1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,760 Yes, gracious God, we are just thankful for your goodness and 2 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:11,400 your gifts to us and for your word. 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,200 And we thank you this morning that you have given us Bardo and 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,560 we trust you've worked with him in a study of this text. 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:19,480 And I pray that you would speak through him now. 6 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:23,480 Give him wisdom and clarity, and give us minds and hearts to hear 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:24,600 what you have to say through Him. 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,360 So we just pray over this time, and we pray over Bardo in Jesus 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:28,160 name. Amen. 10 00:00:30,730 --> 00:00:34,130 Thank you. Good morning, Church. 11 00:00:36,330 --> 00:00:41,970 We live in a divided world, a desperate world trying to 12 00:00:41,970 --> 00:00:43,850 convince itself that it's united. 13 00:00:45,050 --> 00:00:51,130 A world that boasts about diversity and acceptance of 14 00:00:51,130 --> 00:00:55,890 fluidity, where someone can call themselves one thing one day and 15 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:57,610 something completely different the next. 16 00:00:59,860 --> 00:01:05,980 An approach to relieve misery, to transform the inner 17 00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:11,620 condition, is by changing what's on the outside, by jumping 18 00:01:11,620 --> 00:01:16,180 between religions or changing our environment or changing our 19 00:01:16,740 --> 00:01:22,300 prepositions or our appearance in the hopes of finding, 20 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:24,860 belonging or understanding who we are. 21 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,000 But the Triune God of Scripture has put a great light into the 22 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:37,480 world that answers this longing and confusion, the promise of 23 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:43,120 identity, contentment, unity, and diversity. 24 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:49,760 He's provided a way out of the darkness, and the church must be 25 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,120 the tower from which that great light can be seen. 26 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:57,910 So we're carrying on in our series and Ephesians this 27 00:01:57,910 --> 00:02:01,990 morning we'll be looking at the first few verses of Chapter 4. 28 00:02:03,310 --> 00:02:10,190 If you have your Bibles with you, please turn with me just to 29 00:02:10,190 --> 00:02:13,070 bring the memory. Some of the previous chapters 30 00:02:13,070 --> 00:02:17,710 before we start, Ephesians 1 spoke about the blessing of the 31 00:02:17,710 --> 00:02:21,870 believers in Christ, our predestination, our adoption, 32 00:02:21,870 --> 00:02:24,110 our redemption, and the ceiling of the Holy Spirit. 33 00:02:26,250 --> 00:02:29,930 Shane Wildemoth, I think, stressed the importance of 34 00:02:29,930 --> 00:02:32,730 prayer to us and our dependence on God. 35 00:02:34,290 --> 00:02:38,730 Lewis then introduced us to Ephesians Chapter 2 and the 36 00:02:38,730 --> 00:02:42,330 Doctrine of salvation by grace through Faith. 37 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:49,010 Jeff then just helped us grasp the scandal of foreigners 38 00:02:49,010 --> 00:02:53,530 sharing in the promises given to the Jewish patriarchs. 39 00:02:54,350 --> 00:02:58,470 The reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles in Christ and He went 40 00:02:58,470 --> 00:03:02,110 on in Ephesians chapter 3 to explain the revelation of the 41 00:03:02,110 --> 00:03:08,670 mystery of Christ, the fact that God has equalized us and how 42 00:03:08,670 --> 00:03:11,190 we've come into the spiritual blessings of Israel. 43 00:03:12,710 --> 00:03:16,790 He challenged us to be so full of Christ that when someone 44 00:03:16,790 --> 00:03:20,030 knocks at the door, they find Jesus. 45 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:26,280 And he made us, made it clear to us last week that Chapter 4 46 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:33,160 moves from information to instruction, the living out of 47 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,600 these Jews and Gentiles and the coming together of this new 48 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,480 body. So this morning as we look at 49 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:46,960 Ephesians, chapter 2, verses one to six, and I want to echo 50 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,360 Paul's exhortation to you. To walk worthy of the calling to 51 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,120 which you've been called. And we'll consider the 52 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:02,640 inclusivity and the exclude exclusivity of the nature of 53 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:08,840 unity that reveals the Triune God that will cause the world to 54 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:13,600 look to him. So firstly, from verses 1:00 to 55 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,959 3:00 we'll examine the inclusive nature of unity. 56 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,120 It's call, it's manner, it's focus. 57 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,200 And then from 4:00 to 6:00, the exclusive nature of unity. 58 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:31,000 Let's read together now. I therefore a prisoner for the 59 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,720 Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to 60 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:39,840 which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, 61 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,320 with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to 62 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,240 maintain the unity of the Spirit. 