1. Unity in the Body of Christ
A Study of Ephesians 4:1-16
Based on article by Joe R. Price in Truth Magazine
Unity in the Body of Christ: A Study of Ephesians 4:1-16
August 1, 2002, page 14
Preached at West Side on April 20, 2008 AM

2. Unity’s Essential Attitudes
Lowliness (Matt. 23:11-12)

3. Matthew 23:11-12
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus taught and set the example of humble service.

4. Unity’s Essential Attitudes
Lowliness (Matt. 23:11-12)
Gentleness/Meekness (Ephesians 5:20-21)

5. Ephesians 5:20-21
(Command to sing in verse 19), …giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
The meek or gentle person is not occupied with self.

6. Unity’s Essential Attitudes
Lowliness (Matt. 23:11-12)
Gentleness/Meekness (Ephesians 5:20-21)
Longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9)

7. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Longsuffering is restraint in the face of provocation. God is the best example of this.

8. Unity’s Essential Attitudes
Lowliness (Matt. 23:11-12)
Gentleness/Meekness (Ephesians 5:20-21)
Longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9)
Forebearance (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)

9. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Forbearance is the ability to hold up under the strain and stress of trials.

10. Unity’s Essential Attitudes
Lowliness (Matt. 23:11-12)
Gentleness/Meekness (Ephesians 5:20-21)
Longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9)
Forebearance (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)
Love (1 John 4:20-21)

11. 1 John 4:20-21
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
If we do not love our brother we cannot love God.

12. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)

13. Ephesians 1:22-23
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
To be united with Christ, we must be in His body, the one church.

14. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)

15. Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
The Holy Spirit has revealed the Word of truth by which we enjoy life from the death of sin.

16. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)
One Hope (Colossians 1:5-6)

17. Colossians 1:5-6
Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
Our hope secures us and unites us as we walk by faith.

18. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)
One Hope (Colossians 1:5-6)
One Lord (Colossians 3:17)

19. Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
When we yield to Christ, God is glorified rather than man.

20. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)
One Hope (Colossians 1:5-6)
One Lord (Colossians 3:17)
One Faith (Romans 1:16-17)

21. Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
The gospel of Christ is that which saves our souls.

22. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)
One Hope (Colossians 1:5-6)
One Lord (Colossians 3:17)
One Faith (Romans 1:16-17)
One Baptism (1 Peter 3:21)

23. 1 Peter 3:21
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Any other baptism than water baptism for the remission of sins, is not in his “name”, and causes division.

24. Unity’s Essential Platform
One Body (Ephesians 1:22-23)
One Spirit (Romans 8:2)
One Hope (Colossians 1:5-6)
One Lord (Colossians 3:17)
One Faith (Romans 1:16-17)
One Baptism (1 Peter 3:21)
One God (John 4:23-24)

25. John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
The one God demands a common worship from all. He will be with us only if we unite upon this platform of unity.

26. Conclusion
“…the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16)
Based on article by Joe R. Price in Truth Magazine
Unity in the Body of Christ: A Study of Ephesians 4:1-16
August 1, 2002, page 14
The intent and blessing of unity is the growth of the body, in that it allows every part to actively work, doing “its share.”