1. We began last Sunday a study of Ephesians 4 with a view to understanding the need for unity in the church.
2. Jesus wants His followers to be united [John 17:21 (NKJV) "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.]
3. The apostles taught the necessity of thinking and speaking the same way [1 Corinthians 1:10 (KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.] Cf. Philippians 3:16 (NKJV) Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
4. That "same rule" is the whole teaching of the New Testament. However, Ephesians 4 offers us seven foundation stones upon which Christian unity is established. Last week, we discussed one body, one Spirit, and one hope. Today, we continue our look at the remaining four "ones" of Ephesians 4.
I. ONE LORD
A. The "Lord" is Jesus Christ [1 Corinthians 8:6 (NKJV) yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. ] He is Lord of all [Acts 10:36].
B. The Lord must be obeyed.
1. The Greek one kurious means "one supreme in authority." Thayer says it refers to "the owner, one who has control of a person." We are slaves. Christ is our owner, our Lord and Master!
2. It is ridiculous to think that a slave could refuse to obey his lord. Punishment would be swift and sure. Yet people call Jesus "lord" but refuse to submit to His authority [Luke 6:46 (NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?]
C. Unity can never be achieved if we allow anyone or anything else to be lord in our lives.
1. Many place self on the throne of their lives. They refuse to allow anyone -- even Christ -- to tell them what to do.
2. Others are too ready to conform to the dogmas and dictates of men. Human doctrines and personalities have no place of authority over the church. No pope, preacher, or pastor has the right to usurp Christ's place as lord. In years past, this point would have been the prime emphasis of this whole study. Any effort at unity would be thwarted by confessions and creeds. Denominational allegiances kept people away from loyalty to Christ as Lord. Today, the power of creeds is much diminished but we should not assume that it is gone altogether. From Billy Graham to Benny Hinn . . . with a great many men and women in between, there are still heavily influenced by what preachers and priests say. We must be willing to listen to Christ instead of men. Let Him be the One Lord!
II. ONE FAITH
A. The word faith is used in both a subjective sense (the trust of an individual that his beliefs are true) and an objective sense (in this case, the whole body of God's revelation).
1. Martha confessed her faith to Jesus when she said in John 11:27 (NKJV), "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."
2. The objective sense is used when we're told to contend for the faith [Jude v. 3] and to continue in the faith [Colossians 1:23].
B. There is some difficulty in deciding whether "one faith" in Ephesians 4:5 refers to faith in the subjective or objective sense. Check the commentaries and you'll get a wide difference of opinion. I'm not sure that distinction matters much in this instance because unity is based on God's people have common beliefs on matters which have been revealed in the Scriptures. We are to think the same way -- be of "one faith" if you will about anything the Bible says. We can hold a wide diversity of opinions about questions which are not answered in the Bible. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Can you believe this was actually a matter of theological dispute back in the Middle Ages? Who cares? The Bible doesn't deal with such a silly question. It doesn't matter what you think about that as long as you don't make it a matter of contention in the church.
C. However, on matters where revelation has spoken -- things which are part of the "one faith" in an objective sense -- we're united when we believe what the Bible teaches and speak as the Bible speaks. It's matters like these Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 1:10 when he says we must speak the same thing and be of the same mind and judgment. We're of one faith (we believe the same thing) on matters of the one faith (the revelation of God's will).
III. ONE BAPTISM
A. Various baptisms are mentioned in the New Testament.
1. Baptism of John the Baptist -- not done in the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 19:5]
2. Baptism by Jesus and His disciples during His earthly ministry [John 3:22]
3. Baptism of the Holy Spirit -- promised to the apostles [Acts 1:5 (NKJV) "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."]
4. Baptism of fire -- reference to the Judgment [Matthew 3:11]
5. Baptism unto Moses -- reference to Israel passing through the Red Sea under the cloud [1 Corinthians 10:2]
6. Baptism of suffering -- figurative reference to Jesus' experiences in dying on the cross [Luke 12:50]
7. Baptism for the dead [1 Corinthians 15:29]
8. Baptism commanded by the Great Commission [Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20]
B. Which one is the "one baptism" of Ephesians 4:5? We're helped in finding the answer when we consider that only one of these eight New Testament baptisms is commanded for people living after the cross.
1. John's baptism was valid in its time -- but not after the cross
2. Holy Spirit baptism was promised to the apostles and that promise was fulfilled on Pentecost. Cornelius' family also received the Holy Spirit in the same way [Acts 11:15]. It was never promised to anyone else. Nothing in the Bible indicates that anyone today should expect to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
3. The baptism that Christ intended to continue "until the end of the age" [Matthew 28:20] is the Great Commission baptism -- immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the purpose of washing away sins [Acts 22:16].
C. Contrary teachings about baptism contribute to religious division today.
1. That is recognized by "progressives" in the church today who have compromised New Testament teaching about baptism and have begun to welcome into fellowship those who were immersed for any reason, those who were sprinkled as babies, and even the "pious unimmersed" who have never been baptized but are "good people" who do, after all, believe in Christ. They just haven't considered it necessary to be baptized.
2. They have recognized the problem, but have missed the solution. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to make "one baptism" part of the criteria for Christian unity. Bible teaching about baptism is not optional. We can't change what the Bible teaches. We can't ignore what it says about baptism. Paul says there is one baptism. You could examine the teachings of various people today and come up with a long list of things that people call baptism. However, calling something baptism does not make it actually baptism. It is baptism only if God says it's baptism. When you look in the New Testament, you'll see that baptism is:
a. Burial [Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12]
b. In water [Acts 10:47 (NKJV) "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"] A lot of people seem to have the idea that 1 Corinthians 12:13 introduces some new kind of spiritual baptism. The text says (NKJV), "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit." This is not a different baptism from the baptism commanded by the Great Commission (which Jesus said would continue til the end of the age). If it were, that would be two baptisms and Ephesians 4:5 says there is one baptism. We are baptized by the Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit who has revealed the command to be baptized. The apostle Peter would not have known to command "Repent and be baptized" on Pentecost if the Holy Spirit had not guided him [Acts 2:38]. Paul would not have known to write about being baptized into Christ and putting on Christ [Galatians 3:27] if the Holy Spirit had not inspired his writing. Everything we know about baptism is due to the work of the Holy Spirit. The baptism taught by the Holy Spirit is the baptism that saves us (and that is water baptism). [1 Peter 3:20-21 (NASB) who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,] Noah and his family were saved through water. In a similar way, "baptism now saves you." Water is required for Bible baptism.
IV. ONE GOD AND FATHER
A. We are children of God through faith in Christ Jesus [Galatians 3:26 (NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.]
B. This verse recognize the characteristics of Almighty God -- He is Father of all in the generic sense that He is Creator of every one. Spiritually, He is Father only of those who believe in and obey His Son Jesus Christ. God is over all -- omnipotent over all the world. God is through all -- omnipresent. He is in all. There is no place in this world where God is not.
C. God is the ultimate basis of unity. When a rational person accepts the existence of such a Being as God, it is natural for him to inquire, "What does God expect of me?" Seeking an answer to that question leads him to the Bible which is God's revelation of Himself and expression of His will for humankind. Having some understanding of the power and majesty of God, it is reasonable that man would want to conform to those expectations which he learns from the Bible. All like-minded people who share that desire to do the will of God will find themselves united in that common purpose.
CONCLUSION