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Unity in the Local Congregation

Unity in the Local Congregation. Ephesians 4:1-6. Two Parts -- Ephesians 4:1-6. What You Do, vs. 1-3 What God Does or Provides, vs. 4-6. 6 Things You Do for Unity. Ephesians 4:1-3 1. Walk Worthy of God’s Calling You. 1. Walk Worthy of His Calling.

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Unity in the Local Congregation

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  1. Unity in the Local Congregation Ephesians 4:1-6

  2. Two Parts -- Ephesians 4:1-6 • What You Do, vs. 1-3 • What God Does or Provides, vs. 4-6

  3. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 1. Walk Worthy of God’s Calling You

  4. 1. Walk Worthy of His Calling • Paul mentions often – 1 Thess 2:12, Phil 1:27, Col 1:10 – so it is crucial • The walk starts at baptism – Rom 6:4 “newness” • So our walk is different than before – Rom 8:4 • There is always a tension between our spirit (mind, disposition before God) and our flesh (desires). Rom 7:14-25 • Living after spirit (8:4) is to live, not as we want (desire) but with a disposition, determination to follow God. Expressed in Eph 5:8 – “as children of light.” Expressed in Gal 2:20 – “crucified but live”

  5. 1. Walk Worthy of His Calling • Different Walk than Before (cont’d) • 2 Cor 5:7 “by Faith, not by sight . . .” • Hold True to The Walk the Father Directs You Take – Phil 3:16 The Path of Unity: • Start newness of life in baptism • Have disposition to follow God (after the spirit) • As a child of light, alive in Christ - not in self • Walk by faith, not by sight • Walk by the same rule (walk the same path, as God directs)

  6. 1. Walk Worthy of His Calling Titus 2:10 We “adorn the doctrine of God . . . in every respect.” You are one of the “holy brothers (adelphoi), who share in the heavenly calling . . .” Hebrews 3:1 Adelphoi – “a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother” Hebrews 2:11– Christ “is not ashamed to call them brothers” (adelphoi, lit. means He calls us “family.”)

  7. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • With Lowliness

  8. 2. Walk With Lowliness • Tapeinophrosune • Lit. means “a mind not rising far from the ground.” --Yielding to the Sovereignty of God. Falling flat before Him in adoration. --Rom 12:3, Phil. 2:3 Seeing others as better, higher, more important than self. Walk with Lowliness of Mind

  9. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • With Lowliness • With Gentleness

  10. 3. Walk with Gentleness • Also called “meekness.” Strength under control. • A meek horse is a mighty, powerful animal that has been brought under control. • Matt. 11:29 – Jesus is gentle. • 1 Thess. 2:7 – Paul is gentle. • Preachers are commanded to be gentle, 2 Tim. 2:24-26 Walk with Gentleness.

  11. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • With Lowliness • With Gentleness • With Longsuffering

  12. 4. Walk with Longsuffering • Not to lose patience with Christians, no matter how ugly they are to us. • Like God toward us, 2 Peter 3:9. • Not willing that any should perish. • Like God grieving, Gen 6:5,6, and waiting, 1 Peter 3:20 • You willing to suffer as He did? Grieved at heart? Walk with Longsuffering.

  13. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • With Lowliness • With Gentleness • With Longsuffering • Forbearing with Each Other in Love

  14. 5. Forbearing with Each Other in Love • Anechomai: “To put up with, to carry, to bear with, to hold up, . . .” • Whenever there are differences or problems, we bear with each other. We show tolerance. • But oppose sin. Rom 16:17,18; Titus 1:11 • Done in a spirit of love (so not just putting up with the brother grudgingly). Leave Room for Each Other’s Mistakes.

  15. Forbearing with Each Other in Love 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

  16. 6 Things You Do for Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • With Lowliness • With Gentleness • With Longsuffering • Forbearing with Each Other in Love • Endeavoring to be Unified

  17. 6. Endeavoring to Keep the Unity • Spoudazo • Working earnestly, Being Diligent, Making Haste, Taking Earnest Care, Exert Yourself • Example: 2 Tim 4:9-13, 21 • “hurry up” • Example: Gal 2:10 • “was forward to do” “was zealous to do” “was eager to do” Work Hard to Be Unified.

  18. 6. Work Hard to Keep the Unity • Implies that this is something you can/will do – not something God does for you. • “Keep” indicates that this is an everyday, everytime, ongoing project, not something done once. (e.g., housekeeping, groundskeeping) • Something not to be taken for granted. • Something God commands. • Whether I want to or not. Work Hard to be Unified.

  19. 6. Unified In the Bond of Peace • Ephesians 4:3 • Bond = Sundesmos. Lit., “with a chain.” • Peace ties us together. • Sundesmos is used of ligaments, which join muscle to bone and hold bodies together. • Unity is not a desire of Jesus, but His demand John 17:20, 21-23. He has given us glory!

  20. Unity, What I Can Do I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

  21. God’s Platform for Unity The Structure that God Provides so We can be United Eph 4:4-6

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