Ephesians 4:1-6
Introduction:
This morning is part two of this mini-series I’ve entitled, “What’s Important Right Now?”
With so many responsibilities and opportunities, what it really important right now?
Paul’s writing presumes that conversion to Christ leads to moral renewal.
In chapter 1:15, Paul addresses his letter to “saints,” (
hagios
– holy ones). “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,” (NKJ)
Part of Paul’s teaching in Ephesians and two things that must be remembered about who we are as ‘
the Elect’
(Christians):
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
(NKJ)
* Royal priesthood
TTransition
: So in light of who/whom we are we are to
tapeinophrosune
{tap-i-nof-ros-oo’-nay}
Meaning:
1) the having a humble opinion of one’s self 2) a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness 3) modesty, humility, lowliness of mind
praotes
{prah-ot’-ace}
Meaning:
1) gentleness, mildness, meekness
(
anecho
)
Meaning:
to hold up, bear with
Colossians 3:13
“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
(NKJ)
(
NLT
)
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
(NKJ)
Transition
: For the Purpose of Point #2, Keeping (the) Unity
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
John Piper writes that
“Christian unity in the NT gets its goodness from a combination of its sources, its views, its affections and its aim.”
Source
– ‘Unity of the Spirit’ – I take that to mean that the Holy Spirit is the great giver of unity.
So we do our best not to ‘
grieve’
or ‘
quench’
the Holy Spirit as the Bible says but rather be ‘
filled’
and ‘
led’
!
So ‘Grieve’ and ‘Quench’ not good; ‘Filled’ and ‘led’ essential!
Views
– Paul says that pastors and teachers are to equip the saints “until we all attain to the
unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
” (
Ephesians 4:13
).
In other words, the unity we pursue is unity in the truth. Of course, Christian unity is more than shared truth, but not less.
Paul piles up the words for common-mindedness in
Philippians 2:2
, “Complete my joy by being of the
same mind
, having the same love, being in
full accord
and of
one mind
” (see also
Philippians 4:2
).
Everything is to “accord with Christ.” “May God . . . grant you to live in harmony with one another,
in accord with Christ Jesus
” (
Romans 15:5
).
Affections
– To be sure, unifying love in the body of Christ includes a rugged commitment to do good for the family of God whether you feel like it or not (
Galatians 6:10
).
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
(NKJ)
It includes affectionate love, not just sacrifice for those you don’t like. It is a feeling of endearment.
Aims –
Spirit-rooted, Christ-manifesting, truth-cherishing, humbly-loving unity is designed by God to have at least two aims:
(a) a witness to the world,
(b) an acclamation of the glory of God.
The apostle John makes the first of these most clear.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”
(
John 13:34–35
).
Question
: What is meant by ‘bond of peace?’
sundesmos
{soon’-des-mos}
Meaning:
1) that which binds together, a band, bond 1a) of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united together 2) that which is bound together, a bundle
Question
: Why? Why Walk worthy and why keep the unity?
One God and Father of all
Conclusion
– So what is important right now? So far we have covered 6!
From Week One: Ephesian 5:1-8
From Week Two: Ephesians 4:1-6
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