Ephesians 4:4-6
What We Have in Common
Introduction
What do you have in common with me? What do you have in common with each other that draws you to the people of EFC? Is it people here are your age? Is it you share the same recreational interests? Is it people in the same life situation as you? Who have the same experiences? These are important questions to ask because they cause us to look at the nature of our unity. They cause us to critically evaluate the things we are looking for to have common ground with others. Is our unity based on worldly things or spiritual things? While I wouldn’t want to dismiss these things as having no place in connecting with people, I certainly think that these things have been emphasized far beyond their worth in the fellowship of the believers.
There are deeper and more worthy things that we have in common with each other that transcend any worldly bonds of race, age, hobbies, life experiences and so on. And Paul talks about them today in our passage. If you have nothing else in common with someone, except these, you have a basis for a stronger and more meaningful friendship with that someone than if you were otherwise polar opposites. These are the ties that bind. These were the things that Jews and Gentiles had as common ground in the early Church. And if the differences between Jews and Gentiles can be overcome based on these things elements of unity, and they can accept each other and love each other as equals in the Body of Christ because of these common truths between them, then we can find very strong common ground with anyone who is a believer here at EFC.
What Paul has been saying in the first couple verses is how to function together in unity. He is explaining the relational unity that should be visible between us. This is the unity that we accomplish in how we interact with each other. Verses 4-6 explain the basis for that. Verses 4-6 describe the unity that we already have. This unity is already accomplished by God, not us. It is permanent and cannot be undone.
It is of particular interest too that Paul mentions the Trinity in these verses. Verse 4 speaks of the Holy Spirit; verse 5 is Christ and verse 6 God the Father. In the Triune God there uniqueness between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Each one of the Divine Persons has a unique function and identity. Yet there is unity between the 3 of them. There is one God – not 3. He as one God exists as 3 divine Persons. And here is why it is so important that Paul mentions all three of them here: those 3 divine Persons live in perfect, harmonious, community together. The perfection of unity is seen between these 3 Persons of our one God. What does that mean to us? It means everything. Our God exists in unity and therefore we are to exist in unity. Hence, Ephesians 4
There is a lot of practicality in these verses. And what I want for us to walk away today with is a very real sense of how much we have in common with each other. I want you to see that these are what you have in common with each other. There are no greater bonds for us to have than these. There is no stronger basis for keeping peace in the fellowship than these. Our brotherly affection for each other is aroused by these things that we have in common and these things should motivate us to be humble to be gentle to be patient and to bear with each other in love. Let us look at them:
Point #1: One Body
First of all, Paul says there is one body. In verse 4 he says simply, “There is one body…” There is one body of Christ. Chapter 1verse 23 says, “the Church is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” In 2:16 Paul said, “and in this one body [He] reconciled both of them [Jew & Gentile] to God through the cross.” In 3:6 he said, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
This is not the local church, this is the universal church. This is the whole community of believers from the day of Pentecost all the way until the Rapture. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into this Body at the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:12). At that moment we are joined to Jesus Christ and we are joined to every other person who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. There are not multiple bodies, there is one body. There are not other groups of people joined to Jesus through different ways. There is one group of people that are unique and special because of their unique and special relationship to Jesus Christ. There has never been anything like it and there never will be again.
Transition: Look around you, your brothers and sisters are part of this very unique and special community with you. We belong to each other.
Point #2: One Spirit
Secondly, we have one Spirit. Paul says in verse 4, “There is one body and one Spirit…” We each have the Holy Spirit living inside of us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. According to Ephesians 1:13 this means we are sealed, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” In 2:22 we as the Church are described as a building being “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” God lives in us through His Spirit. That makes us living spiritual temples according to 1 Corinthians 3:16 where it says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” Each one of us has the Spirit of God living inside of us.
If the holy, eternal, Creator chooses to live inside of us, who are we that we wouldn’t live with each other?
