Sermon for 8/2/2009
Ephesians 4:1-6 (vs. 4-6)
Introduction:
From that great philosopher Charlie Brown “In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?” Source unknown
WBTU:
A. One day I was talking with a man about the Church of Christ and some of the beliefs we hold. When I told him that really the desire of everyone should be unity based upon the Bible, he just laughed and said, “That’s not possible.” Why isn’t that possible?
C. In the early church, it was reality. Not that they were perfectly united but all who claimed the name of Jesus Christ were part of one church. Part of the church or not.
D. In the United States we have many different churches with many different names. Some view this as good. Some even make jokes about it. Do we think that the Lord makes light of this? No, in one of his last prayers, he prayed for his followers to be one.
F. What is the basis for unity? What are the things that we have to believe in to be unified? Do we have to throw out some things to be unified with others? Do we have to add some beliefs and practices to be unified with others?
Thesis: Paul gives us 7 things that we must hold fast if we are ever going to have unity. These are things that all Christians should have in common.
For instances:
1. One Body
A. (1 Cor 12:12 NIV) The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
B. I have one body. I cannot duplicate it. I cannot take my spirit to a different body.
C. Of course, Paul speaks here of the church in the "universal" sense. The "body" of saved believers throughout the world of which Christ is the "head.”
D. My friend Allen Byers said that he was part of a church of Christ that believed that they were the only true church in that area. Allen found out there were other churches of Christ there and they said, “The Lord is only coming back for one church.”
E. My friend Aaron Saufley has gone to Greenville, NC to start a group of churches in restaurants and coffee houses. Probably closer to the book of Acts than anything.
F. This is like saying that the only true Christians in Monterey meet here.
G. In the early church we find that for the most part they met in homes. Each city had several places where the church would meet. Rarely did they all meet together.
H. (Rom 12:5 NIV) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
I. Even though we are not all together because of distance or language, or interest, or circumstances, or race, we are members of this one body. This body is not entirely visible because of time and space and circumstances, but we are all part of one body.
2. One Spirit
A. The way the Spirit works is sometimes hard to see and sometimes hard to define. Much controversy over the Holy Spirit.
C. (1 Cor 12:13 NIV) For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
D. At baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
E. Now some say that we need to have more of the Spirit. Like the Holy Spirit is given in bits and pieces. I agree that we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit- give control of ourselves to the Spirit.
F. Some people treat me like a second class Christian because I have not experienced the additional helping of the Holy Spirit. Think we are talking about a different spirit.
G. Need to be enthusiastic and on fire for God, but we don’t need more of the Holy Spirit.
H. (Rom 8:9 NIV) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
H. (Eph 4:30 NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
I. Lack of unity grieves the Holy Spirit.
3. One hope
A. That hope is heaven. (Rom 8:24 NIV) For in this hope we were saved.
B. In heaven there will be no divisions. Either we are there because we are one of God’s children through Jesus Christ, or we are not there because we are not one of his children. Jokes about this group think they will be the only ones there.
4. One Lord
A. While Lord sometimes refers to the Father in the NT; regularly it refers to Jesus Christ. The Father made Jesus our Lord. (Acts 2:36 NIV) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
B. Some people in our day try to mess with Jesus. John the Apostle says:
1. (1 John 4:2 NIV) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (1 John 4:3 NIV) but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
2. (2 John 1:9 NIV) Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:10 NIV) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
C. “Divisions in Churches never begin with those full of love to the Savior.” (Spurgeon)
5. One faith
The Bible- (Jude 1:3 NIV) I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
6. One Baptism
A. Baptism, in the 2,000 years since it was given, has prompted a lot of division.
B. Get back to the Bible in this issue. Those who believe (not infants) are baptized (immersed in water) for 3 things:
1. (Acts 2:38 NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
2. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3. (Rom 6:3-5) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
C. Have some relatives who attend a church and that church wants them to be baptized into that church. They refuse because they have already been baptized into Christ.
C. I have a friend, Chris Butler, whose dad has been baptized three times. The last time he was baptized into Christ and that was the end of it.
E. I love immersion because it is the great equalizer. You see people come forward in church wearing expensive clothing, adorned with costly jewelry and sporting a $100 hairdo. But it is not long before the jewelry is removed, the expensive clothes have been exchanged for a simple robe, and that $100 hairdo is in deep trouble! When those people are lowered under the water in front of their peers, everyone witnesses a spirit of submission that is attractive and unifying.
F. There is an old story from the history of our movement about a congregation bickering over the use of a musical instrument. Half of the congregation wanted to use a piano in their church services. The other half felt it was a tool of the devil. Sharp disagreement resulted in hard feelings on both sides. One Sunday when the people came to worship, there was a new piano on the stage; and to the horror of half the congregation, it was played during the congregational singing. The half that disapproved walked out of the building in protest. The next Sunday everyone was back, but the piano was missing. Those who bought it couldn’t find it. They looked for months as accusations flew back and forth about what had happened. About a year later, the piano was found. It had been hidden in the baptistery. Need to get back to the basics.
7. One God and Father
A. If God be our Father, then we are members of one family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and we live together in unity.
B. (Eph 3:14 NIV) For this reason I kneel before the Father, (Eph 3:15 NIV) from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
C. God is over all his children. A concern is that my children love each other.
