UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
Ephesians 4:1-16.
1. Our unity is based in the unity of all three Persons of the Godhead (Ephesians 4:1-6).
EPHESIANS 4:1. We are asked to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” How do we do that?
EPHESIANS 4:2. “With all lowliness” = humility. Like the humility of Jesus (cf. Philippians 2:5-8).
“and meekness.” Meekness is not weakness, but the gentleness of the strong (cf. Matthew 11:29).
“with longsuffering” = patience. Patient even with annoying people. “forbearing one another.” Mutual tolerance.
How can we possibly do this? “in love.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
EPHESIANS 4:3. “Endeavouring” has a certain eagerness about it: a purposefulness. We are not being asked to create a unity - it already exists as “the unity of the Spirit” – but to “keep” it, maintain it. “in the bond of peace.”
What is that? Christ Himself is our peace, who has broken down the middle wall between us (cf. Ephesians 2:13-14).
EPHESIANS 4:4. “There is one body, and one Spirit.” In other words, there is only one Holy Spirit, who has created the church as one body. “even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”
EPHESIANS 4:5. There is only one Lord (Jesus), so there is but one hope of our calling, one faith, one baptism (cf. Romans 6:3).
EPHESIANS 4:6. Those who are born again have but one God and Father, because we are all members of the same family.
2. Grace given to each and all (Ephesians 4:7-12).
EPHESIANS 4:7. “But unto every one of us is given grace.” Even though God is the Father of us all, we do not lose our individuality. It is “unto every one of us” that grace is given.
“according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Paul had mentioned earlier the grace given to him (cf. Ephesians 3:8). Likewise, we each have our own gifts of grace. The giver of these gifts of grace is the ascended Lord Jesus.
EPHESIANS 4:8. Now, it will be noticed that Ephesians 4:8 reads, “and gave gifts UNTO men” – whereas the source of the quotation, Psalm 68:18 reads, ‘thou hast received gifts FOR men.’ These two readings are not contradictory, but complementary.
On the Day of Pentecost, just ten days after the ascension of Jesus, Peter spoke of Jesus, ‘being by the right hand of God exalted, and having RECEIVED of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath SHED FORTH this, which ye now see and hear’ (cf. Acts 2:33). Jesus received gifts FOR men, that He might distribute them AMONG men.
EPHESIANS 4:9-10. The same Jesus who ascended, is the same Jesus who first descended. From the depths of humiliation (cf. Philippians 2:5-8), to the heights of exaltation (cf. Philippians 2:9-11).
EPHESIANS 4:11-12. The “Apostles” and “Prophets” are the Biblical foundation - ‘Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone’ (cf. Ephesians 2:20) - upon which “evangelists” and “pastors and teachers” build to this very day. The teaching gifts which Paul mentions here are intended to equip ALL of God’s people for “the work of ministry” (service). We are called into one body (cf. Colossians 3:15), and the body is not one member but many (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 1 Corinthians 12:27).
3. Maturing into the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-16).
EPHESIANS 4:13. The unity of the church is as certain as the unity of the Godhead, as we have seen. This is a reality in the mind of God: but in the meantime the church’s visible unity needs a little maintenance work (cf. Ephesians 4:3). Unlike the world’s religions, the church is not in the business of seeking after God. We have already found Him in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, we are running - together - towards the goal of a greater growth into Christ. In fact, we shall most certainly accomplish that to which we aspire.
EPHESIANS 4:14-16. From now on “no more” helpless “infants” but “growing up into Christ.” No longer “tossed about” but “fitly joined together and compacted.” No longer easily deceived, but (literally) “truthing in love.” This is an “effectual” work because it is based in the work of Jesus.