Point #3: One Hope
Thirdly we all have one Hope. Paul says in verse 4, “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to on hope when you were called”. First Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Later in 3:15 Peter tells us to always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Our hope is 2-Fold. First it is the hope of the return of Christ. This is called the blessed hope in Titus 2, “We live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Secondly, our hope is the redemption of our bodies, the new resurrection bodies that we have coming. Romans 8 says, “We groan as we wait for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”
Biblical hope is certainty of future things while we wait for them. Worldly hope is the wishing for something, even though we’re not certain we will get it. Biblical hope is not like that.
Transition: Each of us has the same hope. God has given the same hope to each of us so that each of us have eyes looking towards the horizon of the future for the hope we have in Christ. (We are all called into this hope, and simultaneously possess this hope).
Point #4: One Lord
The 4th point is that we have One Lord. Paul says that in verse 5. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is your Lord, and, He is my Lord. He was crucified for your sins and mine – and the person sitting next to you. He was raised to life for your justification and mine – and the person sitting next to you. Peter concludes his powerful sermon to the Jews in Acts 2 verse 36, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Philippians 2:11 says that every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
There was a group of Christians in the early Church that didn’t get this. Turn with me over to 1 Corinthians 1. The Corinthians didn’t get it that they all had one Lord. And it caused divisions. The reason it caused divisions is that rather than everyone following Jesus Christ as their Lord, different cliques were following different human teachers. Read with me starting in verse 10…
Each different group identified themselves with human teachers rather than with Christ. Each group gave their highest allegiance to their respective human teachers. Each group had a different Lord that they followed. The problem is that all were Christians, but, all were not following the same one Lord. All were not identifying with the same one Lord. The result was rivalry, competition, pride – and where these things are there is division. If ever there was a church that needed a sermon series on Ephesians 4 in order to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace it was the Corinthians. But lest we become Corinthians ourselves let us each set apart Christ alone as our Lord and keep Him first in our hearts.
Point #5: One Faith
Point number 5 is that we all have one faith. Faith is the defining characteristic of our Christian life. We live by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7 says. This is a life lived out by a constant, child-like trust in the word of God. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man does not live on bread alone, but, every word that comes from the mouth of God.” We put our trust in God’s words. Hebrews 11:6 magnifies the importance of our faith, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” Jude said in verse 3, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”
It is the faith that that justifies us before God (Gal. 2:16) and gives us access to God (Eph. 3:12). It is the faith that purifies our hearts (Acts 15:9) and sanctifies us in Christ (Acts 26:18). It is the faith that produces our good works (1 Thess. 1:3) and it is this faith that is our shield (Eph. 6:16).
This faith is the faith in Jesus for salvation, the gospel that has the power to save. Many commentators say that this involves not only the gospel, but all the revealed word of God as well. In other words, our one faith is the body of doctrine revealed in the word of God that composes the truth we are to know, guard, and love. It is not just the gospel of salvation but every teaching given in Scripture that is in accordance with it. Turn to 1 Timothy 1 with me.
Point #6: One Baptism
Number 6, we have one baptism. Each of us has the same baptism. Some commentators say this is referring to water baptism, some say the spiritual baptism. I believe this is referring to Spirit baptism, not water baptism. The context is speaking of the things that are universal to the whole Church, the realities that exist for every believer, the things that God has done for each one of us. Water baptism is done by men, Spirit baptism is done by God.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12:13. It says, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…” Notice first he says we WERE, past tense, already done, not something we have to still try and get. Second, notice he says, ALL were baptized by the Holy Spirit, not some, not a few, but all. This is especially augmented when we realize Paul is discussing in this chapter the differences between the parts of the Body. The one thing all have that is the same is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Third notice the baptism is related to the identification and membership with the body of Christ, he says, “into one BODY”.
The one baptism we receive is that done by the Holy Spirit at the moment we put our faith in Christ. This baptism is not something we have to ask for, it is not something we have to get later on after we are saved. This one baptism happens just one time – when we are saved. Baptism means to place into. When you were baptized by the Holy Spirit it means that the Holy Spirit placed you into the Body of Christ. You were joined immediately to Jesus Christ forever, and, you were joined immediately to every other believer.