63 00:04:47,810 --> 00:04:53,130 And the bond of peace. There is one body and one 64 00:04:53,130 --> 00:04:58,010 spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to 65 00:04:58,010 --> 00:05:05,330 your call, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father 66 00:05:05,330 --> 00:05:10,090 of all, who is overall and through all and in all. 67 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:17,460 So to start, we'll be looking at the inclusive nature of unity. 68 00:05:18,460 --> 00:05:21,620 We've already recalled the previous chapters, as Paul 69 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:24,820 intended us to do, with the opening words. 70 00:05:25,180 --> 00:05:29,780 Therefore, we've acknowledged these biblical truths. 71 00:05:30,460 --> 00:05:33,420 Therefore, walk in alignment with them. 72 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:38,780 Be what you are. Be what you're called to be. 73 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,680 But before we can even begin, before we can consider the 74 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:47,120 exhortation, what does Paul mean by called? 75 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,840 Or can I phrase it this way? Have you been called? 76 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:03,200 Because if not, why go on? And if so, how do you know? 77 00:06:05,550 --> 00:06:09,070 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance 78 00:06:09,070 --> 00:06:13,070 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 79 00:06:13,670 --> 00:06:17,670 He lived a perfect life, the perfect obedient life to the law 80 00:06:17,670 --> 00:06:20,950 of God At all times. He suffered, He died on the 81 00:06:20,950 --> 00:06:25,590 cross and perfection He took upon him the sin of the world. 82 00:06:27,990 --> 00:06:30,870 He didn't stay dead, but he rose from the dead. 83 00:06:31,790 --> 00:06:34,710 He overcame death and he offers life. 84 00:06:35,390 --> 00:06:39,110 To all those that will believe in him, this is the essence of 85 00:06:39,110 --> 00:06:42,990 the gospel. But it's also just a statement 86 00:06:42,990 --> 00:06:47,750 of fact. As James 219 indicates, faith 87 00:06:47,750 --> 00:06:54,430 isn't just knowing the facts. So, so faith is more than 88 00:06:54,430 --> 00:06:57,630 knowing the facts. What does this calling look 89 00:06:57,630 --> 00:07:00,350 like? How do you know that you've been 90 00:07:00,350 --> 00:07:04,070 called? Because Paul assumes that you 91 00:07:04,070 --> 00:07:09,910 know. First Corinthians chapter one, 92 00:07:09,910 --> 00:07:14,550 verse 9 tells us God is faithful who has called you into 93 00:07:14,550 --> 00:07:18,070 fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 94 00:07:18,070 --> 00:07:21,710 So calling is fellowship with Christ. 95 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:27,070 Hebrews chapter 3. This one says that believers 96 00:07:27,070 --> 00:07:31,430 share in the heavenly calling and first Peter reminds us that 97 00:07:31,430 --> 00:07:38,080 we have been called. Out of darkness into fellowship 98 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,320 with Christ to Timothy chapter one, verse 9 also says he has 99 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:47,520 called us to a holy life not because of anything that we have 100 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,840 done, but because but for his own purpose and grace. 101 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,760 Similee back in Ephesians chapter two we read for grace 102 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,680 you have been saved through faith. 103 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,080 And this is not of your own doing. 104 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,400 It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one 105 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,520 may boast. So here is the probing 106 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,560 consideration, as you ask yourself, have I been called? 107 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:18,880 To start with the obvious? Do you have faith in Jesus 108 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:26,840 Christ as your Lord and Savior? A faith that not only recognizes 109 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,000 your need for God's grace and forgiveness, but also? 110 00:08:30,710 --> 00:08:32,909 A deep desire to have a relationship with Him. 111 00:08:37,270 --> 00:08:39,510 You want to commune with God, to follow Him. 112 00:08:40,710 --> 00:08:45,230 But not only do you long for this deep relationship, you want 113 00:08:45,230 --> 00:08:50,710 to read and understand His word, to commune with Him in prayer 114 00:08:50,710 --> 00:08:56,110 and in worship. Do you have an inner conviction? 115 00:08:56,680 --> 00:09:00,400 Or a sense of God's presence that draws you to seek Him and 116 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,600 understand His will for your life? 117 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,400 Are there evidences in your life that can give you this 118 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,960 assurance? Has there been a change in your 119 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,120 attitude, your behavior, your priorities, the things that you 120 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:21,240 value so that they align more closely with God's purposes and 121 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,560 they're growing in your faith from year to year? 122 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,350 Perhaps, probably. Not as quickly as you would 123 00:09:27,350 --> 00:09:36,270 like, but you see it, and I hope that others see it too. 124 00:09:37,750 --> 00:09:40,870 And finally, importantly, as it relates to our passage, to do 125 00:09:40,870 --> 00:09:44,350 that today, do you desire fellowship with other believers? 126 00:09:45,310 --> 00:09:53,510 Do you feel yourself drawn toward godly men and women if 127 00:09:53,510 --> 00:09:55,830 you cannot identify with these things? 