There Is One God Series

Seven Foundations of Fellowship: There is One God

Introduction

What is one of the key truths about God that can bring a diverse group of believers together in unity? For the past six weeks we have studied the “Seven Ones” - the foundations of fellowship found in Ephesians 4. Each one of these qualities expresses the keys of faith that can overcome differences and divisions to bring the church

together as one. The list ends with One God - a truth that unites all of the “ones” and draws them together in an appropriate conclusion.

Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Paul led into this list with this appeal: that we “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (vs 3).

There is One God.

The Old Testament and New Testament affirm this truth.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Mark 12:29-30 When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He replied, “The most important one…is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Almost all of Christendom is united in the truth that God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This unity of the three into one has been called “the trinity.” Though the term ‘Trinity’ isn’t in Scripture, it simply reflects a truth clearly seen throughout the Bible: God is one, yet exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit.” The three members of the Godhead each play different roles in God’s eternal purpose.

Today our focus is on God as our Father. 

1. He Relates To Us (Father) (“one God and Father of all… )

In Ephesians Paul writes “God our Father” over and over again.

Eph. 1:2 – “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Eph. 1:3 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms

with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Eph. 1:17 - “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ”

Eph. 2:18 - “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Eph. 3:14-15 - “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ”

Eph. 5:20 - “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What does it mean to you that God is your loving heavenly Father? This passage teaches that God relates to us, and in Him we find unity and peace.

2. He is Close to Us

The Bible has many names and descriptors for God. He’s called the everlasting God, a consuming fire, the Almighty, the Most High, the Ancient of Days. Perhaps the one that touches our heart is “Father”.

“The word ‘Father’ evokes in most people powerful images and feelings—some full of love and comfort, others of pain and absence. But Jesus invites us to call God ‘Abba’—a word of tender closeness, not cold distance.” — Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son

Galatians 4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Bayles: The word Abba is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy.” It was a common term that young children would use to address their fathers. It signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy.”

Romans 8:15-16  “…The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 

Since we’re all children of God, that means we’re all family and we should treat each other that way. So first, God is an Abba God—a Father to us all.

3. He is Greater Than Us (“who is over all…” or “above all”)

God is transcendent. He is greater than, more than, above and beyond all that is or was or ever will be.

We are finite and limited in our abilities, thoughts, and in our time of existence, but in contrast to us, God is infinite and limitless in His thoughts and abilities.