New Testament - EPHESIANS 4:1-7 - (Call to Unity)
Channel: Calvary Chapel Windward
Date: 2016-04-24

New Testament - EPHESIANS 4:1-7 - (Call to Unity) - CC Windward - Pastor Tim

New Testament - EPHESIANS 4:1-7 - (Call to Unity) - Calvary Chapel Windward - OAHU, HAWAII - Pastor Tim Newman - From Local Olelo / Oceanic / Time Warner Cable show "A View from Calvary" - Episode #: - Original Air Date: 07/25/2015 A.D.

PASTOR TIM's NOTES:

Ephesians 4: 1-6
“Unity in the Church”
Chapter 4 now begins to teach us how to walk or live with Christ. Four ways in which we are
to walk or to live
1. 4:1-16 we learn how to walk in unity.
2. 4:17- 5:18 we learn how to walk in purity.
3. 5:19- 6:9 we lean to walk in harmony.
4. 6:10-24 we learn to walk in victory or stand against the enemy.
I. The Grace of Unity
Vs. 1-3
1. The Qualification of the prisoner.
Paul’s attitude as a prisoner of Christ as seen in Acts
Acts 16:25-26
2. The General Principle is for everyone
Live a life worthy of your calling
What are we exactly called to?
1 Cor 1:8-9
I am called into fellowship with Jesus.
Phil 3:14
I am called to heaven and that is the prize or the goal.
1 Cor 1:26-29
We were not called by God because we were so great, no quite the contrary.
He has already blessed us.
It is because of that blessing that He now says to us, “Obey me”.
The word “worthy’ is from the GK axios meaning weight or equal weight or equal praise
or praise worthy.
Living a life that is worthy or equal to the call is what will be bring unity in the church.
3. The Details are individual
Be humble
Humility can be best understood by the acronym JOY
We need to put Jesus first
Others second and
You last. Rom 12:16
Be gentle or meek
Paul adds meekness or gentleness to humility.
Both words are used by Jesus of himself. Matt 11:29
In light of what he has done for you then you are to,
Be patient
Bear with one another in love
This is speaking about putting up with each other.
To be patient is to be long tempered.
4. The Purpose is Unity
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace
Here Paul gives us a command.
To make every effort means to be zealous.
How do we overcome our disunity?
By drawing closer to the God.
1 John 1:3-4
Paul says that this effort is “through the bond of peace”
That is; we are to be peacemakers.
A peacemaker is honest.
Ezek 13:10-11 Jer 6:14
A peacemaker is honest even when there is no peace.
Peacemakers are willing to risk pain.
It means they are willing to apologize when they are wrong.
It means they are willing to rebuke someone when necessary.
Listen to what James writes about being a peacemaker.
James 3:17-18
Jesus said this about our unity.
John 17:25
II. The Foundation of Unity
Vs. 4-6
The Holy Spirit
1. There is one body
2. There is one Spirit
The Holy Spirit creates the body of Christ.
He draws us, convicts, conforms us and empowers us as believers.
The Son, Jesus
3. There is One hope
The Hope seen here is speaking about the return of Christ for the church.
4. There is One Lord
There is one Lord who is certainly Jesus.
1 Cor 8:6
5. There is One faith
Jesus is the object of our faith.
6. There is One Baptism
We are talking about the body of Christ, the church and so this is not a discussion of
water baptism verses Spirit baptism. There is one time when we are baptized into the
body of Christ.
The Father
7. There is One God and Father of all
We can have unity in the church because we are spiritually brothers and sister in the
Lord.
God is the father of us all.
These 7 doctrinal statements are bound up in the Trinity.
What can I do to keep unity in the church?
1. Understand that it is rooted in the trinity.
2. Realize that there is a doctrinal standard that is the basis of true unity.
3. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us cultivate the right attitude toward others.
Pray for the qualities mention here.
Humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love
4. Make every effort to be a peacemaker.