Sermons on Ephesians 4:5
The various sermons below converge on the central idea that Ephesians 4:5’s call to “one faith” and “one baptism” underscores a profound unity among believers rooted in the gospel’s core truths rather than external uniformity. They collectively emphasize that this unity transcends denominational or ritualistic differences, focusing instead on the objective reality of justification by faith alone and the spiritual significance of baptism as entry into Christ’s realm. Notably, the sermons nuance this unity by distinguishing between faith as a personal trust and faith as the essential gospel content, with some insisting that true unity arises only when both subjective belief and objective doctrine intersect. The baptism referenced is likewise interpreted beyond mere ritual, seen either as a symbolic identification with Christ’s death and resurrection or as an experiential, transformative union with the Holy Spirit that empowers and renews the believer. These perspectives highlight the forensic nature of justification, the existential transformation through baptism, and the dynamic indwelling of the Spirit as complementary facets of the believer’s incorporation into the body of Christ.
In contrast, the sermons diverge sharply in their theological emphasis and interpretive focus. Some reject broad or purely subjective definitions of “one faith,” insisting on a narrowly defined gospel principle centered on justification by faith alone, while others embrace a more integrative approach that refuses to separate personal trust from doctrinal content. Similarly, baptism is variously understood as a symbolic rite marking spiritual union with Christ, a transfer into His lordship akin to Israel’s baptism into Moses, or as the baptism of the Holy Spirit that brings supernatural empowerment and transformation. One approach highlights the courtroom metaphor of justification to stress legal declaration over experiential change, whereas another elevates the Spirit’s baptism as the pinnacle of Christian experience, emphasizing ongoing sanctification and divine fullness. The treatment of unity also varies: some sermons focus on doctrinal purity as the foundation for unity, while others emphasize the organic, existential unity created by shared spiritual realities that break down ethnic and social barriers. This spectrum of interpretations challenges the preacher to weigh the balance between objective gospel truths, personal faith experience, ritual symbolism, and Spirit-empowered transformation when preaching on this passage.
Ephesians 4:5 Interpretation:
Preserving Unity Through One Faith in Christ (MLJTrust) offers a distinctive interpretation of Ephesians 4:5 by rigorously debating whether "one faith" refers to subjective faith (the act of believing) or objective faith (the content of belief). The preacher ultimately rejects both the purely subjective and the comprehensive confessional approaches, instead arguing that "one faith" is the specific, objective principle of justification by faith alone—the very heart of the gospel as Paul preached it. The sermon draws a sharp line between faith as a personal experience and faith as the essential, unifying doctrine that all Christians must share, namely, the message of salvation by faith apart from works. The preacher uses the analogy of a courtroom, where God, as judge, declares the guilty sinner righteous solely on the basis of faith in Christ, not on any merit or ritual. This forensic, declarative act is the "one faith" that unites all believers, transcending denominational or doctrinal differences on secondary matters.
Embracing Unity in Christ Through One Baptism (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 4:5 by focusing on the phrase "one baptism" and systematically dismantling common interpretations: baptismal regeneration, mode of baptism, and the rite itself as essential to salvation. The preacher insists that the true meaning lies in what baptism signifies: entry into the realm, sphere, and influence of Christ. Drawing a parallel with Israel's "baptism into Moses" (1 Corinthians 10:2), the sermon argues that Christian baptism represents a transfer from the world into Christ, a public identification with his lordship, and a spiritual union with his death and resurrection. The analogy of the Israelites leaving Egypt and following Moses is used to illustrate the radical shift in allegiance and identity that baptism signifies, emphasizing that this spiritual reality—not the external rite—creates unity among believers.
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit (SermonIndex.net) provides a unique perspective by connecting "one baptism" in Ephesians 4:5 to the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experiential, transformative union with God. The preacher distinguishes between mere intellectual assent to gospel truths and the actual reception of the Holy Spirit, which imparts divine power (dunamis) and fundamentally changes the believer's nature. The sermon uses the Greek term "dunamis" to highlight the supernatural empowerment that comes with the Spirit, and employs vivid metaphors: the believer as a "rusty old can" immersed in the ocean (God's fullness), and as a piece of cloth dyed and infused with new color (the Spirit's character). This interpretation elevates the baptism of the Spirit as the "Mount Everest" of Christian experience, where the believer is not just with God but in God, filled into all the fullness of God.