128 00:09:58,530 --> 00:10:00,050 My dear friend, I plead with you. 129 00:10:02,490 --> 00:10:06,370 Start right now. Plead with God. 130 00:10:06,370 --> 00:10:09,570 Speak to him until your inward disposition changes. 131 00:10:09,570 --> 00:10:14,130 Don't stop until you can say that you've been truly born 132 00:10:14,130 --> 00:10:21,690 again. For those of you who Paul named 133 00:10:21,690 --> 00:10:25,370 as called, let's now consider this exhortation. 134 00:10:28,270 --> 00:10:31,070 To have a relationship with God is not a trivial thing. 135 00:10:32,190 --> 00:10:36,150 A close relationship with an earthly king is not something to 136 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:39,910 be despised or a relationship that's readily neglected. 137 00:10:40,590 --> 00:10:43,990 It's a special position of immense value and benefit. 138 00:10:43,990 --> 00:10:49,350 It would be one thing if you and this king grew up together as 139 00:10:49,390 --> 00:10:53,870 childhood friends, but if he sought you out though, you had 140 00:10:53,870 --> 00:10:57,400 nothing to offer him. At great cost to himself, and 141 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,200 called you into fellowship with him. 142 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,640 Would this not be an even greater privilege? 143 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:13,040 Paul says I, a prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy 144 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:18,720 of your calling as a prisoner. An example to the Ephesians. 145 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,160 He's able to call them to live fully for Christ. 146 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,920 The reason Paul is in prison is because of the good news. 147 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,920 He does not refer to himself as a prisoner of Rome, but rather a 148 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:36,200 prisoner of the Lord. Christ is his Lord, and he will 149 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,760 submit himself in all things to his master. 150 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,600 Yet unlike A prisoner Paul has exercising authority. 151 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,880 He writes to exhort, to urge to implore the Ephesians, not 152 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:58,430 simply to walk in their calling. But to walk worthy of it and the 153 00:11:58,430 --> 00:12:02,870 Greek, the word translated worthy here is axios and it has 154 00:12:02,870 --> 00:12:07,270 the idea of weight, from which we get the English word axiom. 155 00:12:08,390 --> 00:12:10,870 It's not a word that I'm familiar with, but it means to 156 00:12:10,870 --> 00:12:14,230 be of equal weights. So you can imagine a set of 157 00:12:14,230 --> 00:12:18,790 scales. On the one side is your heavenly 158 00:12:18,790 --> 00:12:22,350 position with this great king. You can call him anytime, any 159 00:12:22,350 --> 00:12:24,870 place. He's actively working in your 160 00:12:24,870 --> 00:12:27,910 life. He's working all things for your 161 00:12:27,910 --> 00:12:29,230 good. And on the other side of the 162 00:12:29,230 --> 00:12:33,630 scale, Paul is calling you to daily live an equal measure. 163 00:12:37,270 --> 00:12:39,470 This is an impossible exhortation. 164 00:12:40,630 --> 00:12:45,550 Yet it gives. Yet God gives us grace and grace 165 00:12:45,710 --> 00:12:48,070 and grace. And so it compounds. 166 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:53,360 And the weighty worth of his calling grows so that the 167 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:59,080 immeasurable riches of His grace grows and grows and grows, and 168 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,200 his mercies become new every morning. 169 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,240 And God is glorified in your walk. 170 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:12,280 Now this is Our Calling. The pool has a specific 171 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,600 application in mind. Let's look at verse 2. 172 00:13:18,170 --> 00:13:24,770 It reads with all humility and gentleness, with patience, 173 00:13:25,770 --> 00:13:27,690 bearing with one another in love. 174 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:37,410 Humility before God absolutely, because salvation is none of us. 175 00:13:37,970 --> 00:13:42,890 But the focus of this chapter is on the one another, the calling 176 00:13:42,890 --> 00:13:46,610 to work work with the calling to Walkworthy. 177 00:13:46,980 --> 00:13:51,500 As a calling to love the family of God bearing with one another 178 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:54,700 in love. In light of the fact that God 179 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:59,700 has been so patient toward me, I must surely be patient toward my 180 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:05,500 brother. When Jesus was asked what the 181 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:08,300 great what is the greatest commandment in Matthew 22, he 182 00:14:08,300 --> 00:14:12,020 didn't just stop at loving God, but he went on to add and the 183 00:14:12,020 --> 00:14:16,100 2nd is like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 184 00:14:17,830 --> 00:14:23,510 Bearing with one another in love is not simply staying calm, 185 00:14:24,750 --> 00:14:27,670 staying calm on the outside, boiling on the inside. 186 00:14:27,670 --> 00:14:29,990 Nor does it mean simply tolerating each other. 187 00:14:31,390 --> 00:14:35,030 It's bearing in love, Paul writes. 