Three Keys to Church Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)

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Idaho.

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The back of a $1 bill is a picture of the great seal of the United States.

That seal was adopted by the by the Continental Congress in the year

1776 and It was to represent the forging of the original 13

colonies into one new nation.

The motto there on the great seal in Latin e pluribus unum means out

of many one out of many one.

But.

Presently and this is no news flash.

Our country is deeply divided.

Deeply divided.

And it's perhaps no more graphically depicted Than a you picture of the United States

map colored in the swatches of red and blue red and blue.

And whether by the grace of God we find our way out of this situation Or whether the

Union will slowly dissolve into a bickering balkanization only God

Himself knows.

But regardless of whether our political system can and will endure It is

essential that churches not succumb to the spirit of the age and

descend themselves Into dissensions and disputes and to be torn asunder by it.

It makes a mockery of the unity that was purchased by the blood

of the very Son of God.

In John 17 Jesus himself praised that God the Father would unify everyone who believes

in Jesus in accordance with the apostolic message.

So that the world would observe their unity and conclude that Jesus is indeed the

Savior of the world.

That spiritual unity was Accomplished and realized in the birth of the church

the birth of the church at Pentecost via the indwelling ministry of the Spirit of God in which all

True believers are made one in the Spirit.

Jesus prayer was answered.

But the issues of external unity have plagued the Church of Jesus Christ since its inception and

Continued to this day.

Let me state this as clearly as I can for you.

The lack of external unity will hamper a local church's participation in the

Great Commission.

In other words unity is an essential gospel element.

Essential gospel element.

A church in division is a stench in a local community and

It can take years to overcome that negative reputation among

unbelievers.

A church experiencing dissensions and divisions saps the spiritual strength of

its leadership and makes the church susceptible and vulnerable to the attacks of Satan.

Our Missionaries rely on the strength and integrity of the home

church as a supply line.

For them at the very forefront of spiritual battle.

When a church loses unity the missionary endeavor is hindered and in some cases

it's even extinguished.

The missionaries themselves become like children in a divorce with conflicting loyalties.

Unity is a gospel imperative.

My message for you this morning is entitled three keys to church unity.

Three keys to church unity.

And we find it here in our text in the first three verses of the fourth chapter.

Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord Implore you to walk in a

manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

With all humility and gentleness with patience showing tolerance

for one another in love.

Being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

In these three verses the Apostle Paul gives us three keys for unity in

the local church.

So that we can maximize our effectiveness in our pursuit of the Great Commission.

Three keys.

Essential keys I might say for church unity.

So that we might maximize our effectiveness for the Great Commission.

The first we find here in verse 1 and it is simply this.

Remember that unity is created through the gospel.

Remember that unity is created through the gospel.

Look at verse 1.

Therefore I the prisoner of the Lord Implore you to walk in a manner worthy of

the calling with which you have been Paul.

Immediately our eyes find the conjunction therefore right indicating that Paul is making

a conclusion here.

He is drawing a conclusion based on what has previously Happened here in this letter.

It is designed to cause us to slow down.

To stop to think to ponder.

That which we would have just read if we'd have read this letter from its beginning.

In other words chapters 1 through 3.

Pause think about it.

What are the implications of it?

I Mean, this is the turning point in this letter.

This is significant.

This is huge.

It marks the major shift from God's glorious plan of redemption in chapters

1 to 3.

To the practical outworking of that redemption in chapters 4 5 & 6.

In other words, it's the turning point where we go from how we became Christians to how we should now

live that we are Christians.

How do we become Christians?

How do we live now that we are Christians.

It hinges here it turns here.

In fact, we could say this this one verse verse 1 chapter 4.

It serves as a topical sentence for the remainder of the whole letter.

Walking in a worthy manner, that's the topic sentence.

That's the big idea that determines where the rest of the letter goes.

The verb to walk parapet a.

It occurs over and over and over in this letter.

Here in verse 1 to walk in a worthy manner.

There in verses 1 to 16 where it's about walking in unity.

We find it again in verse 17.

We're there.

He says walk no longer as the Gentiles walk there it's about walking in holiness.

Verses 17 to 32 we roll over

to chapter 5 and.

