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“One” - We’re in this Together! - unity…Ephesians 4:1-16 April 2, 2006
Psalm 148:14 – “His people, the people close to His heart”
I Kings 8:55-61 - Solomon…prayers of dedication…the ark was taken to the temple… …next prayer starts in 56 – esp 60-61
Just what are the decrees and commands God gives us? Eph 4… 1-3
1 – “therefore” – it grounds the teaching in chaps 1-3 - all of Paul’s letters – balance between doctrine and duty …1-3 – doctrine, riches in Christ; 4-6 – duties, respons …”walk” in UNITY, purity, harmony, victory “prisoner” – explains his commitment to Christ, AND a model …the more one understands doctrine, the easier it is to obey OT – “obey and I’ll bless you” NT – “I’ve already blessed you…now obey”
2 - “live a life worthy of the calling” …this calling? Two-fold: 1 – share in Christ’s rule over the new creation (1:20-22, 2:6) 2 – be a part of the heavenly temple (2:19-22)
…a “worthy life” means: humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love ð fruit of the Spirit for unity of the Spirit to walk in the Spirit - HEART - JOSH
3 - ð all of which promote peace …Grk – urgent, commands – “do it now”/“mean it!” -FOOBALL
…not a call to build God’s kingdom, but to preserve/keep it (already established by God in 2:11-22)
…Paul is well-aware of the many things that can destroy this peace - 4:17-5:14 (arrogance, impurity, greed, etc)
Chuck Svoboda (31 years of trouble-shooting) - gossip - #1 - isolationism - #2 - attend, but don’t mix
…failure to get along with others is due to an improper relationship with God First triad – visible to invisible - Body – universal Church here on earth - Spirit – gives harmony / peace in Christ – 12 refs to HS in Eph - Hope – Spirit is the first installment… reign forever with Him
Second Triad – theology – - Lord – for a Jew to acknowledge this was huge! Shema – Dt 6:4: Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one! Ghandi – “What is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in India?” … his response: “Christians” - Faith – what we believe - Baptism – ð bap of HS at conversion (not to be “sought after”) (water bap is symbolic of our identification with Christ / His local Body)
Final climax with the Judeo-Christian affirmation - one God - one Father …sovereign, supreme!
ð addressed to the local Body and universal Body
(moves now from unity to diversity in the Body)
Bridge: 7-10: Christ, who came to earth and then ascended, has given gifts to His Church… listed in the following verses…
Gift = a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified. ð every believer has at least one!
Growth of the church – 11-12, 16 – 11 - those who teach, reveal, declare God’s Word… …apostles – “commissioned”, divinely appointed representative - the 12, laid foundation for the church (no longer needed) …prophets – not just “the future”, but proclaimed God’s Word - no Bibles in that day… the Spirit shared God’s truth …evangelists, pastors, teachers ð elders (spiritual oversight) - by the end of Paul’s ministry, “pastor” and “elder” used …as the church developed ð pastor/elder/deacon
Purposes – 12 1 – equip the saints 2 – serve the church’s needs 3 – build up the body of Christ
Timeline – 13 …not some specific point here on earth… rather, when Christ returns
Results – 14 …single sentence starting in vs 11 – continued thought …leaders maintain, guide – but don’t do all the work! ð grow up… having same probs as before???
Unity – 15-16 …Christ as head …unity is from within, a spiritual grace uniformity is the result of pressure from without …supporting LIGAMENT – everyone is important
…Evidences of unity: 1 – Christlikeness 2 – stability 3 – truth in love - truth without love is brutality - love without truth is hypocrisy 4 - cooperation
ð we need each other!
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