Ephesians
Lesson Eight
The Unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:1–16
Ephesians 4:1–16
Three Big Points
1
The unity is a gift to keep. 4:1–3
Christ already made us one. We keep that oneness with humility, gentleness, and patience.
2
The gospel precisely is the line. 4:4–6
“One faith” can't hold everything we believe. It holds the gospel, and we don't divide over less.
3
Every member does the work. 4:7–16
Leaders equip the saints, and the body grows up into Christ as each part does its share.
Ephesians 4:1–3 · LSB
One Command
Command
walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with
all humility and gentleness,
with
patience,
-ing
bearing with one another in love,
-ing
being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 2:14–18 · LSB
The Oneness Christ Made
2:14
who made both groups one
2:15
create the two into one new man
2:16
reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross
2:18
our access in one Spirit to the Father
Ephesians 4:4–6 · LSB
Seven Ones
Verse 4
1
one body
2
one Spirit
3
one hope
Verse 5
4
one Lord
5
one faith
6
one baptism
Verse 6
7
one God and Father of all
One Faith
Where Is the Line?
Everything we believe
Nothing at all
the gospel precisely
“the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”
Ephesians 1:13
For Paul, the Gospel Precisely Is the Line
Where Paul Draws It
He severs ties
Galatians 1:6–7 · LSB
for a different gospel, … there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
He won't let them divide
Romans 14:1 · LSB
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on opinions.
N. T. Wright · The Vision of Ephesians
“Unity, after all, is quite easy if you don't care about holiness. You just get together and turn a blind eye to heresy and sin. Likewise, holiness is quite easy if you don't care about unity: whenever you have a disagreement, you split off and do your own thing. But Paul is emphatic that both matter.”
Ephesians 4:11–13 · LSB
The Whole Body at Work
Christ gives
gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
Leaders equip
for the equipping of the saints
Every saint serves
for the work of service
The body is built
to the building up of the body of Christ
We all attain
until we all attain to the unity of the faith
Every Wind of Doctrine
Methodeia
Ephesians 4:14 · LSB
by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming
Ephesians 6:11 · LSB
stand firm against the schemes of the devil