Because He Exists: "Called to Unity (Worship)" Eph. 4:1-6

Jeremy Heikkinen

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Intro:

Happy New Year!

I am happy to say that my side of the family is here this morning!

So have you started your resolutions already?

Outline:

Character: “Walk in a manner worthy” (vs. 1-3)

Confession: “There is one…Theology” (vs. 4-7)

Summary: Maintiaing unity depends on our attitude towards God and each other.

Prayer:

Character: “Walk in a manner Worthy” (vs. 1-3)

The Text- Renew the Mind (vs. 1-3)

I therefore: in light of the discussion about the unity of Jew and Gentile believers

Chapter 1

Ephesians 1:1-3 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

Chapter 2

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

Eph. 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Chapter 3

Eph. 3:1-3 “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”

Eph. 3:7 “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”

Eph. 3:8-10 “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Eph. 3:14 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,”

Eph. 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

a prisoner of the Lord- “desmios” noun, prisoner, a person who is confined; especially in regard to crimes or as a prisoner of war. This is not a “doulos” bondservant who is there by freewill choice. Everyone is slave to someone,

Paul used to slave to another master, he was Saul.

Now he is a slave to

God’s will

God’s blessing

God’s mercy

God’s Grace in being made alive because of His great love

God’s Gift

God’s craftsmanship and plan for good works

God’s manifold wisdom

God’s Calling and stewardship

Many of the Ephesians were slaves to the occult, magic arts (Acts 19), and the prostitute cult of the day the “Great Artemis of the Ephesians” and Diana

yet Luke says this after this in Acts 19:20 “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”

They were to be on their guard because wolves were going to come in after he left, not sparing the flock, men from among them that would speak twisted things

Urge (this is actually the first word in the sentence) you to walk (behave) in a manner worthy (of “equal weight”) of the Calling to which you have been called- how they lived mattered

Of the calling (“Kleseos”, noun,sg)- THERE IS ONLY ONE! “the condition one enters upon the acceptance of a summons; especially all that is expected of a person who accepts God’s summons to the hope of salvation in Jesus”.

To which you (pl) have been called- THERE IS ONLY ONE, YET MANY HAVE BEEN CALLED TO IT, it is not just you individually- “eklethete” verb, aor, pass, ind, 2nd, pl, to be summoned- to become subject to an authroitative demand for one’s presence or participation. This is not just a call to a set of doctrines, those come later, it is a call to a certain attitude or virtue:

With all humility- “tapeinophrosynes”- noun. the disposition of valuing or assessing oneself appropriately; especially in light of one’s sinfulness and creatureliness- BE HONEST WITH WHERE YOU ARE , WHO(‘S) YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!

In Greek culture this was seen as a vice only to be practiced by slaves

Opposite of pride

and gentleness- “prautetos” noun, acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered, having your emotions under control. Not overcome by excessive anger

with patience- “makrothymias” noun patient endurance of pain or unhappiness, seeing it through to the end and is not hasty to retaliate a wrong

bearing with one another in love- “anechomenoi” verb, pres, mid/pass, part, nom, mas, pl- to bear, to endure soemthing unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else

eager- “spoudazontes” pres, act part, nom, mas, pl. to be eager to have or show keen interest, intense desire, or impatient expectancy

to maintain- “terein” pres, act, infinitive, to keep, observe, to keep in a certain state, position, or activity. Not create, we cannot create the...

the unity of the spirit

in the bond of peace-

Engage the heart

Who’s narrative is most influential in your mind right now that is affecting your emotions?

What shows are you watching that are effecting your affections?

Narrative of happiness, love, following your heart, being violent, harsh and angry.

Everyone is a slave to someone. Who are you a slave to this morning that you know you should stop but

foolish financial debt

food: you can never get enough or you don’t allow yourself to ever have enough

Why do you want to change in these areas this year? The answer to this question will help you answer who’s narrative is most influential in your mind.

Substances: it is only once and a while, I did not mean to get to this place

website

Sexual immorality: pornography, masterbation, sexual perversion within marriage, sexual activity outside of marriage

social media

Will you be honest today with where you are in these areas of life? Maybe you need to follow the thought Jessi and I disccused the other day, “Will you be honest with me in 2023” about the state of your heart, what you are thinking, what has you discouraged, encouraged, etc.

How would you say you are doing with treating others, whose calling are you following:

With all humility-

and gentleness

with patience

bearing with one another in love

eager to maintain

the unity of the spirit

in the bond of peace

Enlist the body (singular and plural)

When are you going to read your Bible this week? Think about it right now. Where are you going to read? 5,4,3,2,1

Do this 3x this week

By God’s grace, you are free! If you are a believer you now have a choice about what you present your body to. Non-Christians do not have that choice. They may make decisions to change, but it is not out of a desire to worship God. What is going to change in your life this week, not this year, this week?

Paul “urged” the Ephesians, he earnestly supported or encouraged a response or action. The same is true for you and me today

Application/Implications:

Transitional phrase: Paul is not just urging unity in lifestyle and choices, he also is urging a unity around Theology, what one confesses to be true about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Confession: “There is one…Theology” (vs. 4-7)

The Text- Renew the Mind (vs. 4-7)

There is One:

Body- the universal church

Spirit- Holy Spirit

Just as you were called- “eklethete” verb, aor, pass, ind, 2nd, pl, to be summoned, to be or become subect to an authoritative demand for one’s presence or participation.

To the one hope that belongs to your call (“kleseos”) calling

Lord- Jesus, the head of the church

Faith- the gospel of Jesus

Baptism- the outward symbol of the internal reality

God and Father of all- all believers

Who is over all

and through all

and in all

But grace was given to each one of us- no one is left out

according to the measure of Christ’s gift

Engage the Heart

The call to follow Jesus is the call to “hope” not just a set of doctrines that we as Baptists can get pretty fired up about.

Which of the “ones” caught your attention the most? Which one provides you with the most hope today? Often we identify the “one that we do not agree on

Remember, in Rev 2 the Ephesian church is commended for it’s doctrine, but not for leaving it’s first love. They had the right answers without the right attitude.

If you are in Christ, then God’s grace has been given to you, you, you, you, each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

This provides for diversity within unity. We are all given the same grace, but it does not mean that we are all the same.

Do you ever wish that you could have bought “that” gift for someone but did not have the means or the measure of what it costs? This is not true with Jesus!

Enlist the Body

What does hope look/sound like in your week this week?

Which of the “one” will you write out on a card this week to remind you of the hope you have in that are of your life?

Application/Implications:

Transitional phrase:

Summary: Maintiaing unity depends on our attitude towards God and each other.

Song: “Take my life and let it be”

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. ?

3. ?

4. ?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

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