Ephesians 4:1-6

MAINTAINING THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

THE PLACE OF OUR UNITY

Intro: It has been a while since we looked into the fourth chapter of Ephesians. I want to remind you that
Paul is writing about the theme of unity in the church. Specifically, Paul has been teaching us how
to Maintain The Unity Of The Church.

Achieving unity within a group can sometimes be a difficult endeavor. We come from so many different
backgrounds. We have differing ideas about many different subjects. We were all raised different. We
possess differing goals, ambitions and agendas in life. Unity in an atmosphere can be hard to come by.

I would say that unity in the church would be an absolute impossibility if it were solely up to us. Thank God
it isn’t up to us alone. We play a great part in the unity of the church, as we see in verses 1-3. However, The
Place Of Our Unity in the church is not in our ability to produce it all by ourselves. The unity of the church,
like everything else we have as the people of God, rests on His grace alone.

Paul has been teaching us in Ephesians that God, by His grace, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has
brought together people from every imaginable background, and has made them one in Jesus Christ. Jews
who were born under the Law and who are subject to the Law, and Gentiles who were given over to dumb
idols, have been brought together in one body.

The ground of our unity does not rest in our ability to get along with one another. Our unity in the body of
Christ rests upon the common elements that we share as members of His body.

All of the elements Paul mentions in these verses are freely given to us by the grace of God. They are the
fruit of our relationship with Him. It is these elements that make unity within the church a real possibility.

Paul mentions seven common elements that all believers share in Christ. He groups these elements into
three areas. These areas serve to teach us that unity in the church comes from our relationship with the
Godhead. Every member of the trinity is involved making unity possible within the church. Let’s examine
these areas and the elements together today as we consider The Place Of Our Unity.

I. V. 4 WE FIND OUR UNITY IN GOD THE SPIRIT

The Spirit of God is greatly involved in the unity of the church. Notice what He gives us that enables us to
enjoy unity in the Lord.

A. There Is One Body - This refers to the universal church made up of all believers, from all ages, around
the world. When a sinner is regenerated and given salvation, that sinner is placed into the body of Christ. Paul
describes this process in 1 Cor. 12:12-27.

We interact with the world around us using the vehicle of our physical bodies. In the same way, God interacts
with the world through His spiritual body, the body of Christ. He uses the members of the Body of Christ to
serve Him, the spread the Gospel, the live out the truths of His Word and so on.

We are placed in the universal body of Christ when we are saved, then we find our place within a local body
where we can use the spiritual gifts we have been given to the glory of God. Regardless of what place you
occupy within the body, you are united together with all believers in Christ.

B. There Is One Spirit - Romans 8:9b says, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his.” When we were saved, the Spirit of God came to live within our hearts, Eph. 2:19-22. We have
literally become the “temple of God,” 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

This same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, placed us in the Body of Christ, and He took up residence in our hearts. It is
the presence of the Holy Spirit within us that gives us the ultimate assurance of our salvation. “For ye have
not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God,” Rom.
8:15–16.

This means that we have an even deeper connection that just being part of the same body. The same Spirit of
God that lives within you lives within me, and within every other believer. Regardless of the color of our
skin, our background, or any other difference we would like to name, if we are saved, the same Holy Spirit
dwells within each of us and unites us as one in the Lord.

There are not many spirits bringing people out of death into life, there is only One Spirit doing that work in
the World. His name is the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that drew you, drew me. The same Spirit that saved
you, saved me. The same Spirit that dwells within you, dwells within me. The same Spirit that quickened you
and caused you to come alive to the things of God, is the same Spirit that quickened me and caused me to
come alive to the things of God. We are made one at the deepest level of our beings through the indwelling
presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

C. There Is One Hope - The words “called and calling” refer to the effectual call to salvation. It refers to
that time when God drew us to Himself through the wooing of the Spirit and saved us by His grace, John
6:44. When He called us with the common call all the redeemed have experienced, He called us to one hope.
Just as you and I occupy one body and are occupied by one Spirit, we also share a common hope.

The word “hope” does not refer to a wish or a desire. The word “hope” in the Bible refers to “a deep settled
confidence based on a clear word from God.” In other words, when the Lord called us to Himself and saved
us by His grace, He gave us all a common “hope.”

What is this hope? It is the fulfillment of all the promises that belong to the redeemed in Jesus Christ.

 It speaks of the blessings of this life found in promises such as, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20; Jer. 33:3;
Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25-34; Rom. 8:17.
 It speaks of the blessings of the life to come found in promises such as, Titus 2:13-14; 1 Thes. 4:16-
18; Rev. 21:4; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; John 14:1-3; 1 Pet. 3:15.