188 00:14:35,750 --> 00:14:39,510 Paul writes this because he understands that it's not always 189 00:14:39,510 --> 00:14:43,810 easy to love each other. Scripture records our Paul and 190 00:14:43,810 --> 00:14:47,530 Barnabas argued over John, Mark, and even went separate ways for 191 00:14:47,530 --> 00:14:52,970 a while. The word bearing in the Greek 192 00:14:52,970 --> 00:14:59,090 text and Nico has the emphasis to patiently tolerate someone 193 00:15:00,050 --> 00:15:07,170 who's difficult or foolish. However, consider the ultimatum 194 00:15:08,090 --> 00:15:12,590 from Revelation chapter 2. Where we find another letter to 195 00:15:12,590 --> 00:15:20,190 the church and Ephesus. It reads to the one who holds 196 00:15:20,190 --> 00:15:24,230 the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among 197 00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:27,390 the seven gold lamp stands. Say this. 198 00:15:30,910 --> 00:15:35,430 I know your deeds and your toil and your perseverance, and that 199 00:15:35,430 --> 00:15:40,220 you cannot tolerate evil men. And you put to test those who 200 00:15:40,220 --> 00:15:43,060 call themselves apostles, and they are not. 201 00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:47,340 And you found them to be false. And you have persevered, and 202 00:15:47,340 --> 00:15:50,260 you've endured for my name's sake, and you have not grown 203 00:15:50,260 --> 00:15:54,460 weary. Sounds really good, doesn't it? 204 00:15:58,220 --> 00:16:02,140 But then it says, But I have this against you, that you have 205 00:16:02,140 --> 00:16:07,880 left your first love. Therefore remember from where 206 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,680 you have fallen and repent and do the deeds you fit. 207 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:18,840 You did it first, or else I am coming to you and will remove 208 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:23,440 your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. 209 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:32,880 This church would cease to be a church if they did not walk and 210 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:38,630 the love they had at first. The Holy Spirit will not dwell 211 00:16:38,990 --> 00:16:45,430 in a church that has abandoned its first love, And as John so 212 00:16:45,430 --> 00:16:51,030 convictingly tells us in one John Four If anyone says I love 213 00:16:51,030 --> 00:16:54,550 God and hates his brother, he is a liar. 214 00:16:56,190 --> 00:16:59,590 For he who does not love her love his brother, whom he sees, 215 00:17:00,190 --> 00:17:03,310 cannot love God, whom he does not see. 216 00:17:06,140 --> 00:17:09,819 Love is first, and the list as we consider the fruit of the 217 00:17:09,819 --> 00:17:12,940 Spirit. It's the theme that dominates 218 00:17:12,940 --> 00:17:16,780 John's writings. It's the first item for prayer 219 00:17:16,780 --> 00:17:18,859 and Paul's petition to the Philippians. 220 00:17:21,660 --> 00:17:25,420 Now the church was made-up of former Gentiles and Jews, Jews 221 00:17:25,420 --> 00:17:29,020 who knew their Bibles who had memorized entire sections of the 222 00:17:29,020 --> 00:17:33,100 Old Testament, and Gentiles who did not. 223 00:17:35,190 --> 00:17:38,230 There were difference in customs, opinions on clothing, 224 00:17:38,270 --> 00:17:41,230 music. Some felt comfortable eating one 225 00:17:41,230 --> 00:17:45,670 thing and others didn't. There is even a different social 226 00:17:45,670 --> 00:17:49,950 hierarchy. That is why this verse is 227 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:56,630 qualified with patience, with gentleness, with humility, can 228 00:17:56,630 --> 00:17:59,950 be easy to tolerate a mildly annoying person. 229 00:18:05,310 --> 00:18:09,790 But patience is especially needed when a brother or sister 230 00:18:09,790 --> 00:18:12,550 in Christ is foolish or difficult. 231 00:18:13,550 --> 00:18:17,710 It happens. This unity of the Spirit has 232 00:18:17,710 --> 00:18:20,150 little to do with us being all the same. 233 00:18:20,430 --> 00:18:22,670 This is the inclusive nature of unity. 234 00:18:22,870 --> 00:18:26,710 Everyone is different, yet we're all part of 1 body and in dwelt 235 00:18:27,350 --> 00:18:32,390 by 1 spirit. Now, I'm not going to give you 236 00:18:32,390 --> 00:18:36,370 an out here. You cannot bear with someone by 237 00:18:36,370 --> 00:18:42,570 not coming to church. The one body is made-up of all 238 00:18:42,570 --> 00:18:46,450 believers, and Paul's exhortation is not just to avoid 239 00:18:46,450 --> 00:18:48,610 your calling, but walk worthy of it. 240 00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:53,290 You cannot attain to the fullness of spiritual maturity 241 00:18:53,370 --> 00:18:58,450 by avoiding your calling. How many spiritual fruit can you 242 00:18:58,450 --> 00:19:02,050 bear when you're never around anyone who challenges you? 243 00:19:04,670 --> 00:19:09,070 So if you really want to be spiritual, go hang out with 244 00:19:09,070 --> 00:19:11,390 those people that you find challenging to love. 245 00:19:16,510 --> 00:19:18,510 We are to walk worthy of Our Calling. 246 00:19:18,830 --> 00:19:22,030 We are to do it in love, and verse three tells us the 247 00:19:22,030 --> 00:19:24,070 purpose. Let's have a look. 248 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,160 Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of 249 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:39,360 peace, the new American standing being diligent to keep the unity 250 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:40,840 of the Spirit and the bond of peace. 251 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,240 Paul, who also refers to himself later as an ambassador in 252 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,920 chains, the prisoner in the Lord, is exhorting the Church to 253 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:54,680 make every effort to do your utmost to keep the unity of the 254 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,560 Spirit and the bond of peace the shackle of peace. 255 00:19:59,690 --> 00:20:02,410 This bond is intended to constrain us. 256 00:20:02,930 --> 00:20:05,770 In Romans chapter 14 says something similar. 257 00:20:06,010 --> 00:20:10,450 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace 258 00:20:10,690 --> 00:20:17,530 and mutual edification, not a superficial piece like the 259 00:20:17,530 --> 00:20:25,400 Prophet. Ezekiel warns us about those 260 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,240 that say peace when there is no peace. 