FIGHT FOR UNITY

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Ephesians 4:1-16 ESV

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit—

just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”[a]

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean

but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?[b]

10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens,

that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d]

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to mature manhood,[e]

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves

and carried about by every wind of doctrine,

by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love,

we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint

with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly,

makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

What is our calling?

Reconciled to God

Reconciled to one another

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Colossians 1:19-22 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

What does it mean to be reconciled?

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Humility is to ‘know your place’

“Humility is agreeing with the Biblical assessment of who God is and who I am.” – Zach Meerkreebs

The opposite of humility is pride.

Humility.

Gentleness.

Patience.

Bearing with one another in love.

What must be going on here?

We should not be surprised when there is conflict

Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Bearing with one another in love.

These must be rooted in the gospel.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

That word ‘eager’ → to make haste

Often translated → “do your best”

We must fight for unity.

Disunity will be the result if we are passive about unity

Unity does not mean uniformity

Unity does not mean compromise

“Peace if possible; truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther

We must fight for unity…because Jesus died for unity

Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV

4 There is one body and one Spirit—

just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

God is perfectly one

God’s purpose in the gospel is unity

Jesus died to make us one

United with God

United with one another

Jesus died for unity

John 17:21-23 ESV

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”[a]

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean

but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?[b]

10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens,

that he might fill all things.)

We have all been given different gifts

Diverse giftedness.

We must fight for Unity…in the midst of diversity.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d]

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

“And He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.”

Apostles → official delegate of Jesus Christ

Prophets → with the spiritual gift of prophecy

Evangelists → continually preached the message of salvation

REVIEW:

Evangelists would win new converts to the faith.

Apostles would establish churches.

Prophets would fill in needed divine revelation.

“...and some to be pastors and teachers…”

”...all pastors are to be teachers, though not all teachers are pastors.”

The term pastor → “poimēn” → means “shepherd” / “herdsman”

Metaphorically → a “shepherd of people”

A pastor tends to his flock.

A teacher teaches.

All pastors should be teachers, but not all teachers are pastors.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d]

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

Equip → train & prepare

The saints → all believers

Ministry → service

Ministry is activity (action)

Why? → building up of the body of Christ

We saw this term ‘building’ back in Chapter 2 →

Ephesians 2:21 ESV

21 In him [Christ] the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

This building is in process

Jesus is using us to build up His very own body

Every saint is involved in the ministry (service)

Ministry is done with one primary goal in mind…

The growth + expansion + building up of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to mature manhood,[e]

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Corporate unity

Maturity

Maturity →

Involves sharing our individual personal growth

Using our individual spiritual gifts within the body (corporately)

The glorified Jesus is the standard for which we are to strive.

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves

and carried about by every wind of doctrine,

by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

We don’t want to be like children

Storms

Waves

New doctrines

We don’t want to be like children

We want to be mature

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love,

we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint

with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly,

makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Maturity → Speak the truth with one another because we love one another

John 13:34-35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We truly desire what is best for one another

We must fight for unity…because Jesus died for unity

We must strive for unity…in the midst of diversity

We must run toward unity…bc God ran toward us in the person of Jesus Christ

Luke 15:20-24 ESV

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.