All this, and much, much more, became yours when you were called to Christ and made a believer.

 It is this common hope that binds us together in purpose and service to our Lord.
 It is this hope that causes us to keep walking for the Lord.
 It is this hope that causes us to stay faithful when others fall away.
  It is this hope that puts a spring into our step, a song in our heart, and a shout on our lips.

We have a common hope in Christ.

By the way, the end of our calling, and the hope connected with it, is eternal perfection in the presence of
God in Heaven. That is made clear in Rom. 8:28-29, Eph. 1:4, and 1 John 3:2. Our calling is a calling to
perfect Christlikeness and our hope is the sure confidence that God will accomplish this in and for us for His
Own glory.

I. We Find Our Unity In God The Spirit

II. V. 5 WE FIND OUR UNITY IN GOD THE SON

The Holy Spirit is involved in our unity as believer, but so is the Son. Notice the elements that He brings to
the table.

A. There Is One Lord - The word “Lord” means “Lord or Master.” It refers to “one Who exercises
headship.” This world reminds is that there is one head of the church, and His name is Jesus. Paul has already
exalted the Lord’s position in Eph. 1:18-23. He also mentions it in Col. 1:18.

Whether we know it or not, we all serve the same Master. The Pastor, the Deacons, some influential family or
person, is not the head of the church. There is a structure of leadership in the local assembly that we would do
well to follow. However, the sole Lord over the body of Christ is the Head of that body, the Lord Jesus
Christ.

Just as your head determines that direction your body goes, Jesus Christ directs the church. He is our
Head, Eph. 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18. It is the Lord Jesus that we follow. It is His will that we seek. It is His
Gospel that we share. It is His praises we sing. We serve a common Lord and that gives us a basis for unity.

By the way, this one Lord is the only way into the one body, John 14:6; Acts 4:12. Once we are in Him, we
are brought under His Lordship over our lives, and He is a gracious, wonderful Lord, Who is worthy to be
served. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon him,” Rom. 10:12.

B. There Is One Faith - The word “faith” can be interpreted a couple of different ways. It can refer to the
act of faith that saves the soul and causes a sinner to become a child of God. It can refer to the acts of faith
that mark the believer’s life after he or she is saved. In other words, it can refers to the ongoing life of faithful
service to and confidence in the Lord. Or it can refer to the body of doctrine and all believers hold to be true.

I would like to suggest that it is the last two options I mentioned that are in view here. There is one “faith.”
There is one set of doctrine, contained in and revealed by the Bible, the Word of God. This body of doctrine
forms the basis of our faith. It teaches us about God, about sin, and about salvation. It teaches us what we
should believe and how we should behave based on what we believe.

So, there is one “faith.” There is one set of doctrinal truth that binds all believers together in the Lord. This
does not mean that we must all believe the same thing about every issue. It does mean that there are some
unalterable truths that must be believed if one is to truly be called a believer. Let me mention just a few of the
non-negotiable truths of the Christian faith.

 There is one God, and He is Creator and Sovereign over all His creation.
 There is one Savior, and He is the Son of God. He was born of a virgin. He was born without sin. He
 lived without sin. He died on the cross for sin and for sinners. He was buried and He rose again the
third day. He ascended back to Heaven, where He sits at His Father’s right hand, awaiting the day
when He will return to claim His bride and rule the world as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He
will save all who will come to Him confessing their sins and believed His Gospel.
 There is one Holy Spirit. He draws the sinner to Christ. He gives them faith to believe in Christ. He
baptizes them into the body of Christ. He indwells them to enable them to live for God in this world.
 There is one true church. The body of Christ, which is made up of believers from every nation, tribe,
race, kindred, people and tongue. This church is the bride of Christ and one day it will be caught up
with Christ to spend eternity with her Lord and Savior.
 The Bible is the Word of God. It is inspired by God. It is without error and it is infallible. It is to be
believed in its entirety, and it is the sole standard of our faith and practice. It is God’s word to man
and it is the final authority for the church.

There are many other doctrines that are true, and should be believed. Those listed above are simply some of
the essential truths that must be nailed down in your heart. To miss these doctrines is to miss God’s
salvation.

Just a reminder, but what you believe determines how you behave. The “one faith” Paul mentions here is
something we take in from the Word of God and live out in our lives.

This means that we must have a strong relationship with the Word of God. We must read it, believe it and
live it. That is God’s will for His church!

