In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul writes,
I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
From this God-breathed passage we learn that:
- The unity of the Spirit is observable (Eph 4:1)
- The unity of the Spirit involves self-denial (Eph 4:2)
- The unity of the Spirit is maintainable (Eph 4:3)
- The unity of the Spirit is God’s idea (Eph 4:4-6).
- There is one body — unity of organization.
- There is one Spirit — unity of revelation.
- There is one hope — unity of purpose.
- There is one Lord — unity of authority.
- There is one faith — unity of doctrine.
- There is one baptism — unity of entrance.
- There is one Father — unity of origin.
- The unity of the Spirit is a God-given gift (Eph 4:7-11).
- The unity of the Spirit has a specific goal in mind (Eph 4:12-16).
This sermon—the second in a series on faith, freedom, and flexibility—examines God’s plan for Christian unity. It was delivered on May 6, 2012.
