Dakota Community Church
July 29, 2012
Grace at Work - 2
Unity
Grace At Work - Part One: Unity(2)
You could not get a proper understanding of Paul’s intent here by beginning to read at this point.
Ephesians 4:1-16
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Incidentally this passage is considered one of the two great Bible passages on the topic of Christian Unity; the other is John 17:
John 17:11-23
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Notice that sanctification in us happens by the word of truth - not by human effort.
Notice that Jesus sanctified Himself for us that we may be truly sanctified - this is an example of the “active obedience” of Christ, meaning that Jesus did not only die the death we should have died but He also lived the life we should have lived!
Matthew 5:5-9
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Jesus was perfectly meek!)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Jesus was perfectly merciful)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Jesus was pure absolutely pure in heart)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Jesus made peace)
You may think to yourself, “Oh no, I am not pure in heart, I better get busy or I am never going to see God.”
You are going to see God because Jesus’ perfect record on purity of heart is imputed to you as a free gift THEREFORE - in gratitude fix your eyes on Jesus and repent of every impurity as it arises.
Finally notice the overwhelming theme of Jesus’ prayer for “US” - that we would one, that we would come to “complete unity” to let the world know Christ is who He claims to be.
According to our passage then, unity depends upon four primary things:
1. How we treat one another
Ephesians 4:2-3
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
A.) Humility
Humility was not a virtue in the Roman Empire, neither did the Greeks use the word in any kind of positive sense; instead it was a word that indicated the correct posture for a servant or a slave. Someone who was weak or defeated in some way should be “humble”.
Certainly no one wanted “humble themselves” until Christ set the example with His upside down kingdom of servants.
Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
There is no unity without humility!
Pride is the driving force behind all discord and division.
Fallen man loves to boast - “I did it my way!” and “So should everyone else!”
In our arrogance we consider our way better that all others, our opinion is the essential opinion that must be agreed upon and any other viewpoints must be silenced or there will be fighting and division.
Sadly I can admit that a very great deal of my early ministry had more to do with pride and rebellion than anything else. I was convinced that all the problems in the church were the result of the old people doing things the old way and that the solution was new and innovative ideas - and these were worth fighting for.
It should be noted that it’s the innovators who are always the heretics.
Jude 1:3
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.
(No innovation required!)
Think about the relationships in your own life (like marriages) and you will quickly see the link between humility and unity. Those that are characterized by humility involve mutual respect, kindness, consideration - even when there is disagreement. Hurtful and divisive relationships involve score keeping, winner/loser stances, and prideful selfishness.
Quote:
If, instead of maneuvering for the respect of others (which is pride) we give them our respect by recognizing their intrinsic God-given worth (which is humility), we shall be promoting harmony...”
- John R. W. Stott
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
Follow Dan on twitter: @DanCormie