C. There Is One Baptism - The word “baptism” refers to our union with Christ, or our baptism into Him
when we are saved. It does not refer exclusively to water baptism. There are many modes of water baptism.
Some traditions pour, some sprinkle, we immerse. While immersion is the method taught in the word of God,
all modes of baptism share one common shortcoming: none can save the soul.

Baptism is a means of identification. When we are saved, we are commanded to follow the Lord in water
baptism. This is a public, outward statement by the believer that he is identifying himself with Christ. He is
telling all who witness his baptist that he has died to the old life of sin and has been resurrected to a new life
in Christ. It is a moment of public identification. Water baptism is an outward symbol of what happened
inwardly when we believed the Gospel and were saved.

Some believers never carry out the Lord’s command. That is, they come to Jesus and are saved, but they
never follow Him in water baptism. They are in disobedience, but they are no less saved. Others submit to
unbiblical methods of baptism. They are saved, but they have failed to participate in a method of baptism that
pictures the death, burial and resurrection accosted with the new birth. Others follow the Lord in water
baptism and are immersed as the Bible teaches.

Regardless of the differences in the methods used in water baptism, every genuine believer in Christ
experiences the common baptism of the Spirit. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit,” 1
Cor. 12:13.

So, water baptism allows us to identify publicly with the Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Spirit, which
we all share in common, allows Him to identity Himself with us. This baptism of the Spirit, “Christ in you,
the hope of glory,” Col. 1:27, enables us to experience His presence, His power and His help to live out our
“one faith” for our “one Lord.”
 I. We Find Our Unity In God The Spirit

II. We Find Our Unity In God The Son

III. V. 6 WE FIND OUR UNITY IN GOD THE FATHER

It isn’t just the Spirit and the Son that contribute to the unity of the Church. The Father is also involved.
Notice what Paul teaches us about Him, and His involvement.

A. His Position - He is the “one God.” This truth, that there is but one God is the foundational truth of both
ancient Judaism and biblical Christianity. The ancient Jews said it this way, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our
God is one LORD,” Deut. 6:4. The early church affirmed the oneness of God as well, 1 Cor. 8:4-6; James
2:19.

Since He is God, He is to be feared, loved, believed, worshiped, served, obeyed, honored, glorified and
magnified by all His creation. This idea of “one God” is the central hub of all we are, and of all we believe.
We find the basis of our unity in the person of the “one God” we acknowledge and worship.

B. His Person - He is “Father.” This reminds us that this “one God” is also the “Father” of all those who
are in Christ. As our “Father” He loves us, He cares for us, He protects us, He provides for us, He hears our
prayers, and He secures us in His love and His salvation. As our “Father,” He has taken full responsibility for
us, for our lives here, and for our ultimate journey to Heaven.

One of the greatest truths in the Bible is this: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when
he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” 1 John 3:1–2.

We are members of the same body. We have the same Father. We share a unity that transcends every human
relationships, every human problem or every human struggle. He share the same Father, and that makes us
family. The fatherhood of God is the basis for our unity as believers.

C. His Power - He is “above all, and through all, and in you all.” In this last statement, Paul makes it clear
that the Father is active in all our lives. This means that God is the One Who is in control of all of life. He is
over every circumstance. He is involved in every situation. He dwells in all His children. It is a picture of
supreme Lordship and sovereignty.

Our God is “over all” things. No power can overcome Him. No government can stop Him. No one can thwart
His power. He is God “over all” things from the very heights of Heaven, the scorched floors of Hell. Every
star follows the course He gave it. Every molecule in the universe does as it was programmed to do. He rules
it all.

Our God is “through all.” This means that God is working in all things to accomplish His eternal purposes.
He knows what He is doing. He knows where He is going. He has a plan that will culminate in His eternal
purposes being perfectly fulfilled.

Our God is “in you all.” We know the Spirit dwells within us, but we are informed here that the transcendent
God Who creates and controls the universe also dwells within His children. He unites us in His power, His
purposes and in His presence.
 Dr. John MacArthur sums this passage up this way: “That comprehensive statement points to the glorious,
divine, eternal unity that the Father gives believers by His Spirit and through the Son. We are God
created, God loved, God saved, God Fathered, God controlled, God sustained, God filled, and God blessed.
We are one people under one sovereign (over all), omnipotent (through all), and omnipresent (in all)
God.”

Conc: If any people in the history of the world had any basis for unity, it is the church of Jesus Christ. One
Father has created one family. One Son has given us one faith, one hope and one baptism. One Spirit has
created one body.