Unity in One Faith: Personal Belief and Doctrine (SermonIndex.net) offers a nuanced interpretation of Ephesians 4:5 by wrestling with the dual meaning of "one faith"—as both the subjective act of personal believing and the objective body of revealed gospel truth. The sermon uniquely argues that true unity is only achieved when the objective (the faith, i.e., the essential truths of the gospel) and the subjective (my faith, your faith—personal trust and obedience) meet. The preacher refuses to choose between the two, insisting that neither the objective content of faith nor the subjective act of believing alone can unite the church; rather, unity is found when both are present and shared. The sermon also explores the Greek definite article in Galatians 3 ("the faith") to show that Paul sometimes uses "faith" as a shorthand for the full revelation of Christ and the gospel, not merely personal trust or the entire body of Christian doctrine. The analogy of "the faith" coming with Christ’s coming is used to show that the object of faith and the act of faith are inseparable in the context of Christian unity. The preacher further distinguishes his interpretation by focusing on the minimal content of "one faith" necessary for justification—centering on the resurrection and propitiatory work of Christ as the heart of what must be believed for unity and salvation.
Ephesians 4:5 Theological Themes:
Preserving Unity Through One Faith in Christ (MLJTrust) introduces the theme that the unity of the church is grounded not in uniformity of detailed doctrine or ritual, but in the singular, objective principle of justification by faith alone. This faith is not a general trust or a comprehensive confession, but the specific gospel message that God justifies the ungodly through faith in Christ, apart from works. The sermon further asserts that any deviation from this principle—whether by adding works, rituals, or secondary doctrines—undermines the very unity Paul describes.
Embracing Unity in Christ Through One Baptism (MLJTrust) adds a new facet by emphasizing that baptism's unifying power lies in its spiritual reality: all believers, regardless of background or ritual practice, are transferred into the realm of Christ and share in his death, burial, and resurrection. The sermon develops the idea that this spiritual incorporation into Christ destroys the old Adamic nature, breaks the power of sin, and creates a new humanity in which division, rivalry, and selfishness are abolished. The unity of the church is thus organic and existential, not merely organizational or doctrinal.
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme that the "one baptism" is not merely symbolic or informational, but an experiential participation in the divine life. The preacher stresses that the normal Christian life is one of supernatural transformation, where the Holy Spirit indwells, empowers, and purifies the believer, making them a "partaker of the divine nature." The sermon warns against reducing the gospel to intellectual assent or cultural adaptation, insisting that true unity and power come only through the actual reception of the Spirit, which unites believers with God himself.
Unity in One Faith: Personal Belief and Doctrine (SermonIndex.net) introduces the distinctive theological theme that the unity of the church is not merely a matter of shared doctrine or shared experience, but the intersection of both: the objective gospel must become the subjective conviction of each believer. The sermon adds a fresh angle by emphasizing that the "one faith" is not a lowest-common-denominator set of beliefs, but the essential truths necessary for justification—especially the resurrection and atoning work of Christ. Another unique theme is the idea that "one faith" is radically inclusive, cutting across all ethnic, social, and religious boundaries (Jew/Gentile), and that this was a shocking and unifying reality for Paul, rooted in the equalizing power of faith for justification. The preacher also highlights the unifying effect of faith in excluding boasting, purifying the heart, and granting access to God—each of which is presented as a direct outworking of the shared "one faith."
Ephesians 4:5 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Preserving Unity Through One Faith in Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical context by referencing the Protestant Reformation as a rediscovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone, identifying this as the "one faith" for which the Reformers contended and even died. The sermon situates Paul's teaching within the broader history of doctrinal disputes in the church, noting that unity has never meant agreement on every detail, but on the central gospel principle.
Embracing Unity in Christ Through One Baptism (MLJTrust) offers contextual insight into first-century baptismal practices, noting that baptism was the standard initiation for new believers (as seen in Acts), but that the early church did not regard the rite itself as essential for salvation. The sermon also references the divisions in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 1) to illustrate how Paul corrected misunderstandings about baptism's role, emphasizing that believers are baptized into Christ, not into any human leader or sect. The analogy to Israel's "baptism into Moses" provides a cultural and redemptive-historical backdrop for understanding Christian baptism as a transfer of allegiance and identity.