There in verse 2 we're too told to walk in love.

Verses 1 to 6 talks about walking in love.

Verse 8 we're told to walk as children of light.

We're to walk in the light.

And finally down to verse 15 of chapter 5 we're to walk in wisdom.

We're to walk in wisdom.

So these are the major categories that Paul addresses one by one by one

as he takes up.

What does it mean to to live in light of being a new person in Christ?

This verb to walk this metaphor really Speaks of our conduct or our lifestyle and was

very popular with Paul.

Back Paul himself uses it 32 times sometimes positively sometimes negatively.

Here in this context back in chapter 4 the The form of the

verb and we won't bother with that other than it just tells you that the believers are to change.

Something about the way they have been living.

In other words how they once lived now that they are new in Christ has to change.

They can't keep living the same old way.

What has to change?

They have to now live in a manner that is worthy.

First one that a manner that is worthy axios the adverb it means to be worthy or or

suitable.

Literally, it means to to bring up the other beam of the scales think about a balance beam, you

know, the bring it up.

Bring it into equilibrium we could say.

In other words Paul is exhorting them that their conduct has to come into balance with their

divine.

Calling.

They need to live like who they really are.

Now chapters 4 5 & 6 is just an amplification of what that means.

And.

The first discussion is unity.

That's the first thing that's on his mind.

Is church unity.

Why.

Because it is essential to the propagation of the gospel.

It's essential.

Beloved.

We were once dead in our trespasses and sins.

Chapter 2 verse 1.

We were by nature children of wrath.

Chapter 2 verse 3.

And It's only as we came to understand and believe the

gospel as a result of God's Gracious initiative that Paul can now

refer to it as our calling.

For grace by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves.

It is the Gift of God not as a result of works.

So that no one may boast.

Chapter 2 verses 8 through 10.

Now as outlined in chapters 1 2 3

God the Father has called us right to see it again.

Verse 1 of chapter 4.

Manner worthy.

Bring up the balance bring it into equilibrium of the calling with which you have been called.

Chapter 1.

God the Father has called us into the blessings of personal salvation through the

sacrifice of Christ having predestined us to become his children through

spiritual adoption.

God the Father has called us into spiritual union with the resurrected and exalted Christ so that we

might share in his riches and rule.

Chapter 1.

God the Father has called us into a new spiritual body comprised of Jew and Gentile

having reconciled us first to himself and then to each other through the death of Christ.

Chapter 2.

God the Father has called us into his household constituting us a new temple in which the spirit

dwells and Through that spirit he has given us unhindered

access to himself.

Chapter 2.

God the Father has called us into the church previously unknown to the saints of old but

now revealed as the depository of God's manifold wisdom among the

angelic realm.

Chapter 3.

God's gracious calling not only lavishes blessings upon us

But along with those blessings it brings a solemn Responsibility to live

as a redeemed people in Community and the community is the local

church.

It is the gospel that creates the unity but it is spirit empowered living that

enables us to manifest that unity.

Despite the onslaught of the world the flesh and the devil

the first key The first key to unity is to remember that unity is

created Through the gospel.

It is a gospel imperative.

Second.

Unity is cultivated through loving tolerance.

Verse 2.

With all humility and gentleness with patience.

Showing tolerance for one another in love.

Unity is cultivated through loving tolerance.

In order to walk in a worthy manner in order to live like who we now are in Christ

It's it's necessary that certain graces are operative in our lives.

And these graces are the product of a life yielded to the indwelling spirit of God and are not

natural to humanity.

This is a very unnatural thing, which is happening right here.

This many people one place who love one another.

This is unnatural.

This is only a spiritual possibility.

So it's important it requires constant and conscious

cultivation To tip for this external unity to grow

again.

Remember we are one.

We are one.

If you are a.

Member of the Church of Christ if if you have by faith believed upon the Lord Jesus

Christ.

Then then the Spirit of God dwells in you and we are one but the

external unity.

That takes work.

And it takes hard work and Paul lists this

Cultivation that has to happen here in verse 2.

Look at it again.

Notice.

He lists three of them here the first two he he connects with the conjunction and.

And then the third one patience gets further Explanation in the last clause of the verse right?

So with all humility and gentleness with patience.

