Unity in Christ: Embracing Our Shared Hope
Summary
In Ephesians 4:4, Paul emphasizes the unity of the church, which mirrors the unity of the Holy Trinity. This unity is not something we create; it is divinely established through the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are called to maintain this unity as a testament to God's ultimate purpose of uniting all things in Christ. The church, as the visible body of Christ, serves as a demonstration of God's manifold wisdom to the world and the heavenly realms. This unity is rooted in the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin, regenerates us, and seals us for the day of redemption.
The Apostle Paul highlights the importance of focusing on the hope of our calling. This hope is not just a future expectation but a present reality that shapes our lives and relationships. It is a call to look forward to the ultimate glory that awaits us, rather than dwelling on our past or present circumstances. This forward-looking perspective fosters unity, as it shifts our focus from earthly distinctions and divisions to our shared destiny in Christ.
Paul warns against the dangers of looking back at our past lives or even our conversion experiences, as these can create unnecessary divisions within the church. Instead, we are encouraged to press forward, forgetting what lies behind and striving toward the prize of our high calling in Christ. This mindset helps us to transcend earthly distinctions and embrace our identity as one body in Christ, united by one Spirit and one hope.
Key Takeaways:
- The unity of the church is a reflection of the unity within the Holy Trinity. This divine unity is not something we create but something we are called to maintain as a testament to God's ultimate purpose of uniting all things in Christ. Our role is to preserve this unity as a witness to the world. [02:25]
- The hope of our calling is a future reality that shapes our present lives. It is a call to look forward to the ultimate glory that awaits us, rather than dwelling on our past or present circumstances. This forward-looking perspective fosters unity and helps us transcend earthly distinctions. [09:40]
- Dwelling on past experiences, whether our former lives or conversion stories, can create unnecessary divisions within the church. Instead, we are encouraged to press forward, forgetting what lies behind and striving toward the prize of our high calling in Christ. [21:32]
- Our identity in Christ transcends all earthly distinctions. In Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. We are all one in Him, and our focus should be on our shared destiny and the hope of our calling. [24:31]
- The New Testament consistently calls us to look forward to the hope of our calling. This forward-looking perspective helps us to transcend earthly distinctions and embrace our identity as one body in Christ, united by one Spirit and one hope. [35:47]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:4
[01:08] - The Importance of Unity
[02:25] - Divine Unity and the Holy Trinity
[03:11] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
[05:30] - One Hope of Our Calling
[06:54] - Asking Questions in Bible Study
[08:32] - The Purpose of the Church
[10:01] - The Holy Spirit's Seal and Earnest
[12:27] - The Guarantee of Our Inheritance
[14:19] - The Hope of Our Calling
[16:20] - Avoiding Divisions by Looking Forward
[18:17] - The Dangers of Looking Back
[21:32] - Unity Beyond Conversion Experiences
[24:31] - Our Shared Destiny in Christ
[35:47] - The New Testament's Forward-Looking Perspective
[37:39] - The One Hope for All Believers
[40:09] - The Glory of Being with Christ
[42:44] - Reigning with Christ in Unity
[43:25] - Setting Our Affections on Things Above
[44:46] - Conclusion: One Journey, One Hope
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 4:4-6
2. Philippians 3:13-14
3. John 17:21-23
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by "one body and one Spirit" in Ephesians 4:4, and how does this relate to the unity of the church? [00:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in maintaining the unity of the church? [02:25]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the "hope of our calling" mentioned in Ephesians 4:4? [09:40]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the dangers of focusing on past experiences or conversion stories? [21:32]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the unity of the church reflect the unity within the Holy Trinity, as discussed in the sermon? [02:25]
2. In what ways does the "hope of our calling" shape our present lives and relationships, according to the sermon? [09:40]
3. Why does the sermon suggest that dwelling on past experiences can create divisions within the church? [21:32]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of our identity in Christ transcending earthly distinctions? [24:31]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there past experiences or conversion stories that you tend to focus on? How might shifting your focus to the "hope of your calling" change your perspective? [21:32]
2. Consider the unity within your own church community. What practical steps can you take to help maintain and preserve this unity as a testament to God's purpose? [02:25]
3. How can you actively remind yourself of the "hope of your calling" in your daily life? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to keep this hope at the forefront of your mind? [09:40]
4. Think about a time when you felt divided from others in your church due to past experiences or differences. How can you work towards reconciliation and unity in those relationships? [21:32]
5. Identify one earthly distinction (e.g., social status, background) that you find challenging to transcend. How can you focus more on your shared identity in Christ with others? [24:31]
6. How can you encourage others in your church to look forward to the hope of their calling, rather than dwelling on past or present circumstances? [35:47]
7. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. What is one specific way you can set your affections on things above, as encouraged in the sermon? [43:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Unity Reflects the Trinity
The unity of the church is a profound reflection of the unity within the Holy Trinity. This unity is not a human creation but a divine establishment through the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are entrusted with the responsibility to maintain this unity, serving as a testament to God's ultimate purpose of uniting all things in Christ. The church, as the visible body of Christ, demonstrates God's manifold wisdom to the world and the heavenly realms. This unity is deeply rooted in the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin, regenerates us, and seals us for the day of redemption. Our role is to preserve this unity as a witness to the world. [02:25]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (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—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to the unity of your church community this week, reflecting the divine unity of the Trinity?
