Preserving Unity Through One Faith in Christ

 

Summary

In Ephesians 4:5, Paul emphasizes the unity of believers through the declaration of "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." This unity is not something Christians are called to create but to preserve, as it is already established by God through Christ. The Apostle Paul, having laid down the doctrinal foundation in the first three chapters of Ephesians, now turns to the practical application, urging believers to walk worthy of their calling by maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The concept of "one faith" is central to this unity. It is not a subjective faith, which varies from person to person, but an objective faith that is the essence of the Gospel—justification by faith alone. This faith is not a comprehensive theological system but the core message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul, known as the Apostle of faith, consistently preached this message, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by human deeds or adherence to the law.

This one faith is the same faith that was rediscovered during the Protestant Reformation, a return to the principle that the just shall live by faith. It is the faith that unites all believers, regardless of their background or past actions. The unity of the church is maintained by holding fast to this one faith, without adding or subtracting from it. Any attempt to add human works or other doctrines to this faith breaks the unity and distorts the Gospel.

The message is clear: salvation is through faith in Christ alone, and this faith is the only essential for unity among believers. It transcends all human distinctions and is the foundation upon which the church stands. Believers are called to guard this unity by adhering to the simplicity and purity of the Gospel, recognizing that it is all of God and none of us.

Key Takeaways:

- The unity of believers is a divine reality established by God through Christ, not something we create. Our role is to preserve this unity by living in accordance with the Gospel's truth. [01:46]

- "One faith" refers to the core message of the Gospel—justification by faith alone. It is not a subjective experience but an objective truth that unites all believers. [06:08]

- The faith that Paul preached is the same faith rediscovered during the Protestant Reformation: salvation through faith in Christ alone, without reliance on human works or additional doctrines. [19:54]

- Adding anything to the one faith, such as human works or other doctrines, breaks the unity of the church and distorts the Gospel. The faith that saves is solely based on Christ's righteousness imputed to us. [42:04]

- The one faith is the only essential for salvation, transcending all human distinctions. It is the foundation of the church's unity, and believers are called to guard it by adhering to the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. [44:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:5
- [01:10] - Unity Among Christians
- [02:19] - The Doctrine of Unity
- [03:05] - One Lord, One Faith
- [04:15] - Understanding One Faith
- [06:08] - Objective vs. Subjective Faith
- [07:18] - The Essence of the Gospel
- [12:04] - Justification by Faith
- [17:29] - The Word of Faith
- [19:24] - The Protestant Reformation
- [22:12] - God's Act of Justification
- [26:37] - Christ's Sacrifice
- [32:03] - The Role of Faith
- [39:19] - Preserving Unity in Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
- Romans 1:16-17 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
- Galatians 1:8 - "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by "one faith" in Ephesians 4:5, and how does it relate to the unity of believers? [03:43]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between subjective faith and objective faith? [06:08]
3. What historical event is mentioned in the sermon as a rediscovery of the "one faith"? [19:54]
4. According to the sermon, what is the consequence of adding human works or other doctrines to the "one faith"? [42:04]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "one faith" as described in the sermon challenge the idea of salvation through personal merit or works? [21:57]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the unity of the church is maintained through adherence to the "one faith"? [39:19]
3. How does the sermon explain the role of Christ's righteousness in the believer's salvation, and why is this significant for understanding "one faith"? [30:18]
4. What are the implications of the sermon’s assertion that the "one faith" is the only essential for salvation? [44:19]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own understanding of faith. How does the sermon’s emphasis on "one faith" challenge or affirm your beliefs about salvation? [20:45]
2. The sermon warns against adding anything to the "one faith." Are there beliefs or practices in your life that might unintentionally add to the simplicity of the Gospel? How can you address these? [42:04]
3. Consider the unity of your church community. How can you contribute to preserving this unity by focusing on the core message of the Gospel? [01:46]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of Christ's righteousness being imputed to us. How does this understanding affect your daily walk with God? [30:18]
5. How can you ensure that your faith remains centered on Christ alone, without being swayed by additional doctrines or teachings? [39:19]
6. The sermon mentions the Protestant Reformation as a rediscovery of the "one faith." How can studying church history help you appreciate and guard the core tenets of your faith? [19:54]
7. In what ways can you share the message of "one faith" with others in your community, ensuring that the Gospel remains pure and undistorted? [44:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity as a Divine Reality
The unity of believers is a divine reality established by God through Christ, not something we create. Our role is to preserve this unity by living in accordance with the Gospel's truth. This unity is a gift from God, a spiritual bond that transcends human efforts and distinctions. It is not dependent on our actions but is a reflection of God's work through Christ. As believers, we are called to maintain this unity by living in peace and harmony with one another, recognizing that it is a manifestation of God's grace and love. [01:46]

Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to preserving the unity of the Spirit in your community today?


Day 2: The Core Message of One Faith
"One faith" refers to the core message of the Gospel—justification by faith alone. It is not a subjective experience but an objective truth that unites all believers. This faith is the essence of the Gospel, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by human deeds or adherence to the law. It is a faith that transcends personal experiences and is rooted in the truth of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. By holding fast to this one faith, believers can maintain the unity of the church and avoid the pitfalls of adding or subtracting from the Gospel. [06:08]

Galatians 2:16 (ESV): "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your faith remains centered on the core message of the Gospel, without being swayed by external influences?


