Sermon Tone Analysis
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"THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS"
Walking Together In Unity (4:1-16)
INTRODUCTION
1.
For three chapters, Paul has dealt with "doctrine" in which he has
described both:
a.
Our spiritual "possessions" in Christ (1)
b.
Our spiritual "position" in Christ (2,3)
2. In the remaining three chapters of this epistle, Paul will focus on
"duty", i.e., responsibilities that are ours because of the blessings
we enjoy as described in the previous chapters
3. Of the blessings described, one upon which Paul elaborated is the
"unity" that we have in Christ by virtue of His work on the cross...
a.
He has reconciled both Jew and Gentile to God in "one body" -
b. Now, Gentiles can be fellow heirs, of the "same body" -
4. It should not be surprising, then, that the first duty that Paul
exhorts us to fulfill is "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace" -
a. Christ "attained" this unity by His work on the cross
b.
Our task is to "maintain" it
[Beginning, then, with a charge to "walk worthy of the calling with
which you were called" (), Paul describes how to have a "worthy
walk", and that is by displaying...]
I. THE "ATTITUDES" FOR MAINTAINING UNITY (1-3)
A. LOWLINESS...
1.
This word means:
a.
The having a humble opinion of one's self
b.
A deep sense of one's (moral) littleness
c.
Modesty, humility, lowliness of mind
2. This virtue is necessary in order in order to properly value
others around you - cf.
3. Without this virtue, members in the body begin trying to be the
"head" of the body, a role reserved only for Christ
B. GENTLENESS...
1.
This word can be translated as gentleness, mildness, meekness
2. It is not a quality of weakness, but of power under control
a. Moses was a meek man (), but capable of great
strength and boldness
b.
Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart" (), but we see
where He drove the money changers out of the temple
3. Thus it is being gentle, even when there is the potential for
being harsh, but gentleness is more conducive for maintaining
unity
C. LONG-SUFFERING...
1.
The idea here is one of patience, forbearance, longsuffering,
slowness in avenging wrongs
2. When the body consists of members who are not perfect, and
often sin against each other, maintaining unity is not possible
unless they are willing to endure each other's imperfections
D. BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE...
1. Similar to longsuffering, "bearing" means to sustain, to bear,
to endure
2. What makes such "longsuffering" and "forbearance" possible is
another virtue: "love"
3.
As Paul wrote in his chapter on love: "love suffers long...is
not provoked" -
4. Indeed, the virtue of love is the "tie" that binds all these
virtues together - cf.
E. ENDEAVOR...
1. Displaying these virtues does not come naturally nor easy, nor
does maintaining unity
2. Thus the need for much effort, as Paul uses a word which means
"to exert one's self, endeavor, give diligence"
[Only by giving diligence to display ALL these virtues, can we hope to
"keep (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ep
4:3).
But just as important as having the right "attitudes", is understanding
and holding to...]
II.
THE "BASIS" OF UNITY (4-6)
A. ONE BODY...
1.
This refers to the body of Christ, the church -
2. Of course, Paul speaks here of the church in the "universal"
sense
a.
The "body" of saved believers throughout the world
b.
Of which Christ is the "head", and "savior of the body" -
3. While there may be many "local" churches (congregations), there
is only ONE "universal" church, with ONE "head" - Jesus Christ!
B. ONE SPIRIT...
1.
This would be the Holy Spirit
2. Who has already been described in this epistle...
a.
As "the Holy Spirit of promise" -
b.
As "the guarantee of our inheritance" -
c.
By Whom both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father -
d.
In Whom God habitats those who are being built a "holy
temple" -
e.
By Whom the "mystery of Christ" was revealed to the apostles
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