Unity of the Spirit
Wayne Roberson
1. We are admonished
Ephes. 4:1-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, [2] with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, [3] endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Context: In the previous three chapters, Paul has emphasized what God has done. These are spiritual provisions from God
2. We are called
Ephes. 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
One Body- The Church (scattered)
One Spirit- The Indwelling Holy Spirit
One Hope- Assurance that the God who calls will do what He said He would do
One Lord- Jesus Christ
One Faith- Faith in the work accomplished on the Cross of Calvary
One Baptism- Indwelling of His Holy Spirit
One God and Father- One true God, Jehovah
3. We are given
Ephes. 4:7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The words of this Primitive Hymn say it well.
#184 The Gospel Uniform
(sung in metered time)
Dressed uniform the soldiers are,
When duty calls abroad;
Nor purchased by their cost or care,
But by their Prince bestowed.
Tis wrought by Jesus' skillful hand,
And tinged in his own blood;
It makes the Christian gazing stand
To view this robe of God.
No art of man can weave this robe,
Tis of such texture fine;
Nor could the wealth of all this globe
By purchase make it mine.
This of one piece, and wove throughout;
So curious wove that none
Can dress up in this seamless coat,
Till Jesus puts it on.
This vesture never waxes old,
No spot thereon can fall;
It makes the Christian brisk and bold
And dutiful withal.
This robe put on me, Lord, each day,
And it shall hide my shame;
Shall make me fight, and sing, and pray
And bless my Captain's name.
Conclusion:
God calls us and gives us His grace that empowers us to live in the unity of the Spirit as a body of believers in the local congregation, the community at large as well as the world abroad.
God’s gift compels us to honor and fear our God as sovereign and loving.
Unity of the Spirit is for those who know and are known by Him, those who have answered His call to faith in His work.
Philip. 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
It is not about our own ability and strength.
But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.
Unity of the Spirit is a manifestation of God’s spiritual provision. Man’s responsibility is simple submission.
It is important to notice, God’s provision comes before the call to Unity in The Spirit.
Similarly:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
"I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
[NKJV ]
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [NKJV ]
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. [NKJV ]
Ephes. 1:4
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, [NKJV ]
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
"So I swore in My wrath,
'They shall not enter My rest,' "
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [NKJV ]
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you [NKJV ]
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [NKJV ]
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. [NKJV ]
The only reason we are able to “work out” or own salvation is because “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Beloved, it is all about God, His provision and His reward of Rest in Him.
Realizing:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
God’s provision is found in His son:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
You have now been exposed to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The urge to receive God’s remedy or provision for your sinful condition is not from me but is from Him.
If you have never acknowledged your need for a savior and prayed to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as savior, I urge you to obey the voice of God calling you through His Word and this servant.
Realizing your condition without God’s provision:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Realizing the penalty for rejecting God’s provision:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Realizing His provision is near you:
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Simply confess:
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Having received His provision, He will baptize you with His Holy Spirit and He will come to live within you.
The baptism of His Holy Spirit is His provision to give you the power to walk in intimate fellowship with Him.
Won’t you answer His call, Today?
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