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Ephesians 4:4-6
Eph 4:1-4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:4 [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
We all look different, act different, and think different. Each person represents unique characteristics and qualities, talents and interests. Our education is diverse, our childhoods differed, and our families are not the same. Yet, God’s children, His church, are unified in His Holy Spirit and all that is associated with His saving grace. The apostle Paul encourages the church to concentrate on those things that unify rather than that which tears apart. Through Paul, God gives to us the reasons we can be united. Remember the word used in verse one – we are entreated to walk worthy, this includes our unity.
One body The Church, whose head is the Lord Jesus Christ. Not a particular denomination or group but all those who have been called by God because of His grace and mercy, all believers throughout the world.
Eph 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ro 12:5; 1Co 12:12-13; 27; Col 3:15
1Co 12:25 that there should be no division in the body, but [that] the members should have the same care for one another
“Every sincere Christian is a brother in that church… Being one by the design of the Savior …” Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary
One Spirit The Holy Spirit which dwells in the church and guides the body.
1Co 12:4, 11; Eph 2:18
“The same Spirit has awakened all; enlightened all; convicted all; converted all. Wherever they may be, and whoever, yet there has been substantially the same work of the Spirit on the heart of every Christian. There are circumstantial differences arising from diversities of temperament, disposition, and education; there may be a difference in the depth and power of his operations on the soul; there may be a difference in the degree of conviction for sin and in the evidence of conversion, but still there are the same operations on the heart essentially, produced by the same Spirit.” Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary
One hope Of eternal life – we are looking forward to the same inheritance heaven.
Eph 1:13-14; Col 1:5,12; Col 3:4; 1 Pet 1:3-4; Tit 1:2; Tit 2:13
Ro 4:25 [He] who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
“Hope on earth does not always produce union and harmony. Two men hope to obtain the same office; two students hope to obtain the same honour in college; two rivals hope to obtain the same hand in marriage – and the consequence is jealousy, contention, and strife. … Not so with the crown of life – with the rewards of heaven. All may obtain that crown; all may share those rewards.” Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One Lord The Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the church body, the Savior of all those who believe, the One whom we serve and obey and He alone.
Acts 10:36; Ro 10:12; 14:8-9; Phil 2:11
Zep 3:9 "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
1Co 8:6 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.
Zec 14:9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be [the only] one, and His name [the only] one.
“Let two men, who have never seen each other before, meet in a distant land, and feel that they have the same Redeemer, and their hearts will mingle into one. They are not aliens, but friends. A cord of sympathy is struck more tender than that which binds them to country or home; and though of different nations, complexions, or habits, they will feel that they are one.” Albert Barnes NT Commentary
One faith By grace we have been saved through faith. We believe in the same Savior. We are justified by the same Sacrifice.
Ro 10:17 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
There is only one basis for our faith which is the Gospel. The object of our faith is Jesus Christ; the origin of our faith is Jesus Christ. Only one faith purifies the heart. Only one faith can change a heart – this is the work of Christ.
Ga 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
Tit 1:1 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,
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
One baptism All true believers enter heaven through the same door – Jesus Christ, and are baptized into the same body, the church.
Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Note, there is only one source of baptism, not a means of salvation but a public profession of belief in Christ. Baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ga 3:27-28 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
One God Who surpasses all in all.
One God – over all
King of kings and Lord of lords, supreme in all, excellent in His nature, presiding over all, sovereign over all
One God – through all
Present at all times, providing for all things everywhere
One God – in all
Through His Spirit, giving understanding, working through His children
“The fountain of all being, self-existent and eternal” Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Mal 2:10 "Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us?
Ro 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him [be] the glory forever. Amen.
Joh 17:20-23 "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, [art] in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. 22 "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
“True believers are one; Christ has only instituted one church, he has quickened it with but one Spirit, and set before it one sole hope. The Lord is the alone Head of the church, she has not two Lords, neither has Jesus revealed more than one faith, or commanded any other than one baptism: hence believers should anxiously maintain unity, and endeavor each one to promote the good of the whole.” Spurgeon Devotional Commentary
A prisoner of the Lord will walk worthy with a heart of humility and gentleness, practicing patience and forbearance to one another in love. We have every reason in Christ Jesus to be unified in our pursuit of holiness. We are part of one body – the church. We have the same Spirit indwelling us, and the same hope of eternal promise. We serve One Lord, have been saved through one faith and share in one baptism. We trust in the work of One God – His creation, His redemption plan and His gift of salvation to all who believe.
What is the evidence in your life to these truths? Are you walking worthy? Do you seek unity by upholding the truths we have in Christ?
Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Ps 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
Ro 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Ro 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