261 00:20:29,770 --> 00:20:32,810 It compares it to merely plastering over a cracked wall 262 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:36,090 so that when the rain comes, the wall falls down. 263 00:20:37,810 --> 00:20:42,770 Peace isn't letting things slide and loading them up into a 264 00:20:42,770 --> 00:20:47,570 spiritual backpack of resentment, it's taking the hard 265 00:20:47,570 --> 00:20:51,450 Rd. At the same time. 266 00:20:51,450 --> 00:20:55,490 It's about being careful, diligent not to break up the 267 00:20:55,490 --> 00:20:59,800 unity of the Spirit, admitting mistakes, accepting rebuke with 268 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,160 all humility and gentleness with patience and love. 269 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,360 When Paul speaks of keeping the unity of the Spirit, it is a 270 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:12,600 call to preserve something that already exists. 271 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,280 Paul is not suggesting that we erase all denominational 272 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,160 boundaries to create one big mega church. 273 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:27,200 There is only one Spirit and he unites all of us in Christ. 274 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:33,380 We are all called to preserve the that unity that is the 275 00:21:33,380 --> 00:21:36,740 intention of our worthy walk. Now God is a God of 276 00:21:36,740 --> 00:21:42,420 reconciliation, if we recall Ephesians chapter 214, it says. 277 00:21:42,900 --> 00:21:47,260 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has 278 00:21:47,260 --> 00:21:51,620 broken down the flesh and the dividing wall of hostility. 279 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:56,140 And we as the body of Christ have a duty of cosmic 280 00:21:56,140 --> 00:22:00,320 reconciliation to bring all peoples before the Lord. 281 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:07,840 If we are to be effective in this and proclaiming the gospel 282 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,280 and missions and Christian living, then we need to conform 283 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,320 to the Church as she is divinely purposed. 284 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:22,400 When Christ's body is seen to be the community of reconciliation, 285 00:22:23,740 --> 00:22:26,660 then we can convincingly proclaim the gospel of 286 00:22:26,660 --> 00:22:32,340 reconciliation to others. We cannot expect to be a divided 287 00:22:32,340 --> 00:22:34,180 church and be the salt of the earth. 288 00:22:34,660 --> 00:22:39,300 We cannot expect the world to understand the love of Christ if 289 00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:46,860 we have no love for one another. As Philippians chapter 2 says, 290 00:22:46,860 --> 00:22:50,620 if you really, if you are really a participant in the Spirit, 291 00:22:51,630 --> 00:22:54,350 than you are to be of 1 accord and of 1 mind. 292 00:22:56,830 --> 00:23:03,710 The inclusive nature of unity is that it transcends differences, 293 00:23:03,990 --> 00:23:08,710 that that transcends the different ways that God has made 294 00:23:08,710 --> 00:23:12,630 us, our past, our parents, our language, all these things. 295 00:23:14,950 --> 00:23:19,910 But we are to be 1 ensemble. When you listen to an orchestra, 296 00:23:20,530 --> 00:23:25,250 not every person plays the same instrument, not every instrument 297 00:23:25,250 --> 00:23:30,090 plays the same note. But at the director direction of 298 00:23:30,090 --> 00:23:33,570 the conductor there is harmony and there is beauty and the 299 00:23:33,570 --> 00:23:38,330 coming together of every different instrument to one aim, 300 00:23:38,330 --> 00:23:44,130 to one purpose, to one song. God's masterpiece of 301 00:23:44,130 --> 00:23:48,650 reconciliation. And this brings us to the second 302 00:23:49,690 --> 00:23:54,850 consideration of unity. The 2nd aspect of the nature of 303 00:23:54,850 --> 00:23:59,290 unity that reveals the try and God that will cause the world to 304 00:23:59,290 --> 00:24:02,370 look to him is the exclusive nature of unity. 305 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:06,450 It's the exclusive nature of unity. 306 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:17,730 From verses four to six there is one body and one spirit, just as 307 00:24:17,730 --> 00:24:24,920 you were called to 1 Hope, 1 Lord, one faith, one baptism, 308 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:31,400 one God, and Father of all whose overall and through all and in 309 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:37,160 all. Having considered the importance 310 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:42,120 of unity, let us now consider what that unity means. 311 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,960 The verses before us make up 7 doctrinal notches. 312 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:58,160 They use the word 1 to point to a fundamental Christian value or 313 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:02,240 or face on. If you're familiar with the 314 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,960 scripture the scriptures use of the number 7, then may I suggest 315 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,680 that the seven here, the fact that there are seven of them is 316 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,440 no accident. Paul's putting us to us the 317 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:17,160 complete the perfect unity. Not unity at any price, but a 318 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,800 unity grounded in the three persons of the Trinity. 319 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:28,240 First, we see the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, 320 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,560 and His work in bringing unity. There's four. 321 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,600 There is one body and one spirit. 