Ephesians 4:4-6

Ephesians 4:4-6

Thoughts from Katie Fox

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Slide

“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope at your calling — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

FOF- Behind the Scenes
Slide

If I were to name a keyword of this passage it would be the word “One”. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, wants them to understand the oneness of our God. But beyond that, he is also hitting home the truth that because our God is one, we, His church, are also to be one. There is a beautiful unity and oneness that is found in the Trinity and is meant to be reflected into and throughout mankind.

Slide

Let’s set the stage a little bit here. In first-century Ephesus, the early Christians would have been surrounded by a culture that was highly divided. First off, the practice of polytheism (worship of multiple gods) was the norm and the culture of Ephesus was proud of their plurality and religious tolerance. The religion of Ephesus centered on the goddess Artimis. But at least 50 other gods were worshiped commonly in Ephesus. A person might worship at the altar of a Greek god seeking one thing and then turn to the altar of an Egyptian god asking for something else. Different god’s offered different levels of blessing and intervention into different spheres of human existence.

Slide

Secondly, because Ephesus was an ancient port city, the people were highly diverse. There were Greeks, Jews, Romans, and many other cultures. It was a melting pot of societies and cultures- all highly divided in their ideals, religion, culture, practices, and mentalities. Again, the motto of the time was tolerance. But under the surface of acceptance and tolerance, divisions ran deep.

Slide

Thirdly, as was common in most Roman and Greek cultures of the time, there were great divides between genders and social status. Male and female were not viewed as equals. Slaves and freemen were also miles apart in importance and respect. The slave, the women, the children, the crippled, and the old were seen as lesser in importance or worth. To say that Ephesus held layer upon layer of division and separation between its people would, in my estimate, be an understatement.

Slide

So why is this important? Because the words penned to the church in Ephesus in today’s passage would have been revolutionary and new. Paul cites the oneness of our God in the same breath as he tells the church that we are “one body” bound together by “one Spirit”. He points out the importance of “one faith, one baptism” as a unifying tool by the “one God and Father of all”.

Slide

In a culture and a time when divisions, differences, and distinctions separated people, the idea of one God unifying one people into one body was a breath of fresh air! (and in some cases was the spark that lit the tinderbox that was Ephesus!)

FOF- Make it Real
Slide

I often marvel at how similar to Ephesus our modern culture is. There are for certain some distinct differences, but we are not so dissimilar to our ancient brothers and sisters. I often look at the world around me and think, “How did we get so divided?” Brother against brother, mother against daughter, neighbor against neighbor, and so on. There are so many divisions in our culture it sometimes makes my head spin! You can hardly barely live in this world without the fear of offending someone over something. It can be exhausting!

Slide

That’s why I think the study of the Trinity and the perfect unity therewithin is so important to the modern Church. We must move from a place of cultural divisions into a place of divine unity. And we must be willing to ask the hard question, “Does my church look more like the world around us or the perfect unified Trinity? Do we actually reflect the Godhead in His union with each person of the Trinity- each existing as co-equal and of the same essence?”

Slide

But what does that actually look like in the Church? I believe that is what Paul wrote about when he said in Galatians 3:27-29, “For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” We are one body, one people, bound in one hope, and for one Savior. We are the CHURCH- the body of Christ!

Slide

Now does that mean that we all cease to have distinction, differences, or diversity? BY NO MEANS! Just as the holy Trinity reflects distinctions between each of its persons, we too are to celebrate the distinctions between the different members of the body of Christ. Every person who has accepted Christ as their Lord is a part of the body and each part matters! In the way that a human body will always suffer for the loss of even just one part, we too are not complete without all our parts.

Slide

This is the beauty of the unity we can find in Christ and the unity that is purposed in the Church. We can be one with God and each other and still celebrate all the beautiful diversity and artistry that God has masterfully created in His body. But instead of that diversity and distinction separating us, it should draw us into mutual submission, mutual love, and mutual honor- just as we see displayed in the Trinity!

Slide

The oneness of our God is the blueprint- we are to model ourselves after Him in all ways. He calls us to be holy as He is holy. He calls us to unity as He is one. He calls us to love like He loves. He calls us to serve as He serves!

Slide

It’s a high calling, friends, and one I know we cannot aspire to apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, in the blood of Christ, and through the will of the Father. We cannot do this without Him. It is not natural, easy, given, or even fully tangible. But it is divine! And as we lean into our understanding of the Oneness of our God and use it as a template for the oneness He desires in the Church, I believe that we will see His kingdom on earth a little more.

FOF- End in Prayer
Slide

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

In Your name we come asking for unity. We can’t manifest it on our own. We can’t contrive to accomplish it apart from You. Teach us what true unity looks like. Help us to avoid the traps of uniformity or division. Help us to strive for Your perfect unity. In Your name and for Your glory, AMEN!