These are these are the The

Means by which external unity is cultivated.

Well, let's talk about them with all humility

with all humility.

The Greek word translated humility means literally lowliness of mind

lowliness of mind.

It is rare in secular Greek.

This word is rare and When it does appear it is used in a derogatory sense.

It was thought of in a very derogatory way in secular Greek society.

It was a it was seen as a sense of of just being servile or weak

but for the Christian.

New meaning has been poured into this word humility now and rather than being

despised becomes a virtue that we prize and and we and we Long

towards we work towards and it comes as a result of

rightly thinking about our relationship to God.

That's its source.

In fact, it's the opposite of pride.

Pride provokes disunity humility produces unity.

It's the fertilizer of unity and gentleness.

Notice that word gentleness as.

A similar idea to humility.

More nuanced perhaps it carries the idea of meekness or mildness.

Its opposite would be roughness.

Gentleness is a result of spirit -filled living.

That is thus a fruit of the Spirit right.

Galatians 5 and verse 23 the fruit of the Spirit love joy.

Peace patience kindness goodness gentleness.

Faithfulness and self -control it is produced by the Spirit is a fruit of.

That Spirit.

Now gentleness should not be confused with weakness.

In fact, even in Greek though the word itself it it was used in reference to a stallion who is under control.

So some would even say what is gentleness.

Gentleness is strength under control.

Okay.

Okay.

Because gentleness implies the exercise of self -control It's

exhibiting a conscious choice not to use our power for the purpose of

retaliation.

That's what it means to be gentle.

Jesus himself Describes himself in Matthew chapter 11 verse 29 as

gentle and humble of heart.

When wronged a gentle person does not seek revenge.

A Gentle person does not seek revenge and it does so without

complaining.

Bears the irritation bears the Falls bears the injuries of others.

Notice, by the way the adjective all there you see it.

Verse 2.

With all human humility and gentleness.

In other words with the with humility and gentleness to the highest degree.

To to the fullest extent to the greatest limit

are we supposed to be just a little humble and Kind of gentle.

Paul is saying this needs to go to the farthest extent with us.

Meaning that this is something we will pursue the rest of our lives.

We will never arrive.

But we will continue to pursue in the power of the Spirit

again.

Verse 2.

Notice.

Patience.

Macrothymia is the Greek word.

I tell you that because I'll refer to it back in a minute Patience it's a

third quality of a person who is walking in conformity To their

calling to their new status in Christ to the to the new man that they now are.

What is patience?

What is patience?

I?

Think we can get a good glimpse by the way of this essential virtue and I won't turn you there.

But you can just listen in Exodus 34 6 where God

reveals his name to Moses as One who is among other things slow

to anger slow to anger and The Septuagint the Greek translation of the Old

Testament though the word that's chosen to to translate that is macro through moss.

All right, you can hear the similarity it is the same word.

Slow to anger is what it means to be patient and the words.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him that is Moses and proclaim the Lord the Lord God

compassionate and gracious.

Slow to anger and abounding and loving kindness and truth.

Who keeps loving kindness for thousands.

Who forgives iniquity?

Transgression and sin.

Yet he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

Visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

Patience is also a fruit of the Spirit right back to Galatians 5 23 begin

and it is seen when we make allowance for other people's shortcomings and

We endure wrongs against us rather than fly off the handle into a rage or seek

vengeance thus

showing tolerance Is the practical expression of

patience.

Again, look at the verse with all humility and gentleness with patience.

Further described showing tolerance for one another in love.

Now I know tolerance has taken on a bad rap and that's too bad.

I'm not willing to give the word up.

I'm not willing to give it up.

We're to show tolerance for one another.

We're to give one another space.

Listen, you don't have to be a believer for very long before you begin to get Bumped and jostled along the people

of God, huh?

Sheep have sharp hooves.

The word tolerance here, by the way.

There's a reference to being or enduring with respect to things or persons.

She was over in Colossians 3 13 there where Paul asked them to tolerate or bear with those

in the assembly.

That verb.

Showing tolerance here, by the way, it appears in the Greek.

It's in the middle voice and and that just means that we're involved in the action of the verb.

That's the only important thing for you to know.