322 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,680 As we mentioned earlier, the body is not a man made 323 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,840 institution. The Holy Spirit creates 324 00:25:44,140 --> 00:25:51,100 coordinates, orchestrates the body of Christ, believers across 325 00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:54,100 every ethnic group, culture and social boundary. 326 00:25:54,260 --> 00:25:57,820 The same Spirit who empowered Jewish believers at Pentecost, 327 00:25:58,020 --> 00:26:01,700 fell on gentle Gentile believers in the House of Cornelius and 328 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:03,740 then dwell. Who can we believers today? 329 00:26:06,620 --> 00:26:09,220 We feel a connection when we meet someone else who shares a 330 00:26:09,220 --> 00:26:13,260 passion with us, such as rugby or motorsport or Lego or 331 00:26:13,790 --> 00:26:16,510 dancing, whatever it might be. But when we meet another 332 00:26:16,510 --> 00:26:23,150 believer who could be completely different, then there's a skip 333 00:26:23,150 --> 00:26:25,990 in our own a being. There's a delight, there's a 334 00:26:25,990 --> 00:26:29,670 warmth, there's an invisible bond. 335 00:26:31,830 --> 00:26:37,270 Not only has God reconciled us to himself through Christ, but 336 00:26:37,270 --> 00:26:45,210 He's reconciled us to one another Birth for equates this 337 00:26:45,210 --> 00:26:51,050 one body and one spirit with one with having one hope, Our 338 00:26:51,050 --> 00:26:53,970 Calling. Having already considered Our 339 00:26:53,970 --> 00:26:57,770 Calling, let us turn our eyes to this one hope. 340 00:27:00,330 --> 00:27:04,930 This hope is the expectation of eternal life, salvation through 341 00:27:04,930 --> 00:27:08,890 Christ, a shared longing for Christ's return. 342 00:27:10,090 --> 00:27:14,420 But we have a pledge, a guarantee, a glory to come. 343 00:27:15,340 --> 00:27:19,060 We've received the first installment of our inheritance, 344 00:27:19,300 --> 00:27:26,740 the Holy Spirit of promise. In our hearts, the fruit that we 345 00:27:26,740 --> 00:27:32,980 bear in Christ is a foretaste of the future, the love that comes 346 00:27:32,980 --> 00:27:37,300 without condition, the peace that surpasses understanding, 347 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:43,410 the joy that cannot be taken, the strength when we are weary. 348 00:27:45,290 --> 00:27:51,050 These things are the appetizers, the tidbits of the bliss that is 349 00:27:51,050 --> 00:27:54,970 to come, for we shall share the glory of Christ. 350 00:27:59,810 --> 00:28:03,450 The next threefold acclamation points to the second person of 351 00:28:03,450 --> 00:28:06,690 the Trinity, Jesus Christ our Lord. 352 00:28:08,410 --> 00:28:16,250 In verse five it reads 1 Lord, one faith, one baptism. 353 00:28:20,090 --> 00:28:23,610 The term Lord, which was the title for Yahweh in the Old 354 00:28:23,610 --> 00:28:25,490 Testament, is no surprise to us here. 355 00:28:25,890 --> 00:28:31,770 Paul uses it often and again he implies the Lordship of Christ. 356 00:28:33,330 --> 00:28:37,530 We don't have another master, and our master is not divided. 357 00:28:39,010 --> 00:28:41,950 And writing to the Corinthians, Paul rebukes them on this 358 00:28:41,950 --> 00:28:44,710 matter. First Corinthians, chapter 10 359 00:28:44,790 --> 00:28:48,910 reads. Now I exhort you, brethren, by 360 00:28:48,910 --> 00:28:53,670 the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all be an 361 00:28:53,670 --> 00:28:58,270 agreement, and there be no division among you, but that you 362 00:28:58,270 --> 00:29:02,110 be made complete and of the same mind and of the same judgment. 363 00:29:05,390 --> 00:29:08,310 For I've been informed concerning you, my brethren, by 364 00:29:08,310 --> 00:29:11,020 Chloe's people, that there is quarrelling among you. 365 00:29:12,340 --> 00:29:15,620 Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, I am of Paul, and 366 00:29:15,620 --> 00:29:19,700 I'm of Apollos, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ. 367 00:29:21,180 --> 00:29:27,620 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or 368 00:29:28,380 --> 00:29:30,380 were you baptized in the name of Paul? 369 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:40,520 Was what Paul taught important? It is but our striving is not to 370 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:45,080 conform to Charles Spurgeon or Billy Graham or Elizabeth 371 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:49,040 Elliott. We strive to increasingly, 372 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,720 increasingly conform to Christ's likeness. 373 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:57,960 God's eternal purpose has been accomplished in Jesus Christ our 374 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:02,360 Lord, and He fills the universe with His sovereign reign. 375 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:10,000 The head of the body is Christ, and our one faith is in him, one 376 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,400 name in whom we genuinely trust, but also one body of truth, one 377 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,640 faith which was once and for all delivered to the Saints. 378 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:25,000 Believers share in a common faith in Christ's redemptive 379 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,400 work. To to deny the essential 380 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,280 doctrines of Christianity is to abandon the Christian faith. 381 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,760 To embrace them leads to spiritual maturity. 382 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,360 Let's consider one John chapter 4, two to three. 383 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:50,880 By this you know the Spirit of God. 384 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,320 Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the 385 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:58,920 flesh is from God. And every spirit that does not 386 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:03,640 confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the 387 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,720 Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world 388 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:11,600 already. It doesn't matter what the 389 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,520 Spirit says. The fundamental truth of the 390 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,080 faith, what the Bible teaches, is immutable. 