Day 3: The Reformation's Rediscovery of Faith
The faith that Paul preached is the same faith rediscovered during the Protestant Reformation: salvation through faith in Christ alone, without reliance on human works or additional doctrines. This rediscovery was a return to the principle that the just shall live by faith, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's work for salvation. It was a pivotal moment in church history that reaffirmed the centrality of faith in the Christian life. By embracing this faith, believers can experience the freedom and assurance that comes from trusting in Christ alone for their salvation. [19:54]

Romans 1:17 (ESV): "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

Reflection: Reflect on the significance of the Reformation's rediscovery of faith. How does this historical event impact your understanding of salvation today?


Day 4: The Danger of Adding to the Gospel
Adding anything to the one faith, such as human works or other doctrines, breaks the unity of the church and distorts the Gospel. The faith that saves is solely based on Christ's righteousness imputed to us. Any attempt to supplement this faith with human efforts undermines the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and leads to division within the church. Believers are called to guard the purity of the Gospel by adhering to its simplicity and resisting the temptation to add or alter its message. [42:04]

Colossians 2:8 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: Are there any beliefs or practices in your life that might be adding to the Gospel? How can you return to the simplicity and purity of faith in Christ alone?


Day 5: The Foundation of Church Unity
The one faith is the only essential for salvation, transcending all human distinctions. It is the foundation of the church's unity, and believers are called to guard it by adhering to the simplicity and purity of the Gospel. This faith unites all believers, regardless of their background or past actions, and serves as the bedrock upon which the church stands. By focusing on this shared faith, the church can overcome divisions and work together to fulfill its mission in the world. [44:19]

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the unity of the church by focusing on the shared faith that unites all believers?

Quotes

I should like to call your attention this morning to The Words which are to be found in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians in the 4th chapter and the fifth verse the epistle to the Ephesians 4 and verse 5 one Lord One Faith one baptism but again it is essential that we should take this statement in its exact context and setting if we are to understand it truly and to derive a full benefit from our consideration of it. [00:00:02]

The Apostle is here dealing with this whole question of unity amongst Christians unity in the church having laid down his mighty Doctrine in the first three chapters of this epistle he here comes to the practical application they are to walk worthy of of the vocation where with they are called and the first thing is that they must Endeavor with all their might and man to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. [00:01:12]

The great Glory of this gospel is that God has done a new thing in Christ and he has made this Unity between Jew and Greek Jew and Gentile Jew and Greek Barbarian and cian bond and free they're all one so that he's not calling upon them to create a Unity he is appealing to them to preserve it and to safeguard it and to see to it that it may be perpetuated. [00:01:49]

The whole question therefore for us this morning is what exactly does he mean by this one Faith now it's very interesting to read the Learned commentators on this and to notice how they nearly all of them seem to be in trouble and there is a good deal of disagreement amongst them one taking one view one another but the views I think can be divided into two main groups. [00:04:01]

There are those who feel that this one Faith refers to our subjective faith faith has that quality in us that ability in us that enables us to believe uh and they say that the character the nature of that faith is patently and obviously the same in all Christians that the type of faith that we all have is one and the same. [00:04:32]

The Apostle as I'm saying is endeavoring here to give absolute proofs to us of the unity so that whenever we are shaken we say well we can't do this this is impossible because we belong to this essential Unity well now if you want to demonstrate a thing you must never appeal to something subjective because that which is subjective is personal you can't can't Define it you therefore can't use it as a test and as a standard. [00:05:36]

The Apostle is here referring to justifying faith and that this is not only the one faith it is the only fa now let me remind you of some of the other statements which the great Apostle makes with respect to this it is customary to refer to Paul as the great Apostle of faith and he is the great Apostle of faith not that the others didn't preach it they did the Apostle is are pains to say that but preeminently this was the message committed unto him and which he expounded to Jew and to Gentile alike. [00:12:00]

The faith that was rediscovered at the Protestant Reformation this was the faith that was preached by the Protestant fathers this is the faith for which they died gladly at the stake what was the Protestant Reformation it was a rediscovery of the great principle that the just shall live by faith Luther preached it that was his great message justification by faith only the word of faith that's the word of faith it isn't faith in general it's this peculiar specific message about the only way of justification. [00:19:48]

The message concerning God's way of saving men this righteousness which is from God no longer something that men do what God has done that's the message this is Christianity now you remember the Apostle puts it in various terms here are some of them he talks about God justifying him that believeth in Jesus indeed in the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Romans in the fifth verse he's got one of the most amazing statements that even he ever made. [00:21:03]

How does a man be become right with God how can any one of us be reconciled to God how can we know that God is our father and that God will bless us what is the means of bringing Amen to God the answer is that God Alone does it and that God does do it in Christ how well he justifies us he he declares us to be righteous he pronounces that we are righteous it is essentially an announcement a proclamation a declaration which is made by God concerning us. [00:22:29]

God has taken our sins and has imputed them to Jesus Christ not imputing them unto us says Paul because he has imputed them unto him and to impute means to reckon to impute means to put them down to an account as if a wealthy man went into a store into a shop and said now look here I want to send you to send the following Goods to such and such an address but he says don't send the bill to them put it down on my account impute it to me. [00:28:43]

There is no way of Salvation except by The One Faith the faith which receives this righteousness from God through Jesus Christ and him crucified and his perfect righteousness it is all in Christ there is nothing in us now that I say is the one and only faith and I don't hesitate to assert that there must be no argument about this whatsoever there is only that one Faith very well says the Apostle see to it that you don't break it see to it that you preserve it Endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace. [00:38:42]

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Transcript
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