UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

Ephesians 4:1-16 / Keywords 4:4

There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--

 

4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, 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. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 

1. Paul urges them to be united so that his chains of imprisonment may not be in vain. To do so, they must be completely humble and gentle; be patient and bear with one another in love. This strenuous effort to keep unity through the Holy Spirit brings peace. And this peace unites the body as one. We are one in Spirit and one in hope. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all. These are all the reasons why Christians must be united.

2. Paul explains that we each have a precious role in the church which is given through Christ’s grace. When he ascended from the dead, he broke the curse and restored spiritual gifts: to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These different gifts equip the church body for works of service. Together we build up the church, become unified, and attain maturity in Christ.

3. When we are united and work together, the church is no longer unstable or easily deceived by false teachers. Rather, we speak the truth in love and become mature with Christ as the head of the church, working together in love.

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us real unity in Christ. Help me to be mature in faith, be united with other believers, and strengthen the body of Christ.

One Word Mature and united in the body of Christ