What We Have in Common
Introduction
What do you have in common with me? What do you have in common with each other that draws you to the people of EFC? Is it people here are your age? Is it you share the same recreational interests? Is it people in the same life situation as you? Who have the same experiences? These are important questions to ask because they cause us to look at the nature of our unity. They cause us to critically evaluate the things we are looking for to have common ground with others. Is our unity based on worldly things or spiritual things? While I wouldn’t want to dismiss these things as having no place in connecting with people, I certainly think that these things have been emphasized far beyond their worth in the fellowship of the believers.
There are deeper and more worthy things that we have in common with each other that transcend any worldly bonds of race, age, hobbies, life experiences and so on. And Paul talks about them today in our passage. If you have nothing else in common with someone, except these, you have a basis for a stronger and more meaningful friendship with that someone than if you were otherwise polar opposites. These are the ties that bind. These were the things that Jews and Gentiles had as common ground in the early Church. And if the differences between Jews and Gentiles can be overcome based on these things elements of unity, and they can accept each other and love each other as equals in the Body of Christ because of these common truths between them, then we can find very strong common ground with anyone who is a believer here at EFC.
What Paul has been saying in the first couple verses is how to function together in unity. He is explaining the relational unity that should be visible between us. This is the unity that we accomplish in how we interact with each other. Verses 4-6 explain the basis for that. Verses 4-6 describe the unity that we already have. This unity is already accomplished by God, not us. It is permanent and cannot be undone.
It is of particular interest too that Paul mentions the Trinity in these verses. Verse 4 speaks of the Holy Spirit; verse 5 is Christ and verse 6 God the Father. In the Triune God there uniqueness between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Each one of the Divine Persons has a unique function and identity. Yet there is unity between the 3 of them. There is one God – not 3. He as one God exists as 3 divine Persons. And here is why it is so important that Paul mentions all three of them here: those 3 divine Persons live in perfect, harmonious, community together. The perfection of unity is seen between these 3 Persons of our one God. What does that mean to us? It means everything. Our God exists in unity and therefore we are to exist in unity. Hence, Ephesians 4
There is a lot of practicality in these verses. And what I want for us to walk away today with is a very real sense of how much we have in common with each other. I want you to see that these are what you have in common with each other. There are no greater bonds for us to have than these. There is no stronger basis for keeping peace in the fellowship than these. Our brotherly affection for each other is aroused by these things that we have in common and these things should motivate us to be humble to be gentle to be patient and to bear with each other in love. Let us look at them:
Point #1: One Body
First of all, Paul says there is one body. In verse 4 he says simply, “There is one body…” There is one body of Christ. Chapter 1verse 23 says, “the Church is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” In 2:16 Paul said, “and in this one body [He] reconciled both of them [Jew & Gentile] to God through the cross.” In 3:6 he said, “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
This is not the local church, this is the universal church. This is the whole community of believers from the day of Pentecost all the way until the Rapture. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into this Body at the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:12). At that moment we are joined to Jesus Christ and we are joined to every other person who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. There are not multiple bodies, there is one body. There are not other groups of people joined to Jesus through different ways. There is one group of people that are unique and special because of their unique and special relationship to Jesus Christ. There has never been anything like it and there never will be again.
Transition: Look around you, your brothers and sisters are part of this very unique and special community with you. We belong to each other.
Point #2: One Spirit
Secondly, we have one Spirit. Paul says in verse 4, “There is one body and one Spirit…” We each have the Holy Spirit living inside of us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. According to Ephesians 1:13 this means we are sealed, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” In 2:22 we as the Church are described as a building being “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” God lives in us through His Spirit. That makes us living spiritual temples according to 1 Corinthians 3:16 where it says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” Each one of us has the Spirit of God living inside of us.
If the holy, eternal, Creator chooses to live inside of us, who are we that we wouldn’t live with each other?
