EPHESIANS 4: 1-16

UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

DOCTRINE

Don’t talk to me about doctrine – just let me live my Christian Life. X

What we believe determines how we live.

The Christian Life is not based on ignorance but on knowledge.

Doctrine teaches us how to ‘walk the walk’!

WHAT DOCTRINES HAS PAUL SET OUT FOR US IN CHAPTERS 1-3?

We are Blessed, Chosen, Adopted, Redeemed, Forgiven, Included.

We are saved by Grace through Faith.

A great mystery has been revealed to us.

I URGE YOU!

Live a life worthy of your calling.

“In the light of all these things – live for my Glory.”

O.T. – “If you obey me I will bless you.”

N.T. – “I have already blessed you – now, in response to my Love and Grace, obey me!”

UNITY OF BELIEVERS

The unity is already a reality! (Second part of Chap. 2)

Make every effort to keep it! (Chapter 4:3)

THE FOUR ‘Gs’ OF UNITY

The Grace of Unity.

The Grounds of Unity.

The Gifts of Unity.

The Growth for Unity.

THE GRACE OF UNITY

Unity is not uniformity.

Uniformity is imposed from without.

Unity comes from within.

The analogy of the human body.

THE GROUNDS OF UNITY

One Body, One Spirit, One Calling of Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father.

All these things in common.

All these things unite us.

All these things we build upon.

THE GIFTS FOR UNITY

To equip the Church, to bind us together and to build us up.

1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.

The roles that stem from the Gifts.

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.

THE GROWTH OF UNITY

Growing into spiritual maturity – evidenced by:

Christ-likeness.

Stability.

Speaking the truth in Love.

Co-operation.

CHRIST-LIKENESS.

Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Forbearance, Endeavour, Peace.

STABILITY

Not tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. (Verse 14)

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

Truth without love is brutality – love without the truth is hypocrisy.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6.

CO-OPERATION

Members of one body, expressed by membership of a local body, we belong to each other, we affect each other and we need each other.

One-another-ness and co-operation.

Each one has a ministry to one another.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

Ephesians 4:2. Bearing with one-another in love.

Ephesians 4:15. Speaking the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:16. Building up in love.