In other words, it could be more literally translated holding yourselves back from one

another.

Okay again look at verse 2 with all humility and gentleness with patience.

Holding yourselves back from one another in love.

That would be a really literal kind of way to translate that holding yourselves back

means tolerating one another's differences patiently enduring one another's

foibles.

And Provocations, how are we to do it?

How do you do that?

Do you just kind of?

Suck it up bite my tongue if you knew what I was really thinking

smiling on the outside.

Burning on the inside.

No, no, that's not what Paul would have for us at all.

Look again.

Holding yourselves back from one another.

Look at the last clause in love.

Do you see it in love?

By love we could translate it with love we could translate it.

That preposition could could be by or with.

We're to hold ourselves back from actions and attitudes that cause this unity.

How by loving one another because love seeks and believes the best of other people

first.

Corinthians chapter 13 God is love and When we

hold ourselves back from this unity and division we are bearing the family image.

How about a Charles Spurgeon story you ready for one?

This one's legit like it comes from a book that he wrote.

Okay, there are so many Charles Spurgeon stories that are apocryphal.

Okay, but this one's legit.

Okay Charles Spurgeon in his book lectures to my students.

You can check me page 38 if you want to check.

He tells the story it's just fascinating.

I think he tells the story of a young man who desired to go to India as a missionary with the London Missionary

Society.

Mr. Wilkes was appointed to consider the young man's fitness for such a post.

He wrote to the young man and told him to call on him at 6 o 'clock the next morning.

Although the applicant lived many miles off.

He was at the house punctually at 6 o 'clock and was ushered into the drawing room.

He waited and he waited and

he waited.

Wonderingly.

But patiently.

Finally, mr. Wilkes entered the room about mid -morning.

Without apology, mr. Wilkes began.

Well young man, so you want to be a missionary?

Yes, sir, I do.

Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?

Yes, sir.

I certainly do.

And have you any education.

Yes, sir.

A little.

Well now we'll try you.

Can you spell cat?

The young man looked confused.

He hardly knew how to answer answer such a preposterous question.

It's mine evidently halted between indignation and submission.

But but in a moment he replied steadily.

See a.

Tea cat.

Very good said mr. Wilkes.

Now, can you spell dog?

The young man was stunned.

But he replied D O G dog.

Well, that's right.

I See you will do well in your spelling now for your arithmetic.

How much is 2 times 2.

The patient youth gave the right reply and was dismissed.

Later, mr. Wilkes gave his report to the at the committee meeting and he said.

I cordially recommend that young man.

His testimony and character. I have duly examined.

I Tried his self -denial.

He was up in the morning early.

I Tried his patience by keeping him waiting.

I Tried his humility and temper by insulting his intelligence.

He'll do just fine as a missionary.

Just fine as a missionary.

The first key is to remember that unity is created through the gospel.

The second is to recognize that unity is cultivated through loving tolerance and the third

Is that we are to embrace the reality that unity is kept through hard work.

It is kept through hard work.

Verse 3.

Being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of

peace.

Being diligent to preserve to be diligent.

Oh If I heard that word once I heard it a thousand times as a young man.

Son, you need to be diligent.

Yes, dad.

In other words, I need to work hard.

It means to work hard.

It means to be busy.

It means to be eager.

It means to make haste.

It means to spare no effort.

That's what it means to be diligent.

And we'd be diligent to preserve something to keep something to maintain something to preserve

something already in existence.

And in this case it is they notice the unity of the spirit.

In other words, it is the unity produced by the.

Spirit and.

We do this by maintaining it visibly.

Visibly

it means to be diligent to live and conduct ourselves in a way That does not

Contradict the spirits work in making us one

and thus blaspheming his name.

That's why Paul speaks so harshly to the Corinthian assembly in chapter 11

Regarding their divisions that have arisen over the Lord's Supper which is the very thing that

Christ gave us to celebrate and and Solemnize and and display

the unity that we have in Christ.

It is a celebration of that unity and yet When the table is marred with divisions

When the body is marred for the divisions, it's blasphemous.

We must be diligent.

We got to work hard at this to preserve the unity of the spirit in

the bond of peace.

Or perhaps more literally in the bond which is peace.

The bond which is peace.