Point #3: One Hope
Thirdly we all have one Hope. Paul says in verse 4, “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to on hope when you were called”. First Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Later in 3:15 Peter tells us to always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Our hope is 2-Fold. First it is the hope of the return of Christ. This is called the blessed hope in Titus 2, “We live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Secondly, our hope is the redemption of our bodies, the new resurrection bodies that we have coming. Romans 8 says, “We groan as we wait for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”
Biblical hope is certainty of future things while we wait for them. Worldly hope is the wishing for something, even though we’re not certain we will get it. Biblical hope is not like that.
Transition: Each of us has the same hope. God has given the same hope to each of us so that each of us have eyes looking towards the horizon of the future for the hope we have in Christ. (We are all called into this hope, and simultaneously possess this hope).
Point #4: One Lord
The 4th point is that we have One Lord. Paul says that in verse 5. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is your Lord, and, He is my Lord. He was crucified for your sins and mine – and the person sitting next to you. He was raised to life for your justification and mine – and the person sitting next to you. Peter concludes his powerful sermon to the Jews in Acts 2 verse 36, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Philippians 2:11 says that every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
There was a group of Christians in the early Church that didn’t get this. Turn with me over to 1 Corinthians 1. The Corinthians didn’t get it that they all had one Lord. And it caused divisions. The reason it caused divisions is that rather than everyone following Jesus Christ as their Lord, different cliques were following different human teachers. Read with me starting in verse 10…
Each different group identified themselves with human teachers rather than with Christ. Each group gave their highest allegiance to their respective human teachers. Each group had a different Lord that they followed. The problem is that all were Christians, but, all were not following the same one Lord. All were not identifying with the same one Lord. The result was rivalry, competition, pride – and where these things are there is division. If ever there was a church that needed a sermon series on Ephesians 4 in order to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace it was the Corinthians. But lest we become Corinthians ourselves let us each set apart Christ alone as our Lord and keep Him first in our hearts.
Point #5: One Faith
Point number 5 is that we all have one faith. Faith is the defining characteristic of our Christian life. We live by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7 says. This is a life lived out by a constant, child-like trust in the word of God. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man does not live on bread alone, but, every word that comes from the mouth of God.” We put our trust in God’s words. Hebrews 11:6 magnifies the importance of our faith, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” Jude said in verse 3, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”
It is the faith that that justifies us before God (Gal. 2:16) and gives us access to God (Eph. 3:12). It is the faith that purifies our hearts (Acts 15:9) and sanctifies us in Christ (Acts 26:18). It is the faith that produces our good works (1 Thess. 1:3) and it is this faith that is our shield (Eph. 6:16).
This faith is the faith in Jesus for salvation, the gospel that has the power to save. Many commentators say that this involves not only the gospel, but all the revealed word of God as well. In other words, our one faith is the body of doctrine revealed in the word of God that composes the truth we are to know, guard, and love. It is not just the gospel of salvation but every teaching given in Scripture that is in accordance with it. Turn to 1 Timothy 1 with me.
Point #6: One Baptism
Number 6, we have one baptism. Each of us has the same baptism. Some commentators say this is referring to water baptism, some say the spiritual baptism. I believe this is referring to Spirit baptism, not water baptism. The context is speaking of the things that are universal to the whole Church, the realities that exist for every believer, the things that God has done for each one of us. Water baptism is done by men, Spirit baptism is done by God.
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12:13. It says, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…” Notice first he says we WERE, past tense, already done, not something we have to still try and get. Second, notice he says, ALL were baptized by the Holy Spirit, not some, not a few, but all. This is especially augmented when we realize Paul is discussing in this chapter the differences between the parts of the Body. The one thing all have that is the same is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Third notice the baptism is related to the identification and membership with the body of Christ, he says, “into one BODY”.
The one baptism we receive is that done by the Holy Spirit at the moment we put our faith in Christ. This baptism is not something we have to ask for, it is not something we have to get later on after we are saved. This one baptism happens just one time – when we are saved. Baptism means to place into. When you were baptized by the Holy Spirit it means that the Holy Spirit placed you into the Body of Christ. You were joined immediately to Jesus Christ forever, and, you were joined immediately to every other believer.
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