Live In

3 D 19 H 30 M 24 S

Sermon Notes

Date: January 12, 2025

Title: Call to Oneness

Main Scripture: Eph. 4:4-5
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism…

Description (main concept, points, etc.):
Explore the ways that we, as the church are one. The points are examples of commonalities we share within the community of believers

As we begin this week we return to the concept of “calling” which was discussed in last week’s message. To be honest, I touched on this partially because I wanted to save a deeper dive into the concept of calling for this week. When we read the word calling in English we may this about a simple request or invitation but in the greek there is amore defined meaning:

ἐκλήθητε (ekletheytá) – 2 Meanings:
1) to summon as if for court
2) an invitation to a feast

In both of these there are implications of both submission to one in power and personal acceptance as a result of extended honor. So, the recipient is, in a sense, right to respond to such a call but they ultimately have the “right” to reject the call at their own peril.

But the call is both personal and communal, and the implications impact us one and all. At its core, the call is to oneness of body as a result of our submission to the work of one spirit within each and all of those who are part of the united Body of Christ.

“Paul explains why unity and oneness are critical to the church’s witness by listing seven “ones” (body, spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God) that form the basis for the church’s oneness in Spirit. Paul expresses a similar thought in 1 Cor 8:6, wherein he contrasts the pagan acceptance of many gods and the Christian (and Jewish) steadfast stand on monotheism. Thus when the church lacks unity, it calls into question its proclamation of the oneness of God. The oneness of God is not an intellectual belief only.”

Lynn H. Cohick, Ephesians, New Covenant Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010), 105.

1) One body, one spirit – We are unified as a body/community, not just congregationally but globally. We share the gift of the same Spirit, even with our diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

One body. The organism composed of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Head and all true believers in him. It is the new creation, the body mentioned earlier in the epistle (1:23). One Spirit. The Holy Spirit himself is the life infusing every part of the body

Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett Falconer Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: New Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), Eph 4:4.

Ephesians 1:19-23 (ESV)
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The body of Christ, the church, is united under the head of Christ where he leads and orchestrates the function of the body. We are called to be “together” and we are called to be submissive in all things to Him who is the head of the body. It is in and through Christ that this is possible. And, our experience of Christ’s leadership is made manifest through the presence and work of the “one” Holy Spirit within us (personally and communally)—and we see this further illustrated in Paul’s writing to the church in Corinth where he issues a similar exhortation:

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[a] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

The unifying work of God removes those things which cause division while properly utilizing those unique gifts and blessings which he has built into us for the benefit and blessing of the community of believers.

2) One hope – Our diversity on this earth gives us uniqueness and gives color and nuance to the body, but our direction and our future we hold in common.

Ephesians 4:4b (ESV)
to the one hope that belongs to your call

And what is this “one” hope?
ἐλπίδι (elpithé from elpis) which is out expectation!!!

Ephesians 1:18-20
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Our hope is this: The mighty work of God in, through, and by Christ’s resurrection and ascension…and the promise that we are offered resurrection and inclusion in God’s Kingdom by way of Christ. As Christians, our singular hope is Christ and Christ alone!!

3) One Lord, faith, and baptism – We share a savior, an ancient and modern faith, and sacraments across the ages. If we can share a unity through time, certainly we can share a unity among our contemporary believers.

Ephesians 4:5a (ESV)
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism..

Here we find the 4th, 5th, and 6th of Paul’s “ones” and each has its significance:
1) One Lord: This proclamation is made in direct contrast to the pagan/gentile worship of innumerable “gods” and it is understood to be a revelation of the uniqueness and might of God when compared to these false/powerless God’s. Paul is also proclaiming the trinity in the midst of these verses as he proclaims the oneness of Spirit, Lord, and God (Holy Spirit, Son, and Father).

2) One faith: This faith us not in our capacity or ability, it is not in our worth or effort, it is not in our sacrifice or offering…but it is in Christ alone. Just as the “body” is united under the head of Christ our faith is placed in the one who came to walk among us, to live, suffer, die, and to be resurrected on our behalf as the perfect sacrifice and the only atonement necessary. So when we have faith in fullness and completeness of Christ we have all that we need.

3) One Baptism: The outward expression of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit within us, and the faith through which we live and experience the unifying work of Christ, is made visible through baptism. This act is one of both submission and proclamation: We submit to the cleansing work brought about through God reshaping and reordering our life through the redeeming blood of Christ.We proclaim as we take part in this representation of our faith within community…sharing in the baptism of believers throughout the ages. This outward representation of the inward and spiritual change that we experience as followers of Christ is meant to let the word know that we are part of the united family of God.

Questions:
1) What are the seven “ones” that Paul proclaims in vv.4-5? How are these integral to our Christian experience and faith? (take time to discuss each)
2) Are we more focused upon our uniqueness or on our call to community? How does Paul’s exhortation challenge the modern view of radical individualism and “self”-truth?
3) What are the benefits of this call to unity? How does this reshape and reorder our life and our priorities?
4) What is the most difficult thing for us to submit to God and sacrifice for the sake of the Body of Christ?