Ephesians 4:1-6 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…

Philippians 1:27 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…”

Philippians 2:1-4 “1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Ephesians 4:3 …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Making of a Church – The Prescription The “terms” of the prescription (4:3) …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. “…being diligent” – make haste; be zealous “preserve” – to keep; to guard, “…unity of the Spirit”– unity is a product of God; a working of the Holy Spirit. “the bond of peace.” – the ligaments or shackles that bind the church together.

The Making of a Church – The Prescription The “testimony” of the prescription (4:3) …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is no greater testimony; no greater witness than when the world sees Christians united together in spite of all our differences.

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 17:11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.

John 17:20-23 20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

The Spirit of God “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9) “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.

1 Corinthians 14:31 “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

The Making of a Church – The Prescription The “truth” of the prescription (4:3) …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. A fundamental principle of studying the Bible is this; there is but one interpretation of any passage of Scripture, but there may be many applications.

What does walking in unity mean? Walking in unity with God and His people means we lose our individualistic tendencies when we are saved. Walking in unity with God and His people means that we, as God’s people, are marked by a common purpose and led by a common Savior, Jesus Christ. Walking in unity with God and His people means that when the Lord gives us His clear direction, we must put aside our personal opinions and strive to work together for the glory of God and the good of the Gospel.

What does walking in unity mean? Walking in unity with God and His people means that the unity of the church is more important than you or me getting our own way. Walking in unity with God and His people means the unity of the church always comes ahead of my personal agenda.  Walking in unity with God and His people means the unity of the church comes before my own personal feelings. 

John Calvin “Among Christians there ought to be so great a dislike of schism, as that they may always avoid it so fast as lies in their power. That there ought to prevail among them such a reverence for the ministry of the word and the sacraments that wherever they perceive these things to be, there they must consider the church to exist...nor need it be of any hindrance that some points of doctrine are not quite so pure, seeing that there is scarcely any church which has not retained some remnants of former ignorance.”

Matthew 5:23-24 “23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Ephesians 4:3 …being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.