Day 2: Hope Shapes Our Present
The hope of our calling is not merely a future expectation but a present reality that shapes our lives and relationships. This hope calls us to look forward to the ultimate glory that awaits us, rather than dwelling on our past or present circumstances. By adopting this forward-looking perspective, we foster unity and shift our focus from earthly distinctions and divisions to our shared destiny in Christ. This hope is a powerful force that transforms our daily lives and interactions, encouraging us to live in a manner worthy of our calling. [09:40]
1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Reflection: How can you let the hope of your calling influence your actions and decisions today, especially in challenging situations?
Day 3: Pressing Forward in Unity
Dwelling on past experiences, whether our former lives or conversion stories, can create unnecessary divisions within the church. Instead, we are encouraged to press forward, forgetting what lies behind and striving toward the prize of our high calling in Christ. This mindset helps us transcend earthly distinctions and embrace our identity as one body in Christ, united by one Spirit and one hope. By focusing on our shared future in Christ, we can overcome divisions and work together towards our common goal. [21:32]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What past experiences or memories might be holding you back from fully embracing your identity in Christ, and how can you begin to let go of them today?
Day 4: Our Shared Identity in Christ
Our identity in Christ transcends all earthly distinctions. In Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. We are all one in Him, and our focus should be on our shared destiny and the hope of our calling. This unity in Christ calls us to look beyond our differences and embrace our common identity as members of His body. By doing so, we can live out the reality of being one in Christ, united by one Spirit and one hope. [24:31]
Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
Reflection: How can you actively celebrate and embrace the diversity within your church community while focusing on your shared identity in Christ?
Day 5: Forward-Looking Perspective
The New Testament consistently calls us to look forward to the hope of our calling. This forward-looking perspective helps us transcend earthly distinctions and embrace our identity as one body in Christ, united by one Spirit and one hope. By focusing on the future glory that awaits us, we can live with purpose and unity, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. This perspective encourages us to set our affections on things above and live in a way that reflects our heavenly calling. [35:47]
Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to shift your focus from earthly concerns to the hope of your calling in Christ?
Quotes
We have been created a new in Christ Jesus unto good works which we should walk in them and the first good work that the Apostle reminds us of is this importance of endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace we do that because it is God's Great purpose to unite all things together in Christ. [00:01:15]
The church, the visible church, is to be an indication to the world of God's Great final purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we must Endeavor thus to keep this Unity of the spirit. It's not merely something for our own sakes; it is because God through the church is going to show to the principalities and powers in The Heavenly places his own manifold wisdom. [00:01:49]
The unity that belongs to the church, the life of the church, is the same as the unity that does exist in the Blessed Holy Trinity, the three in one and the one in three. And we are at the moment in this fourth verse looking at the unity as it is displayed in the church in the work of the Holy Spirit. [00:02:54]
Everything that the Holy Spirit does to us makes us one, and that is the point which the Apostle is here arguing. And last Sunday morning we saw how in his work in revivals the Holy Spirit again brings out this wonderful element of unity. Every Revival that the church has ever known has been a kind of return to the day of Pentecost. [00:04:28]
The whole secret of enjoying the study of the Bible I sometimes think is to discover the art of asking questions. In other words, don't just take things for granted as they come, but when you come across something, stop for a moment and ask a question. Now here is an instance of that. [00:05:56]
The moment you see you ask those questions you see the answer. The answer is that all these things have taken place merely as a preparation for something that is yet to take place. This is a stage in a great process; this is but a kind of interim activity leading on to a final activity. [00:08:36]
The whole object of the ceiling and the earnest is with respect to this purchased possession of which he speaks. In other words, the stamp is put upon us that we belong to him, that we are his children, that we are inheritors of a great inheritance that is coming. That's the seal. [00:11:58]
There is nothing that so promotes unity and guards it and keeps it as our realization together of the Blessed hope that lies ahead of us. Now let me show you that. Let me first of all put this to you negatively: it is because we fail to keep our eye on the hope of our calling that there are so many divisions and distinctions and misunderstandings. [00:15:44]
We must not dwell on what we were called from; we must rather dwell on what we are called to. But you see the tendency is, isn't it, is to be dwelling ever always on that from which we have been called and looking back at it and talking about it, and that of necessity causes divisions and distinctions. [00:16:40]
The whole of the New Testament is looking forward, and we in our Folly are looking at the present. We are interested in hydrogen bombs and atomic bombs and what they're doing in South Africa and the Middle East Here and Now. Christianity practical politics all right, and you divide yourselves up. [00:36:01]
The way to spiritual Unity, the way to save God the Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, is to do what Paul says to the Colossians: set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Set them there as you set your compass, as you set your camera, set your affections, keep them there. [00:43:25]
We are traveling home to God in the way the fathers trod. Children of the Heavenly King as they Journey sweetly sing one the object of our journey. It's all one. Let's look at it and refuse to look in any other direction. [00:44:46]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?