The Light Of Unity - Ephesians Pt 4 Series

1. Paul tells the Ephesians church to keep the unity!

a. Guard it – make it a priority in your church and in your personal life.

b. Make sure you “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

2. Paul then reminds them that unity is what we are all about. We are all united together in the call of God and in the things of God!

a. We are one body – which is to be unified!

b. We are one in Spirit – which means we all follow the same Spirit!

c. We have one hope – this hope is rooted in our relationship with Jesus.

d. We have One Lord – not two or three! But one and this should unite us.

e. We have all answered the call to one faith.

i. Not multiple beliefs one faith filled focus which is centered in Jesus.

f. We have all been baptized into one Baptism – See Romans 6

g. We serve one God not many gods.

h. We all are the family members of one Father

i. In essence he is saying we are blood relatives because of the blood of Jesus flowing through our lives.

ii. We do not have multiple fathers – we have one heavenly father.

3. When we explore all the unity in the “one things of God” and then chose to participate in all the “one things of God” then this should drive us to be united together in the bond and the seal of the Holy Spirit.

b. By our knowledge of the Son of God is unity birthed in our lives with others in the Body of Christ.

i. The knowledge of the reality of the Son of God in our lives is what brings the brightness of the light into the lighthouse of God’s kingdom.

ii. Knowledge is the act, fact, or state of knowing something. It means we have perceived or grasped a truth with our mind. It is a time of learning that has birthed spiritual enlightenment.

1. Listen to Paul’s thoughts: 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.

2. We have this knowledge of Jesus and it should compel us to live together in a state of unity with each other.

a. In insinuates – forgiveness of each other because of Christ.

b. No anger toward each other because of Christ

iii. Listen to what the knowledge of Jesus should do for us in unity:

1. 14Then 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. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From 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.

c. By our spiritual maturity we should have attained the commitment to the light of unity in our lives.

i. Spiritual maturity is the willingness to follow the light where ever it will lead us. By being willing to sacrifice our lives for the sake of the kingdom of God reveals that we are spiritually mature in the things of God.