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Text: Ephesians 4:1-13
By: Eyiangho, Godwin
INTRODUCTION
The need for unity and growth in any human setting cannot be overemphasised.
Any organization that fails to set targets for unity and growth will wobble and collapse for it has no vision.
Every organization needs steady meaningful growth which is realisable only through working in unity of all sectors involved.
Similarly, Christ desires that all members of the church even before it was established should work together as one [in unity] for meaningful growth of the church and the spread of the gospel everywhere [John 17:19-22; Acts 1:8].
DEFINITION
Unity, growth, and the church will be defined briefly as follows:
- Unity – state of being in full agreement [Merriam-Webster Dictionary].
The Greek word – henotace means one [unity] as used in Ephesians 4:3,13.
- Growth – the stage or process of growing [Merriam-Webster Dictionary]. The Greek word –auxano means growing or increasing naturally or spiritually [Gal. 3:6,7; 2 Corinthians 9:10].
- Church – from the Greek word – ekklesia means call out members of the body of Christ or call out people of God – [Matthew 16:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:14].
Therefore, the topic focuses on the role of unity in the numerical and spiritual growth of the church and the spread of the gospel.
Let’s now go into the exegesis of the passage.
WALK WORTHY OF OUR CALLING – VERSE 1
Paul writes this epistle while in prison in Rome as prisoner of Christ and for the sake of the Gentiles – Ephesians 3:1.
Though he was in prison, he charged them to walk worthy of their calling in Christ.
The apostle also gave this instruction to the brethren in Colossae and by extension to all Christians [Colossians 1:10. 2 Peter 1:10].
Walking worthy of our calling in Christ is to live according to His teaching [2 John 9; Titus 2:11,12].
HOW TO WALK WORTHY IN CHRIST – VERSE 2
The apostle then enumerated some qualities required to walk worthy of our calling in Christ – humility, gentleness, patience, forbearing, peace and love.
We must be humble and gentle to one another, patience with forbearing, and loving one another dearly in order to foster peace, unity and meaningful growth in the church [Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 4.8].
THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT – VERSE 3- 6
The unity of the Spirt is teaching and practising the truth which the Holy Spirit has given to the church as the truth and the Spirit are inseparable [John 17:17; 16:13 Ephesians 4:15, 2 John 9)
And it involves the following to keep the unity of the Sprit in the bond of peace.V,3
One body: It is the only one true church purchased, brought into existence, with the blood of Christ and He is the Founder, Head and Saviour of the one body [Matthew 16: 18; Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23].
It has no human origin, doctrine, belief, practice and headquarters but has the New Testament scriptural organization and the word of Christ, as the final authority in everything to the church [1 Peter 4:11, 2 John 9].
One Spirit: This is the Holy Spirit that Christ sent to the apostles to guide them into all truth whom they received on the Pentecost day [Luke 24:49, John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4].
The same Spirit is given to Christians at the point of baptism to enable them live the Christian life and He is still guiding the church today especially teachers in the study and teaching of the truth, [Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 John 3:9,10; 2 Tim. 2:15].
Through the one Spirit in us, we become adopted children of God crying Abba Father [Romans 8:14,15; Galatians 4:6].
One Hope: The hope here is the one hope of eternal life in heaven [Titus 1:2, Colossians 1:5].
Those [Jehovah Witnesses] who believe in two hopes – 144 thousand will go to heaven while others will inherit the earth is fallacious [1 Corinthians 15:19; Romans 8:24; 1 Peter 1:4].
One Lord: Refers to our Lord Jesus Christ who has overcome the world and ascended into heaven to be above all and thus the King of kings and Lord of lords and His dominion is forever [John 16:33; 1 Timothy 6:15; Rev 19:16; 1 Cor. 8:6; Heb 1:8].
He will come back to judge the world [2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Corinthians 5:10].
One Faith: It is the entire body of belief or belief system in Christianity. What we teach, believe and practice – the Christian faith [Galatians 3:23, Ephesians 4:13, 2 John 9].
One Baptism: This is the baptism [immersion in water] wherewith a man’s sin is forgiven. He receives the Holy Spirit and he is saved [Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:20,21].
At this baptism, he becomes a member of the church universally, having fellowship with God and other saints in a local congregation [Acts 2:47, 1 Cor. 12: 13. Philippians 1:1]
One God and Father: The only one true self-existing God, Creator of all things and Father of all but indeed the Father of all Christians by the special grace of Christ [Genesis 1:1. Deut. 6:4; Rom. 8:14,15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6)
1 Corinthians 8:6 – 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.
CHRIST GAVE GIFTS – VERSE 7- 10
Christ’s graces and gifts abound in the church. When Christ ascended into heaven, He gave gifts to men verse 8.
David prophesied about this [Psalm 68:18]. This statement is used to refer to the conquest of enemies especially those who had led others captive before [Judges 5:12].
It therefore means that when Christ died sinless on the cross, buried and resurrected, He conquered our enemies, Satan, sin and death, and gave gifts to members of the church [Hebrews 2:14,15].
However, He who ascended also descended to the lower part verse 9,10.
This refers to either Christ’s incarnation or burial as used in the Old Testament [Psalm 139:15; 63:9].
Christ first humbled Himself by putting on human body and dying a shameful death on the cross before His ascension and exaltation or glorified at the right hand of God in heaven above all verse 10.
THE PURPOSE OF GIFTS – VERSE 11- 13
Christ gave gifts to some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are the church leaders or officers and the eldership, bishops and deacons [1 Timothy 3:1-13] but all are not teachers [1 Cor. 12:28,29].
These men must use their gifts to build up brethren and make them mature and for the ministry.
The ministry is the preaching of the gospel for the spread and growth of the church until we attain the unity of faith and knowledge of the fullness of Christ – thus Christians continue to strive to do as the knowledge of the fullness of Christ can only be possible in heaven.
CONCLUSION
All Christians whatever our gifts and positions maybe we must use them humbly in love for peace, unity and growth of the church as there is blessedness in living and working together in unity [Psalm 133:1].
The greatest heart desire of Christ is that all Christians should be one [united] as He and His Father are one and to be with Him in heavenly mansions [John 17:19-22,14:1-6].
