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Unity of the Spirit and the Bond of Peace

TEXTEph. 4:1-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE THEME OF THIS PASSAGE IS STATED IN VERSE 3 – UNITY.

B.      THIS PASSAGE DEALS WITH UNITY IN 3 AREAS:

          1.       Personal Unity (vs. 1-3)

          2.       Doctrinal Unity (vs. 4-6).

          3.       Organic Unity (vs. 7-16).

C.      WE NEED DESPERATELY TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF

UNITY.

I.      UNITY IS EXPECTED OF US.

A.      CHRIST PRAYED FOR IT (John 17:20-21).

B.      PAUL, AS AN ENVOY OF CHRIST, DEMANDS IT (1 Cor. 1:10).

II.     OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PERSONAL UNITY (vs. 1-3).

A.      WE ARE TOLD TO WALK WORTHILY OF THE CALLING.

          1.       Walk refers to our manner of life and conduct.

          2.       By what are we called? (2 Pet. 1:3).

          3.       What is the nature of that calling? (1 Pet. 2:9).

B.      WE ARE TO GIVE DILIGENCE TO KEEP UNITY AND PEACE.

          A CERTAIN CHARACTER IS NEEDED.

          1.       Lowliness, “tapeinofrosunee, the having a humble opinion of oneself; a

                             deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of

                             mind; Acts 20:19 humble-minded, i. e. having a modest opinion of

                   oneself: 1 Peter 3:8” (Thayer's).

          2.       Meekness,  “prautes, prautees, gentleness, humility” (Thayer's).

          3.       Longsuffering, “makrothumia, …2. patience, forbearance, long-

                   suffering, slowness in avenging wrongs, Rom 2:4 ” (Thayer's).

          4.       Forebearing, “anechomai, to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively)

                   put up with” (Strong's).

                                         Done in LOVE!

C.      COMPANION PASSAGE – Phil. 2:1-4.

III.    THE BASIS FOR DOCTRINAL UNITY (vs. 4-6).

A.      ONE BODY – ONE ORGANISM – THE CHURCH (Eph. 1:22-23).

B.      ONE SPIRIT – ONE DISPOSITION AND PURPOSE (Phil. 1:27).

          ONE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE US (Rom. 8:13-14).

C.      ONE HOPE (1 Pet. 1:3).

D.      ONE LORD (Acts 2:36;  Matt. 28:18;  Col. 3:17).

E.      ONE FAITH – ONE DOCTRINE(Jude 3;  Rom. 10:17;  1 Cor. 1:10).

F.      ONE BAPTISM (Rom. 6:3-4).

G.      ONE GOD – AS OPPOSED TO THE MANY GOD’S OF THE PAGANS.

IV.   ORGANIC UNITY – UNIFYING GIFTS (vs. 7-16).

A.      TO EACH IS GIVEN AN OFFICE OR PLACE (vs. 7).

          1.       These offices are gifts from God.

          2.       Given when Jesus ascended (vs. 8).

B.      OFFICES UNDER WHICH UNITY IS TO BE ACHIEVED AND

          MAINTAINED (vs. 11).

          1.       Apostles – Work and office pertained to the foundation of the church

                   (Eph. 2:19-20;  3:5).

                   a.       Primary function – Witnesses of the Resurrection (Acts 1:8).

                   b.       Signs of an apostle? (Rev. 2:2;  2 Cor. 11:13-15;  12:12).

                   c.       Function today through the Scriptures (Matt. 18:19).

          2.       Prophets – Associated with apostles in work.  God’s spokesmen.

          3.       Evangelists – God’s provision for perpetuating the church – Function to

                   proclaim the word and teach others (2 Tim. 4:1-5;  2:2).

          4.       Pastors – Same as elders, bishops, shepherds. 

                   Watchmen (1 Pet. 5:1-3;  Titus 1:5-9).

          5.       Teachers – Instructors in the Word (2 Tim. 2:2;  Jas. 3:1;  Heb. 5:12).

C.      THE PURPOSE OF THESE MINISTERS (vs. 12).

          1.       The perfecting of the Saints – Maturing.

          2.       The work of ministering – Spiritually and physically.

          3.       Building the body spiritually and numerically.

D.      THE END DESIRE – GROWTH TO PERFECTION (vs. 13-16).

          1.       Unity of the faith.

          2.       Knowledge of the Son of God.

          3.       Fullgrown man – Mature and complete in Christ.

                   a.       No longer children, chasing every new philisophy.

                   b.       Speaking truth in love – with Christ as our head.

                   c.       Unified by Christ through each office fulfilling its duty.

                   d.       Unity and Maturity is culminated in love for one another.

CONCLUSION:

A.      HOW CAN WE BE ONE?

B.      WE CAN BE ONE IN CHRIST.