Unity in One Faith: Personal Belief and Doctrine (SermonIndex.net) provides detailed historical context by explaining how the Jew-Gentile divide was the most profound and divisive social and religious barrier in Paul’s world. The sermon notes that Paul’s repeated emphasis on "one" (body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God) is rooted in his amazement that Jews and Gentiles—groups with deep-seated mutual hostility—were now united in Christ. The preacher explains that this unity was not merely theoretical but was experienced as a real, lived shock to the early church, and that Paul’s language in Ephesians and Romans is consistently aimed at demonstrating that both groups are justified and included on the same basis: faith in Christ. The sermon also references the cultural significance of circumcision and uncircumcision, and how Paul’s careful use of prepositions in Romans 3:30 ("by faith" and "through faith") is not to distinguish two kinds of faith, but to emphasize the equal access of both groups to justification.
Ephesians 4:5 Cross-References in the Bible:
Preserving Unity Through One Faith in Christ (MLJTrust) references several key passages to support its interpretation of "one faith": Romans 1:16-17 (the gospel as the power of God for salvation by faith), Romans 3:21-31 (righteousness apart from the law), Romans 10:8-10 (the "word of faith" Paul preaches), Galatians 1:8 (anathema on any other gospel), Galatians 2 (Paul's confrontation with Peter over justification by faith), and Romans 4:5 (God justifies the ungodly). Each passage is used to reinforce the idea that the "one faith" is the principle of justification by faith alone, not a comprehensive doctrinal system or subjective experience.
Embracing Unity in Christ Through One Baptism (MLJTrust) draws on Acts 2:38 (baptism in the name of Jesus), Acts 19:5 (re-baptism into Christ), 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (divisions over baptism), 1 Corinthians 10:2 (Israel baptized into Moses), Colossians 1:13 (transfer from the kingdom of darkness to Christ), Romans 6:3-6 (baptism into Christ's death and resurrection), and 1 Corinthians 12:13 (baptized by one Spirit into one body). These references are woven together to show that baptism signifies spiritual union with Christ, participation in his redemptive work, and the creation of a new, unified humanity.
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit (SermonIndex.net) references Luke 24:49 (promise of the Father), Galatians (receiving the Spirit by faith), Acts 1:7-8 (dunamis power), Acts 11 (Holy Spirit poured out on Gentiles), Malachi 3 (refiner's fire), Psalm 51 (David's prayer for a clean heart), Ezekiel (heredity and sin), 2 Peter 1 (partakers of the divine nature), and Ephesians 3 (filled with all the fullness of God). Each passage is used to illustrate the necessity and reality of the Spirit's transformative work, the universality of the promise, and the experiential nature of the "one baptism" that unites believers with God.
Unity in One Faith: Personal Belief and Doctrine (SermonIndex.net) draws on a wide array of biblical cross-references to illuminate Ephesians 4:5. The sermon references Galatians 1:23 ("preaching the faith he once tried to destroy") and Jude 3 ("contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints") to show the objective sense of "the faith." It uses Romans 3:28-30 to demonstrate that both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith, and Romans 4:16-24 to highlight the faith of Abraham as the prototype of justifying faith—fully convinced of God’s promise, especially the resurrection. The preacher also cites Acts 6:7 and Acts 14:22 to show that "the faith" is something to be obeyed and continued in, not merely assented to. Galatians 3:22-28 is used to discuss the coming of "the faith" with Christ, and the resulting abolition of Jew-Gentile distinctions. Ephesians 2:16-18 and 3:11-12 are referenced to show that access to God and unity in the church are both grounded in this shared faith. Acts 15:9 is used to illustrate the purifying effect of faith on both Jews and Gentiles. The sermon also references Hebrews 11 to contrast the Old Testament use of faith with the New Testament revelation of "the faith" in Christ.
Ephesians 4:5 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit (SermonIndex.net) uses two vivid secular analogies to illustrate the meaning of "one baptism" as union with God. First, the preacher describes a "rusty old can" thrown into the Pacific Ocean, which, though still a can, is filled into all the fullness of the ocean—an image for the believer being engulfed and filled by God's presence. Second, the preacher recounts the story of Charles Blondin, the 19th-century tightrope walker who crossed Niagara Falls with a man clinging to his back. This is used as a metaphor for the kind of reckless, total trust and surrender required to experience the fullness of the Spirit: not just believing from a distance, but entrusting one's whole life to God. Additionally, the analogy of a piece of cloth dipped in dye, becoming infused and inseparable from the dye, is used to depict the believer's transformation and participation in the divine nature through the Spirit.