Unity in the Body
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThe life we live as Christians, both in the virtues that describe our life and the unity that describes our relationship with each other, makes a statement about God and, therefore, should be marked with humility and gentleness, patience, love, and unity.
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I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Walk in a manner that is worthy
Walk in a manner that is worthy
How does this section fit into Paul’s instruction?
How does this section fit into Paul’s instruction?
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
o Walk
o Walk
o Calling
o This was being stated to 1st century gentiles
What are some attributes of this life?
o Consider their hugely idolatrous culture they came from.
§ Poly-theistic = belief in many gods
o All – never satisfied but always growing
o Constantly looking for way to increase my “All”
§ Relativistic culture = belief in many truths
o Not holding anything back for myself
o “But we don’t believe in multiple truths!”
§ Just as polytheism divide over which false god is better
Saying to myself – All of me belongs to God.
o Humility:
§ We allow division over preferences
· We should seek truth but when that causes division of secondary matters, we are missing the point.
o God gave you value – don’t destroy it
Humility is lifting others up, not tearing yourself down
o Song choices
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
o It’s about taking the focus off of you and placing it on God
o Bible versions
It’s trusting God to show the world who you are.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
o Jeans or slacks
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
o Lights on or lights off
o Element of truth in all of those but shouldn’t cause division.
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
your vindication like the noonday sun. ()
o Gentleness:
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
o There is ONE GOD who draws and holds all things together.
Part of the definition of gentleness is humility, meekness, courtesy
§ Acting in a manner that is mild & even-tempered
o To try or allow division in the body
o There is no place for: “I’m just telling it like it is.”
o In a very real sense attempting to divide Christ from Himself
o It is a fruit of the spirit (sarcasm is not)
§ All you are doing is drawing yourself and others from the body of Christ.
§
The purpose of the unity and the body
The purpose of the unity and the body
Patience:
o Leads into coming sermons…
This virtue is seen and perfected in trials.
o Mistake to think this is just about peace for the sake of peace
Patience is a virtue seen and perfected in trials.
o This virtue requires you to interact with difficult people.
Jesus did not leave heaven and die on the cross just to teach us how to be nice to each other.
o We can’t be fooled into thinking that if we all come together and use or gifts the we must be the church
o This virtue asks you to faithfully endure bad situations.
o Bearing with one another in love
o We are rightfully called to be “THE BODY OF CHRIST” because WE HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.
Bearing has to do with the resolve you have to stand firm in your convictions.
§ Your resolve should be founded on love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
o “Eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
o Eager to maintain unity of the Spirit
§ This is a deep-rooted desire
§ This goes way beyond simply biting my lip. (Unity of the Spirit)
§ Conflict is inevitable in this sinful world, but to maintain peace means to have a solid foundation, set boundaries, develop good practices to avoid and lovingly work through conflict.
One Body and One Spirit
One Body and One Spirit
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
There is one body and one Spirit
There is one body and one Spirit
How does this section fit into Paul’s instruction?
How does this section fit into Paul’s instruction?
o This was being stated to 1st century gentiles
o Consider their hugely idolatrous culture they came from.
§ Poly-theistic = belief in many gods
§ Relativistic culture = belief in many truths
o “But we don’t believe in multiple truths!”
§ Just as polytheism divide over which false god is better
§ We allow division over preferences
· We should seek truth but when that causes division of secondary matters, we are missing the point.
o Song choices
o Bible versions
o Jeans or slacks
o Lights on or lights off
o Element of truth in all of those but shouldn’t cause division.
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
o There is ONE GOD who draws and holds all things together.
o To try or allow division in the body
o In a very real sense attempting to divide Christ from Himself
§ All you are doing is drawing yourself and others from the body of Christ.
The purpose of the unity and the body
The purpose of the unity and the body
o Leads into coming sermons…
o Mistake to think this is just about peace for the sake of peace.
Jesus did not leave heaven and die on the cross just to teach us how to be nice to each other.
Jesus did not leave heaven and die on the cross just to teach us how to be nice to each other.
o We can’t be fooled into thinking that if we all come together and use or gifts the we must be the church
We are rightfully called to be the body of Christ because we have something to do.