Peace is the bond that holds us together.

In other words Believers were to make every effort to live at peace with

each other.

Because that is the glue.

That is the bond that enables us to hold together and give visible representation To

the spiritual reality of our oneness in Christ it is the visible

unity that displays the theological reality

of oneness in Christ.

Of People who would never associate with one another yea

in the first century hated one another Jew and Gentile Now

one in Christ.

All right in the time that I've got left.

Let me suggest some practical ways.

Hmm.

Some practical ways that we can be diligent that we can work hard to preserve the unity that

we have and I thank God for the unity of this

fellowship.

It is a treasure.

It is a jewel.

It is a prize.

So here's a few.

These are.

Suggestions not commands.

Commit yourself to personally and regularly praying for the unity

of this church.

Make that a part of your regular time of prayer.

Pray that the hurts and the offenses the slights and the oversights could be and would

be overlooked in love and begin with yourself and

Then broaden it out to others.

Second and Discipline your mind to remember the gospel.

Discipline your mind to remember the gospel and the ugliness of sin from which God

has saved you and be thankful and Be thankful.

He who has been forgiven much forgives much.

He who has been forgiven little forgives little.

If you're struggling to forgive You need to go back to the cross and

remember what has been forgiven you

this upon your mind.

To remember that gospel.

This one may be apocryphal, but here's another Spurgeon quote for you.

Brother.

If any man thinks ill of you do not be angry with him.

For you are worse than he thinks you to be

if he charges you falsely on some point yet.

Be satisfied for if he knew you better. He might change the accusation.

But you would be no gainer by the correction

if you have your moral portrait painted and it is ugly.

Be satisfied for it only needs a few blacker touches and it will be still nearer the truth.

Truer words were never spoken.

Whether they were indeed spoken or not.

Three.

Do not be quick to assert your rights.

Do not be quick to assert your rights but seek to serve rather than to be served

and thus emulate your Savior.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be Served but to serve and give his life a

ransom for many mark 1045.

For.

Practice the one another's.

Practice the one another's.

According to Dustin binge in his book the loveliest place There are

quote 59 and I was shocked at that.

I started to try to verify it and I got up to a big number.

He says 59.

I'll take it.

There are 59 one another statements in the New Testament that Speak directly to

what we are to do or how we are to act toward each other

59.

What an amazing summer Bible study that would be huh?

You do it on your own and do it with some friends 59 one another's.

Let me just rattle off a few of them for you.

Okay.

Just kind of get you started and this all just comes from the book of Romans from a really fast look -through.

It all begins in chapter 12.

Why.

Because chapters 1 to 11 are all about our standing in Christ and how we got there in chapter 12 to 16 15 is

about how we are to live now that we are in Christ.

Just like Ephesians.

Romans 12 10 be devoted to one another.

Romans 12 16 be of the same mind toward one another.

Romans 13 8 love one another.

Romans 14 13 do not judge one another.

Romans 14 19 pursue peace which builds up one another.

Romans 15 5 be of the same mind with one another.

Romans 15 7 accept one another.

Romans 15 14 admonish one another.

Romans 16 16 greet one another.

That's enough to get started.

That's enough to get started.

Practice the one another's.

Because they will provide the Fertilizer

to for the growth of visible unity among the body of Christ.

Five.

Make every effort to reconcile damaged relationships.

Before they damage the health and unity of the body.

Don't let them sit there and fester.

And.

Six.

And finally.

Don't take communion.

Do not take communion.

If you know you're out of fellowship with another believer in the body here.

Go to them.

Be reconciled and then take communion.

Don't make a mockery of it.

Remember unity is created through the gospel.

Recognize.

The unity is cultivated through loving tolerance.

Embrace the reality.

The unity is kept through hard work.

And if in and by the power of the Spirit of God we can cultivate these three keys then the.

Then this body of Christ will maximize its potential.

For the Great Commission.

And in that we can greatly rejoice.

Thank you for listening to the latest podcast from Kootenai Church.

If you'd like to learn more about Kootenai Church or to donate to our church ministry You can do so online

by visiting Kootenai Church org.

We hope you enjoyed this podcast and pray you'll join us again next time.

Once again.

Thank you for listening.