391 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,000 It's part of the exclusive nature of the true unity. 392 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:28,320 God's word does not change and God does not change. 393 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:37,300 Furthermore, there's only one baptism, a death to self and a 394 00:31:37,300 --> 00:31:39,980 living to Christ. Now, Paul isn't making a 395 00:31:39,980 --> 00:31:44,700 distinction between water baptism and the baptism of the 396 00:31:44,700 --> 00:31:47,500 Spirit. These hair splitting 397 00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:51,820 distinctions were all part of the same transition of the old 398 00:31:51,820 --> 00:31:54,820 life to the new life in New Testament times. 399 00:31:55,420 --> 00:32:00,940 To have one without the other was an anomaly, but if it's any 400 00:32:00,940 --> 00:32:04,100 comfort we use this type of language all the time. 401 00:32:05,730 --> 00:32:09,850 A marriage ring doesn't really bind two people together nor 402 00:32:09,850 --> 00:32:15,490 does a flag united nation. We also say things like light 403 00:32:15,490 --> 00:32:20,930 this candle candle in honor of their memory or I am saved by 404 00:32:20,930 --> 00:32:26,770 the cross. The point is that Jewish and 405 00:32:26,770 --> 00:32:30,290 Gentile believers alike acknowledge 1 Lord, share one 406 00:32:30,290 --> 00:32:35,040 faith in him, and have have undergone 1 shared baptism in 407 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:39,480 his name. And we see this very thing in 408 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:43,760 Galatians chapter 3 from 2326 to 29. 409 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:53,960 For you all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all 410 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,600 of you were baptized into Christ. 411 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:00,520 For all you who were baptized into Christ have clothed 412 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:05,120 yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, 413 00:33:05,470 --> 00:33:08,710 there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male 414 00:33:08,710 --> 00:33:12,230 nor female. For you are all one in Christ, 415 00:33:12,750 --> 00:33:15,510 and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's 416 00:33:15,510 --> 00:33:21,590 descendants. Ears according to promise, as 417 00:33:21,590 --> 00:33:24,830 Paul States and Colossians, God's purpose through Christ is 418 00:33:24,830 --> 00:33:29,710 to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace 419 00:33:29,710 --> 00:33:34,200 through the blood of Christ, through him reconciling things 420 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:40,560 upon earth and things in heaven. And thirdly, in our text back in 421 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:45,240 Ephesians chapter four, we see the first Person of the Trinity, 422 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:49,280 God the Father and His work in bringing unity. 423 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:57,480 Verse six There is one God and one Father of all who is overall 424 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:05,320 and through all and in all the Holy Spirit. 425 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:08,719 The focus of verse four and the Lord Jesus from verse five are 426 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:12,080 not viewed as separate entities. There is one God. 427 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,520 This flows out of what He's already said earlier and in 428 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,480 earlier chapters. There's not an Old Testament God 429 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:25,080 and a New Testament God. God is the Father who belongs. 430 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,040 God is the father of all those who belong to the family of 431 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,880 faith, both Jews and Gentiles, without distinction. 432 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,920 If you belong, if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's 433 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:43,400 descendants and ears according to the promise, this exclusive 434 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,880 unity and that all things are only brought together in Christ. 435 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:53,840 This carried further in Ephesians we see back in chapter 436 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:59,930 one, verse 10. It tells us God's purpose is the 437 00:34:59,930 --> 00:35:03,690 summing up of all things in Christ, things in heaven, and 438 00:35:03,690 --> 00:35:06,690 things on earth. In other words, to bring all 439 00:35:06,690 --> 00:35:10,010 creation to the point where it finds its true head in Christ. 440 00:35:13,290 --> 00:35:17,370 Ephesians 4, verse six. In Ephesians 4, verse six, we're 441 00:35:17,370 --> 00:35:21,130 encouraged we encounter the exclusive nature of unity in the 442 00:35:21,130 --> 00:35:25,820 sovereignty of God. He is the Father of all 443 00:35:25,820 --> 00:35:30,300 creation, orchestrating all things, ordering, ordering 444 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:34,380 things to His divine plan. As our Father, He holds 445 00:35:34,380 --> 00:35:38,940 authority over everything, serving as the author and 446 00:35:38,940 --> 00:35:43,300 sustainer of life. His control is absolute and 447 00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:49,380 nothing is beyond his reach. Furthermore, God is through all, 448 00:35:50,660 --> 00:35:54,520 actively working every circumstance and event through 449 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,200 Christ who mediates our relationship with Him. 450 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:05,840 God acts as our Father. He is also in all dwelling 451 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:09,800 within all believers. Through the Holy Spirit, the 452 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:14,800 intimate presence that shapes our lives, God's universal rule 453 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,280 is carried out to achieve the ultimate purpose, uniting all 454 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:24,150 things in Christ. The unity within the Trinity 455 00:36:24,150 --> 00:36:26,110 lays the foundation for the church. 