect…
1) (Phil 2:6-9) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
a) Jesus did not grasp at status, even though he had the right to
b) He emptied himself – made himself the lowest
c) Came in the form of a servant or “slave” (doulos)
i) Translators like to use servant
ii) Some say “Bondservant”
iii) Two issues:
(a) A doulos could have high status – like head butler
(b) At issue – Idea of ownership. A slave is owned
(c) Slave cannot resign
(d) Slave exists to serve his owner
iv) Jesus humbled himself and came as a slave
2) (Phil 2:3-5) 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility (of mind) count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a]
a) In humility of mind (tapeinophrosune) regard others ahead of yourself
b) That is exactly what a slave does – It is what Jesus did
d. Humility of mind that bears with one another puts you first
1) It is not wrapped up in self
2) It says to my brother/sister – You are important
3) It puts consideration for my brother and sister ahead of me
4) ILL: Kind of like trying to decide where we are going to eat…Wherever you would like to go
2. Gentleness
a. Oxford Thesaurus – kindness, tenderness, sympathy, consideration
b. Antonyms – brutal, rough, savage, cruel, cold-blooded
c. Gal 6:1 – 6 Brothers,[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
1) Somebody sins, if somebody wrongs me, – restore with gentleness
2) Who is the “You who are spiritual?”
3) Context: Gal 5:22-3 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control
4) Gentleness (not avoidance) helps to heal, brutality will destroy
d. Gentleness that bears with one another is slow to react, slow to speak, and responds with tenderness
3. Patience
a. Patience means forbearance, long-suffering, endurance, restraint, calmness, composure
b. Opposite: Agitation, frustration, intolerance,
c. ILL: A young father in a supermarket was pushing a shopping cart with his little son, who was strapped in the front. The little boy was fussing, irritable, and crying. The other shoppers gave the pair a wide berth because the child would pull cans off the shelf and throw them out of the cart. The father seemed to be very calm; as he continued down each aisle, he murmured gently: “Easy now, Donald. Keep calm, Donald. Steady, boy. It’s all right, Donald.” A mother who was passing by was greatly impressed by this young father’s solicitous attitude. She said, “You certainly know how to talk to an upset child—quietly and gently.” And then bending down to the little boy, she said, “What seems to be the trouble, Donald?” “Oh no,” said the father. “He’s Henry. I’m Donald
1) Dad could have reacted very differently, but did not
2) Why? This was his son, family, so he is firm, gentle, patient
d. Patience that Bears with One Another is restrained, retains composure
4. Bearing with one another in love
a. This ties it all together
b. (1 Cor 13:4-8) 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
c. Everything else on the list is in the description of love
d. Love that bears with one another is selfless
C. ILL: Sometimes we get the wrong idea
1. Greek studies about the different words for love for the kinds of word
a. Two most common words in the NT are Phileia and Agape
b. Philea is a strong bond of friendship (involves a deep relationship)
c. Agape is a charitable love, used often of God’s love (does not necessarily involve deep relationship)
d. These two words are often used interchangeably in the NT
1) Some I believe had made too sharp a distinction
2) Would be like “I adore you” vs. “I love you.”
2. Misunderstanding let to, “I have to live you, but I don’t have to like you.”
a. We are commanded to love – includes liking each other
b. Rom 16:16 – Greet one another with a holy kiss (philema) – sign of affection
c. Rom 12:10 – Be devoted (philostorgos) to one another in brotherly love (philadelphia)
3. But I don’t “feel” like I love you
a. You do realize that love is an action, not just a feeling
b. Sometimes you have to act your way into feeling
4. If I don’t love my brothers and sisters enough – What can I do?
a. What actions can I take to express love?
b. Praying for? Helping? Sending a note of appreciation?
D. We need to Bear with One Another because we are one people in Christ
1. Part of this involves how we conduct ourselves – humility, gentleness, patience, and love
2. A major point in Ephesians is unity of the church
3. But there is more to unity than getting along…
II. Maintaining God’s Unity (v.4-6)
A. The Unity of the Church is not Something that We have created
1. It is no the unity of getting along, but the “unity of the Spirit”
2. It is something we need to be eager (make every effort NIV / be diligent NASB) at maintaining and preserving
3. Refers to what came before – how we approach one another
4. Also involves what comes after
a. “There is” is supplied by translators
b. Literally – “Do your best to keep/guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, one Body, and one Spirit, just as also you we called in one hope of your calling.
c. All of these ones are indispensable to our proper unity
B. There are seven “ones” – Idea is there are things we must agree on to be in unity with God and with one another
1. One Body – What is the body? The church is the body of Christ
a. Mt 16:18 – When Jesus established the church – said “On this rock I will build my church? (not churches)
b. 1 Cor 12-14 devoted to theme of one body – many members, one body
c. Have to bear with one another right? – We all part of same body
2. One Spirit – Talking about the Holy Spirit
a. 1 Cor 12 also discuss one Spirit that has given us ministries to serve as one body
b. One spirit – different ministries for one body and for same purpose
c. Therefore, we need to live in harmony
3. One Hope of your calling
a. There is only one hope – fellowship with our Lord
b. Song – My only hope is you Jesus
c. We all have the same hope – united in our hope
4. One Lord – Who is Lord? Jesus is Lord
a. That means he is our king, we obey him
b. We serve him and him alone – not some caricature of him
c. (2 John 4-10) 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
1) Passage tells us to walk according to his commandments
2) Passage tells us that there are “anti-Christs” who say false things about Christ
3) Anyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, is to be rejected
d. Cannot say – We disagree about Jesus, just set it aside for unity
5. One Faith – There are not many faiths, many ways – only one
a. Jude 3-4 – I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God
b. Jude 20-21 – 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
6. One Baptism – The word means “immersion”
a. It is a single watershed moment in a persons life
1) Condemned to Forgiven
2) Without the Spirit to Receiving the Gift of the Spirit
3) Outside of Christ to being in Christ
4) Old person in bondage to new person being renewed in Christ
5) Outside of the family of God to belonging to the family of God
b. There is only one – the immersion that is a response of faith and obedience
7. One God and Father of all – God is not whoever you want him to be
a. ILL: Mike Houston – Huge 7 ft guy, quiet can’t get him to speak, blond hair, ripped muscles. –
b. Same name – but not same person
c. People worship entities that they call God – but are not God
d. When you make God into something else – idolatry
C. Text says to maintain or keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace
1. Part of the maintaining involves these seven things
2. Is it narrow minded? That is the wrong questions. Is it true?
3. When things are a matter of life and death, we want to be true & right
a. If something serious – not say – one doctor is as good as another
b. You want the specialist. You want the doctor who proven
4. If the doctor says there is ONE treatment – how do you respond?
a. People do not say – That is narrow minded
b. People ask – is it true?
c. Actually – they ask – When and where can we get that treatment
D. Text tells us to maintain God’s proper unity
1. It is not unity at all costs
2. It is unity in truth, beginning with the seven things
Concl:
1. Unity begins with submission to the Lordship of Christ (inv)
2. If you have already obeyed the Gospel – Remember God’s prescription for proper unity
a. Bearing with one another – How we are with one another
b. Maintaining what God has created – Not unity at all costs, but unity under the Lordship of Christ – He creates unity, not us
3. There is more to come on this in chapter 4…. next sermon
John Telgren