God has created a unity within His church that can never be broken. It is as shatterproof as the godhead itself.
As John Stott once said, “It is no more possible to split the church than it is possible to split the Godhead.”

We know that local churches have trouble and they experience what we call splits. However, the universal
church, the Body of Christ, can never split. It stands complete and united in the power of God.

We are different, but we serve the same God. We are members of the same family. We are indwelled by the
same Spirit. We are headed to the same Heaven. We believe the same things.

Thus, we must do everything in our power to live in the unity we have been given in Christ. It is not
automatic, but it is possible as we live out the commands of Eph. 4:1-3.

We can preach all we want to, but it is our love for one another and our unity in the Spirit of God that
proclaims our uniqueness to the world around us. Our love and unity demonstrate the truth that we are real,
and that God is working in us.

 I invite you to come pray for the unity of this local body of believers.
 I invite you to come and thank God for the ties that bind.
 I invite you to come to Jesus Christ if you are lost.
 I invite you to look into your heart ask yourself this question: “Am I doing all that I can to help the
church walk in unity?”

THE POWER OF UNITY

INTRODUCTION:

INTRODUCTION:
1. Unity is something that you know when it’s present...and you know when it’s absent.

2. When there is unity...everything runs smoothly & more gets accomplished...but when there is division &
lack of unity...all you have is chaos & confusion.

3. In , we have the story of the Tower of Babel...

God had commanded Noah & his sons to disperse & repopulate the earth...but rather than be obedient to
God, they decided to settle down & build themselves a city...and build a tower that would reach into the
heavens.

4. In the two verses we read, God says they would have accomplished what they set out to do b/c they were
one people & had the same language.

NLT says the people were “united”

NLT said they were “united...”

Even though they were being disobedient & rebellious to God...these verses demonstrate the power of unity.

These verses tell us that we can accomplish much more when we work together...rather than we’re divided.

5. So this morning, I want to share with you several thoughts about unity.

1) THE BLESSINGS OF UNITY ()

A. UNITY ATTRACTS GOD’S FAVOR & ANOINTING (GETS GOD’S ATTENTION)

1. There are several blessings/benefits to having unity.

A. UNITY ATTRACTS GOD’S FAVOR & ANOINTING

(GETS GOD’S ATTENTION)

tells us that unity is like the anointing oil that runs down the beard of Aaron.

Oil is symbolic of the HS.

I believe where there is unity…the presence/power of the HS will be present & operating.

It also says that God commands His blessing where there is unity.

Think about this - the HS came down on the day of Pentecost when the believers were in one mind & accord.

In our passage, while they were building the Tower of Babel…God came down to see what they were doing.

Acts 2”1-4

NOTE: If we want God to empower us & bless us…there has to be unity in the church.

God can’t bless & favor division.

God isn’t attracted to disunity when He is a God of unity.

There is unity in the godhead...and He expects there to be unity among His people.

In , Jesus prayed that His people would experience unity.

John 17:

It also says that God commands His blessing where there is unity.
God will place His favor on a church when there is unity.

He will open doors & opportunities for a church that walks in unity.

B. UNITY LEADS TO GREATER PRODUCTIVITY

) (V 9)

Ecclesiastes 4:9 KJV 1900

9
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

More can be accomplished when we work together than working separately.

More can be accomplished when we work together than working separately.

When Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them out two by two.

Why - I believe it’s b/c there is strength in numbers...2 is better than 1...3 is better 2…and so on.

Lev. 26:7-8

NOTE: We can achieve more together than we can separately.

The people working together at the Tower of Babel would have accomplished their task had God not
intervened...that’s the power of unity.

C. UNITY LEADS TO SUSTAINABILITY

)

A house divided cannot stand...it cannot last.

The same is true for a church.

If a church is divided it will not accomplish what it’s supposed to accomplish…It will not be everything that
God wants it to be.

A church that is divided will eventually implode from within...It will destroy itself.

NOTE: If we are to last & be sustainable…there must be unity.

And if you’re thinking - Jesus said He would build His church & the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail
against it…that’s correct - He said that.

But it’s His church that He’s building…not OUR church.

His church will have unity…not division.

His church will have order…not chaos & confusion.

2) THE HINDRANCES TO UNITY
A. UNFORGIVENESS
The unwillingness to forgive someone who has wronged you hinders unity.

And many times those that have wronged you may not have realized that they even hurt you

B. BITTERNESS
Unforgiveness turns to bitterness & resentment.

When we fail to forgive others, we hold on to our hurts…and we hold grudges against those that hurt us…
and perhaps even have anger towards them.