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“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope at your calling — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” 

Ephesians 4:4-6

Behind the Scenes

If I were to name a keyword of this passage it would be the word “One”. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, wants them to understand the oneness of our God. But beyond that, he is also hitting home the truth that because our God is one, we, His church, are also to be one. There is a beautiful unity and oneness that is found in the Trinity and is meant to be reflected into and throughout mankind.  

Let’s set the stage a little bit here. In first-century Ephesus, the early Christians would have been surrounded by a culture that was highly divided. First off, the practice of polytheism (worship of multiple gods) was the norm and the culture of Ephesus was proud of their plurality and religious tolerance. The religion of Ephesus centered on the goddess Artimis. But at least 50 other gods were worshiped commonly in Ephesus. A person might worship at the altar of a Greek god seeking one thing and then turn to the altar of an Egyptian god asking for something else. Different god’s offered different levels of blessing and intervention into different spheres of human existence.  

Secondly, because Ephesus was an ancient port city, the people were highly diverse. There were Greeks, Jews, Romans, and many other cultures. It was a melting pot of societies and cultures- all highly divided in their ideals, religion, culture, practices, and mentalities. Again, the motto of the time was tolerance. But under the surface of acceptance and tolerance, divisions ran deep. 

Thirdly, as was common in most Roman and Greek cultures of the time, there were great divides between genders and social status. Male and female were not viewed as equals. Slaves and freemen were also miles apart in importance and respect. The slave, the women, the children, the crippled, and the old were seen as lesser in importance or worth. To say that Ephesus held layer upon layer of division and separation between its people would, in my estimate, be an understatement. 

So why is this important? Because the words penned to the church in Ephesus in today’s passage would have been revolutionary and new. Paul cites the oneness of our God in the same breath as he tells the church that we are “one body” bound together by “one Spirit”. He points out the importance of “one faith, one baptism” as a unifying tool by the “one God and Father of all”.  

In a culture and a time when divisions, differences, and distinctions separated people, the idea of one God unifying one people into one body was a breath of fresh air! (and in some cases was the spark that lit the tinderbox that was Ephesus!) 

Make It Real

I often marvel at how similar to Ephesus our modern culture is. There are for certain some distinct differences, but we are not so dissimilar to our ancient brothers and sisters. I often look at the world around me and think, “How did we get so divided?” Brother against brother, mother against daughter, neighbor against neighbor, and so on. There are so many divisions in our culture it sometimes makes my head spin! You can hardly barely live in this world without the fear of offending someone over something. It can be exhausting! 

That’s why I think the study of the Trinity and the perfect unity therewithin is so important to the modern Church. We must move from a place of cultural divisions into a place of divine unity. And we must be willing to ask the hard question, “Does my church look more like the world around us or the perfect unified Trinity? Do we actually reflect the Godhead in His union with each person of the Trinity- each existing as co-equal and of the same essence?” 

But what does that actually look like in the Church? I believe that is what Paul wrote about when he said in Galatians 3:27-29, “For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” We are one body, one people, bound in one hope, and for one Savior. We are the CHURCH- the body of Christ! 

Now does that mean that we all cease to have distinction, differences, or diversity? BY NO MEANS! Just as the holy Trinity reflects distinctions between each of its persons, we too are to celebrate the distinctions between the different members of the body of Christ. Every person who has accepted Christ as their Lord is a part of the body and each part matters! In the way that a human body will always suffer for the loss of even just one part, we too are not complete without all our parts.  

This is the beauty of the unity we can find in Christ and the unity that is purposed in the Church. We can be one with God and each other and still celebrate all the beautiful diversity and artistry that God has masterfully created in His body. But instead of that diversity and distinction separating us, it should draw us into mutual submission, mutual love, and mutual honor- just as we see displayed in the Trinity! 

The oneness of our God is the blueprint- we are to model ourselves after Him in all ways. He calls us to be holy as He is holy. He calls us to unity as He is one. He calls us to love like He loves. He calls us to serve as He serves! 

It’s a high calling, friends, and one I know we cannot aspire to apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, in the blood of Christ, and through the will of the Father. We cannot do this without Him. It is not natural, easy, given, or even fully tangible. But it is divine! And as we lean into our understanding of the Oneness of our God and use it as a template for the oneness He desires in the Church, I believe that we will see His kingdom on earth a little more.  

Crystal Garnett

Crystal Garnett

ACF Digital Discipleship Director and Church Planter

End in Prayer

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

In Your name we come asking for unity. We can’t manifest it on our own. We can’t contrive to accomplish it apart from You. Teach us what true unity looks like. Help us to avoid the traps of uniformity or division. Help us to strive for Your perfect unity. In Your name and for Your glory, AMEN! 

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