456 00:36:31,380 --> 00:36:35,100 Through the church, God's wisdom is showcased to the entire 457 00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:38,980 universe. The church serves as a glimpse 458 00:36:38,980 --> 00:36:43,340 of God's ultimate plan, with believers demonstrating unity 459 00:36:43,540 --> 00:36:52,970 that reflects God's final goal. In closing, let us look back on 460 00:36:52,970 --> 00:36:57,450 the exclusive and inclusive nature of unity that revealed 461 00:36:57,450 --> 00:37:01,210 the Triune God and will cause the world to look to Him. 462 00:37:03,530 --> 00:37:09,730 Firstly, diversity. Far from destroying unity, will, 463 00:37:10,290 --> 00:37:14,810 if characterized, character characterized with humility, 464 00:37:15,130 --> 00:37:21,490 gentleness, and patience toward fellow Christians, will promote 465 00:37:21,490 --> 00:37:27,380 it. The inclusive nature of unity is 466 00:37:27,380 --> 00:37:32,860 that true, lasting God. Grounded unity is more than 467 00:37:32,860 --> 00:37:37,740 being thankful for the blessings that we have in Christ, but it's 468 00:37:37,740 --> 00:37:40,300 also living in a manner worthy of them. 469 00:37:40,300 --> 00:37:46,620 And Christ has found our identity, contentment and unity. 470 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:52,160 Loving God means loving brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers 471 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:55,960 in the faith. A love for all the Saints, even 472 00:37:55,960 --> 00:38:03,080 the foolish and difficult ones, for the purpose of building up 473 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:08,960 the Church to be a beacon of light in a dark and desperate 474 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:13,040 and divided world. A love that bears with one 475 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:16,720 another and preserves the unity of the Spirit and the bond of 476 00:38:16,720 --> 00:38:19,520 peace. Secondly, we looked at the 477 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:24,240 exclusive nature of unity. There is only one gospel, There 478 00:38:24,240 --> 00:38:27,160 is only one law. There's one faith, one baptism, 479 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:32,160 one God and Father of all. There is no other name by which 480 00:38:32,160 --> 00:38:35,200 men may be saved. There is no other religion. 481 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:39,560 They can offer peace with God. Now God is not divided, but he's 482 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:43,880 overall three through all and indwelling every believer. 483 00:38:45,150 --> 00:38:49,550 This is the intention of our worthy walk, to conform the 484 00:38:49,550 --> 00:38:54,110 church to to conform to the church as she is divinely, 485 00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:59,910 divinely displayed so that the world can understand the love of 486 00:38:59,910 --> 00:39:04,070 Christ, the pilot project of God's purposes. 487 00:39:06,630 --> 00:39:10,750 Paul was willing to suffer imprisonment and had many times. 488 00:39:12,470 --> 00:39:15,030 He didn't have any second thoughts in exchanging his life 489 00:39:15,030 --> 00:39:16,550 for the one that he was called to. 490 00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:22,950 For those who have tasted the first fruits, who share in the 491 00:39:22,950 --> 00:39:26,350 same promises and have the same hope in in your calling, 492 00:39:27,030 --> 00:39:31,430 remember that even the morsels of promise that we have here on 493 00:39:31,550 --> 00:39:34,550 earth outweigh prison, the pleasures of the world, the 494 00:39:34,550 --> 00:39:37,510 earthly ties, the conflicts with other believers. 495 00:39:39,030 --> 00:39:41,630 We look forward to the day when Christ returns. 496 00:39:41,930 --> 00:39:44,810 We look together. We say come Lord Jesus, come, 497 00:39:44,810 --> 00:39:48,530 bring everything into perfect subjection, perfect unity. 498 00:39:52,650 --> 00:39:59,050 In closing, I just want to pray the Paul's prayer from Ephesians 499 00:39:59,050 --> 00:40:12,010 chapter 314. For this reason I bow my knee 500 00:40:12,810 --> 00:40:18,730 before the Father from whom every family in heaven. 501 00:40:19,150 --> 00:40:26,190 And on earth is named that according to the riches of his 502 00:40:26,190 --> 00:40:32,750 glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through 503 00:40:32,750 --> 00:40:43,820 His Spirit in your inner being. So that Christ may dwell in your 504 00:40:43,820 --> 00:40:49,580 hearts through faith. That you, being rooted and 505 00:40:49,580 --> 00:40:53,540 grounded in love, may have strength. 506 00:40:54,540 --> 00:40:59,420 To comprehend with all the Saints what is the breadth and 507 00:40:59,420 --> 00:41:06,700 length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that 508 00:41:06,700 --> 00:41:13,980 surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness 509 00:41:13,980 --> 00:41:20,660 of God. Now to him who is able to do far 510 00:41:20,660 --> 00:41:26,640 more abundantly than all we ask will think according to the 511 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:32,200 power at work within us. To him be glory in the Church 512 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:39,640 and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and 513 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,280 ever. Amen.