C. JEALOUSY
1 Corinthians 3:1–4 HCSB
1
Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. 2 I
gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, 3
because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like
unbelievers? 4 For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,” are you not
unspiritual people?

When we are jealous of others & what God does in their lives…and how God uses them…it creates division
rather unity.

They were full of jealousy, envy, & strife…and it had divided them.

When we covet other people’s gifts rather than celebrate their gifts…there will always be division.

But let me say this - instead of being envious of someone else’s gift…discover your gift & use your gift.

Some were saying they were with Paul…others were saying they were with Apollos.

NOTE: God has a purpose for everyone in the church…and everyone is needed in the church.

D. SELF-FOCUS/SELF-ABSORPTION
)

When you believe in Jesus you become a part of God’s family…therefore, you have to lose the “me”
mentality.

It’s no longer just about you…but when we focus only on ourselves, there will be a lack of unity.

When the focus is on “me, myself, & I” unity will be missing in the church.

Paul says, don’t just look out for your own interests…but look out for the interests of others as well.

Consider others as more important than yourself.

Think about this - If everyone took care of the needs of someone else…everyone’s needs would be met.

But if we come to church thinking - “what can the church do for me” - no one gets helped…and the unity of
the church will never be developed.

3) KEYS TO RESTORING UNITY

1. Having unity is all about

A. PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER

It’s difficult to be mad, angry, & hold grudges with others when you’re praying for them.

Prayer changes things but most of all it changes us.

B. LOVING ONE ANOTHER

The world will know that we belong to JC when we love one another.

True love for one another will lead to real unity...and it takes the HS to produce real love.

Love is a work of the HS...It is a fruit of the Spirit.

Love should flow from our lives naturally as believers...and if we find that we aren’t that loving - then maybe
we need to examine our lives to see if have really been saved.

We may not always love perfectly but if we’re more hateful than loving...there’s a problem in our heart.

:1-

C. LETTING GO OF THE PAST

This may be one of the hardest things to do but letting go of what is behind us will go a long way in helping
us to build unity.

This may be one of the hardest things to do but letting go of what is behind us will go a long way in helping
us to build unity.

Too many people can’t move on b/c they are stuck in the past.

Whether it’s reliving the good times of the past...or reopening the wounds of the past...the past keeps a lot
of people & a lot of churches stuck.

But the past is over - We can’t change it...We can’t relive it.

We can learn from it...but we can’t let it hold us hostage.

We can’t let it divide us.

We have to let go of the past so that we can move forward.

D. BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

This should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.

The church should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.

We are to rejoice with those who rejoice...and weep with those who weep.

NOTE: We aren’t in this Christian life alone.

No one here today should feel like they have to face what they are going through by themselves.

The family of God should be a support system for each other.

We should encourage one another...and we should be able to share what is going on in our lives w/o
fear of judgment.

Our brothers & sisters in Christ should be able to count on us.

CONCLUSION:
Several centuries ago, ancient China wanted to secure its borders from its northern invaders.

So, they built the Great Wall of China to protect the border...The massive wall stretched for 1,500
miles...It was 12 to 40 feet wide and 20 to 50 feet high.

The wall was too high for the enemy to scale, too thick to tear down, and too long to go around...They
also posted soldiers at different places.

They also posted soldiers at different places. It was built wide enough on the top for chariots to patrol.
If they heard of an attack at distant location, they could easily get to it. They were up high giving them
a superior advantage over their enemies. They knew that they had protected their borders sufficiently
against all enemies.

It was built wide enough on the top for chariots to patrol. If they heard of an attack at distant
location, they could easily get to it. They were up high giving them a superior advantage over their
enemies. They knew that they had protected their borders sufficiently against all enemies.

But, in the first 100 years of the Great Wall of China, the nation was invaded three times.

How? An enemy bribed the gatekeepers and entered into the land undetected.

1. When we diminish the importance of unity in the body of Christ, we risk being invaded by the enemy.

2. God has called us to divine fellowship…and that fellowship is one of the most powerful tools of witness to
a lost and dying world.

If we don't protect it, strive for it, and do everything we can to promote it, we open the gate to the enemy.

The enemy will attack & cause ineffectiveness and destruction.

NOTE: Everyone has a part to play in promoting & protecting the unity of the church.

It takes the effort of everyone.

So, today it is my prayer & desire that God would make us one…

It is my prayer that any issues we may have with one another would be dealt with & laid aside that we
might go forward & do all that God has called us to do.

Let’s pray/worship!